HANDWRITING EXPERT

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 270, 10 August 1943, Page 4

HANDWRITING EXPERT

Judge Answers Counsel’s Criticism VALUE OF EVIDENCE (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 9. A suggestion by counsel, Mr. C. S. Thomas, that the evidence of handwriting experts was not reliable was criticized by Mr. Justice Northcroft in the Supreme Court ibis morning. Mr. Thomas said lie wanted to warn the jury that the evidence of so-called handwriting experts was considered unreliable. His Honour: Can you quote any authority for saying that? Mr. Thomas: I believe there have been a number of judicial pronouncements on the subject. ~ , . Summing up, his Honour, said that the Courts did not discredit evidence given by handwriting experts. He had not heard of such, either in writings or in judicial pronouncements. In fact, his Honour said, the opposite was the case. The Court had obtained the assistance of handwriting experts and there was no reason to disparage such evidence. “In America,” said his Honour, .there is one eminent handwriting expert, Albert Osborne. In New Zealand there would not be sufficient scope for such a man, bat this does not mean that the evidence of a man who has made a study of handwriting should be contemptuously dismissed. ~ “The evidence of this person, continued his Honour, “is entitled to be regarded as responsible and not with contempt. You have been told by counsel that you are just as good as a handwriting, expert and counsel poses as a handwriting expert also. It is your duty to treat a witness as a witness and counsel as an advocate.”