Page 8 - An Inky Lead Questioned Documents

Pre-Lab

Solutions

Background Procedure

1. Give two reasons handwriting changes from 6. When choosing relative relationships, to how
the copybook forms learned as a child. many of the samples must they be applicable?
As people age they write more quickly and tend Relative relationships must be applicable to all
to incorporate aesthetically pleasing forms, which 12 handwriting samples.
changes their handwriting from the copybook style.

7. How far up will you place the start line on your
2. What is graphology? How does it differ from TLC plate? Why must it be in pencil?
document examination? 1 cm. Pencil will not travel during the
The prediction of personality traits from experiment, whereas ink will.
handwriting. Document examination is
concerned with identifying handwriting from
different individuals. 8. How many spots will you place on each plate?
5
3. Why are relative relationships in handwriting
more important than absolute measures?
Absolute measures vary from each writing act 9. When should you remove the TLC plate from
to the next; relative relationships vary less. the development chamber?
When the solvent front has reached 1 cm from
the top of the plate.
4. What is chromatography?
A technique to separate chemical components
of a mixture by their solubility. 10. How do you calculate the retention factor?
Rf = (distance spot traveled) /
5. Give two tasks other than handwriting (distance solvent front traveled)
identification that forensic document
examiners perform.
Answers will vary. Printer/copier identification,
document dating, paper and ink typing, document
tampering analysis, currency forgery, and
indented writing recovery, as well as many others.

8 THE MYSTERY OF LYLE AND LOUISE