Science and the Criminal

fluences-Effects of D

even in the cases of the closest resemblance between two writings there can be no certainty on this point. In the following pages

racteristic gait and the little mannerisms which are peculiar to each individual. In addition

inherited traits of character. At the same time, instances in which close resemblances may be noticed between the handwriting of a man and that of his father and grandfather will o

Y IN HA

son to inherit certain characteristics in the father's writing and for the daughte

one family, the first two lines being those of the father and the mother. The third, fifth, eighth a

oduced more or less closely in the writing of all the daughters, while the sons form the same letter with a small loop, as in the word writte

ng of each of the children also shows characteristics of its own that distinguish it from the writings o

the father and of the eldest son that on more than one occasion o

rmal" being used here to describe writing that is done when the thoughts of the writer are being conc

artist may show marked variations at different periods, especially in the form of the capital letters; for the artist usually ke

specially of those whom the writer tries to imitate in other respects. In some individuals this unintentional imitation of other han

influence upon the form of writing and some o

its thick down-stroke and thin up-stroke and absolute regularity of letter; in the pointed Italian writing, taught generally in mid-Victorian ladies' schools;

bering about forty young men and girls ranging from sixteen to twenty years of age, were all told to write the same words: "This is a specimen of my writing," without any directions being given them and without knowing for what purpose it was wanted. The results obtained, some of which are here sh

training on

es was written by

ore the real writing of the individual th

y acquired that the writer ceases to be conscious that he is copying a model, the writing not in

conscious imitation, certain distinctive features may persist for a very long period. Thus the angle at which the writing slopes may remain practically the same for years, or t

ming grief will often write in smaller characters than usual, while violent anger will find its expression in more vigorous cross strokes to the "t's," heavier dotting of the

ome of them the effect of emotional influence. Very striking, for instance, is the difference between the orderly signature written after the victory at Austerlitz and the blotted scrawl dashed off after the defeat at Leipzig. Nor will it escape notice that nearly all the signatures written at moments of depression or failu

ely, but what has been said above is sufficient to show that this factor is of importan

being crow

on proclamation after th

the campai

fter entrance int

n the retrea

nature to a docume

defeat a

ontainebleau, pr

t. H

EON AT DIFFERENT PE

much greater must be the effect when the centre or centres in the brain

y include the so-called tremor-writing, which is common in old age, and the writing

ers'

s the patient either to form only parts of letters or endlessly to repeat the same letter under the impression that sentences a

en of

m of the letters is changed, but they are still used in their right places. An illustration of this is given

the poet, before a

he use of the wrong letters. Thus H?lderlin, the German poet, who became harmlessly insane i

derlin before an

misphere of the brain becoming adapted to do the work of that in the other, is that commonly kno

ty-six, who for the last three years has been paralysed in the righ

iting in

d have been employed here, but the obvious explanation may be deduced from the letter of a monk, Antonio de Beatis, who, after visiting Leonardo in his retirement at Amboise, wrote that the artist would never paint again, as his right arm w

remarkable, or affords a better proof of the way in which written character

ity is accompanied by an appropriate style in the handwriting of the subject. Thus, a young hyste

characters of a child, of Napoleon, of Garibaldi, of a clerk, and of an old man of ninety. He was made to write some words on each of his assumed characters, and the wr

are shown in the accompanying figures. The normal writing of the student is represented below, while Fig. A (p. 82) shows words w

s Na

an o

Gari

IC HAN

of the real individuals, although it is interesting to note that there is some attempt to form

student to have been familiar with the signature of Garibaldi. Or, again, the hypnotisers may have had thei

tion, whereas in the case of other subjects the letters are childish and badly formed. It is even possible to make them omit by suggestion particular letters from

ypnotism is not only of great scientific interest, but may also have an impo

en are particularly prone to write anonymous letters, and it is well

take into account the possibility of hypnotic influence bef

nother person will obviously depend upon whether he was the dupe or the willing instrument of the hypnotiser. In any case

rs to have come before the courts, but it is one that might conceivably occur at an