For court use photographs mounted only on backing

paper are preferable in many ways. They lie flat, take

up little room and are convenient to handle and they do

not warp or buckle. Large prints may be hinged in

the middle with binding tape. Even if prints are to be

pasted in an exhibit book it is desirable that they first

be mounted on backing paper so that they will lie per-

fectly flat. An excellent way to arrange photographs

for use in court is to print them all the same size, no

matter what size the negatives may be, and hinge them

at one end and bind them in loose-leaf binders which

can easily be taken apart if necessary.

Varying conditions call for photographs in great

variety and they should be made in such a way as best

shows the particular fact that they are intended to illus-

trate. Careful study should always be made of the par-

ticular case in hand in order that photographs may be as

efl'ective as possible. Those most frequently required

are here described and some suggestions made regarding

their preparation. In addition to the necessary technical

knowledge and skill required for such work considerable

ingenuity and mechanical ability are necessary if suitable

photographs are to be provided for all the varied phases

of the subject of questioned documents.

Enlarged copies of a disputed signature or writing, and of those
used as comparisons, may be of great aid to a jury in comparing
and examining different specimens of one's handwriting. Charac-
teristics of it may be brought out and made clear by the aid of a
photograph or magnifying glass which would not be discernible by
the naked eye. As well object to the use of an eye-glass by one whose
vision is defective.
Objections to the use of photographs in court are
based upon the theory that they may be distorted and
not true representations of the original, and it is also
asserted that the original affords the best means for
study and comparison and that no reproducton of it is
necessary.

Photographs may be distorted and may be dishonest,

and if they cannot be properly proved, or verified by
comparison with the original, they should be excluded.
If there is any doubt about the accuracy of photographs
they can be made by both parties, and in questioned
document cases they can easily be verified by compari-
son with the original paper which is at hand. On ac-
count of the latter fact there is not the legitimate ob-
jection to photographs of a questioned document that
may arise over photographs of a different nature which
cannot be compared and verified by judge, jury and
opposing counsel.

The best modern lenses will make photographic re-

productions with the utmost accuracy. They render
straight lines as such, or possess the quality described
as rectilinear; they are without astigmatism and repro-
duce without distortion. By these qualities involuntary
distortions and inaccuracies are entirely eliminated and
an objection to photography is removed that might
have been valid in the early days of the art. Lenses
are now made so accurately that they are certified
by the government Bureau of Standards as "mak-
ing reproductions without distortion." There are as
good reasons for objecting to the use of an ordi-
nary magnifying glass or the microscope as to an
enlarged photograph, since such photographic repro-

52

QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

duction is simply the enlarged view in permanent form.

The real reason for most objections to photographs
is that they do well just what it is intended they should
do, that is, assist in showing the facts. Some ancient
opinions recite a long array of conditions that may make
photographs dangerous in courts of law, but not one of

5. PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT

The second important use of photography in document examination is for

recording and presenting evidence. A critical part of the job of the document
examiner is to present evidence to the parties involved in a document dispute.
The examiner must be able to state and explain his or her opinion, but the best
service is given when the examiner goes the final step of illustrating testimony
with visual evidence. Photo equipment is likely to include a 35mm SLR camera,
digital camera, copy stand, filters, extension tubes, lenses, and other items.