HANDWRITING TEST FAILS

Evening Star, Issue 21820, 8 September 1934, Page 24

HANDWRITING TEST FAILS

THEFT CHARGE DISMISSED [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 7. The alleged similarity of two sets of handwriting was the main point relied on by the police in a case in the Magistrate's Court to-day, in which a young domestic, charged with theft, pleaded not guilty. It was alleged that the accused took money from an eirvelope which contained a letter and a £5 note, and enclosed the letter in a different envelope which, the prosecution alleged, was addressed in the accused’s handwriting. Evidence was given regarding certain points of similarity. At the request of counsel for the accused one of the witnesses from the box dictated the lollowing sentence to the defendant for tlie purpose of obtaining a specimen of her handwriting: “A man and a woman went for a walk in Moleswortli street. Wellington, on a Sunday afternoon.” Witness particularly asked that certain letters be written in capitals. In comparing the specimen with that on the envelope witness drew attention to the points of similarity. _ The Magistrate said he had examined it very closely, and there were many points of similarity there between the handwriting of the defendant and the handwriting on the envelope, but there were also admittedly many points of dissimilarity. The view he took was that it could have, been written by tlie defendant, but the evidence as to the handwriting did not prove absolutely that in fact That she was the writer. Ho thought for that reason the charge would have; to be dismissed,