Handwritting Analysis

History of Handwritting Analysis
In 1915, Bunker made his unique discovery. He recognized that each of his students formed shorthand strokes in a unique manner. He suddenly and clearly realized that it was not the letter which had a trait meaning but the strokes – the shape of the formations within the letter. Graphology suggested that an O with an open top – that is a space opening, indicated a person who would speak very openly and often. He checked and found this to be true. He thought, however, that logically, other letters with the same circle formation (a,g,d & q) should have the same meaning and after checking carefully.


List of 12 Handwriting Characteristics

            ·        Line quality

·        Spacing of words and letters

·        Ratio of relative height, width and size of letters

·        Pen lift and separations

·        Connecting strokes

·        Beginning and ending strokes

·        Beginning and ending strokes

·        Shading or pen pressure

·        Slant

·        Baseline habits line

·        Flourishes and embellishments

·        Diacritic placement

Famous Court Cases

The Lindbergh Kidnapping
On March 1, 1932, Charles Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of the famous aviator, was kidnapped, and although a ransom of $50,000 was paid, the child was never returned. His body was discovered in May just a few miles from his home. Tracking the circulation of the bills used in the ransom payment, authorities were led to Bruno Hauptmann, who was found with over $14,000 of the money in his garage. While Hauptmann claimed that the money belonged to a friend, key testimony from handwriting analysts matched his writing to that on the ransom notes. Additional forensic research connected the wood in Hauptmann's attic to the wood used in the make-shift ladder that the kidnappers built to reach the child's bedroom window. Hauptmann was convicted and executed in 1936.
personal reflection

We were put into groups of four and we had to write down one sentence in print and cursive. Then we had to forge each others hadnwritting as best we can. First we did it free hand then we had to trace it.