The most frequent class of forgeries consists of erasures, which means the removing of the genuine writing by mechanical or chemical means.  Erasing with knife, rubber, etc., has practically been abandoned by expert forgers, on account of the almost certain detection which must necessarily follow the traces left in evidence.  Erasing fluids, ink eradicators, etc., are more generally used for this purpose.  These have entered the market for legitimate purposes and can be commercially obtained.  Too much confidence should, therefore, not be placed in the careful writing of checks, etc., alone, as with the aid of chemicals the original writing can be entirely removed and forged words and figures substituted.

[Illustration:  Simple additions to genuine handwriting:  ORIGINAL—­ALTERATION.]

Second in importance and frequency, and perhaps the easiest kind of forgery, consists of simple additions to genuine handwriting.  In checks or drafts the changing of “eight” to “eighty” by the addition of a single letter is a striking illustration.  The change of “six” to “sixty,” “twenty” to “seventy,” etc., can also be accomplished by adding a few strokes and without erasure, as per specimens given.

The forging of signatures and writing in general is accomplished by means of tracing as above referred to, free-hand copying, with the aid of considerable practice, and copying by mechanical or chemical processes.  It is not intended here to give directions, but simply to refer to facts, with a view to preventing losses and detecting forgeries.  For this reason one method of reproduction may briefly be described.  The carelessness with which blotters are used in public places, bank counters, post, express and hotel offices is to be strongly condemned.  The entire signature of an indorser is often clearly copied on the underside of the blotting paper, which only needs to fall into the hands of a designing party to be projected on any paper or document and in any desired position.

The means of discovering and demonstrating forged handwriting are as varied as the methods employed in its execution, and it may be some comfort to know that the cunning of the forger is more than matched by the skill and ability of the expert.

The ordinary method of identifying handwriting consists in the “comparison of hands.”  This, however, is only admitted in courts of justice under certain limitations.  The genuineness of a disputed writing can be proved by a witness who has seen its execution, or by comparison with correspondence received in the regular course of business, or by comparisons with disputed specimens of the alleged handwriting, which must also be in evidence.  Disputed signatures may be compared with other signatures acknowledged to be genuine, or with letters or documents, the genuineness of which is unquestioned.  In arriving at conclusions many things are to be considered, the form of the letters, their manner of combination, evidences of habit, etc.