Weighing the Evidence

Abstract

The strength of one’s opinion is based on the number of similarities that exist between the known and the questioned documents. This is similar to identifying a person. One starts with general or class characteristics such as sex, build, height, weight, hair color, and eye color. When a match is found, it can be said the person fits the description, but, because many other people also fit that description, a positive identification cannot be made. When class characteristics such as the penmanship system, connecting strokes, line quality, and rhythm match in handwriting, one can say a writer could have written the material, but there is not enough information to make a positive identification. More specific information is needed