THUMB MARKS INSTEAD OF SIGNATURES.

North Otago Times, 22 May 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

THUMB MARKS INSTEAD OF SIGNATURES.

CHEQUE FORGERS THWARTED,

The old system of identification by thumb marks has been adapted io modern banking, and the method is now actually in practical use In a certain American bank as n means 01 identifying Ihc signature of the many foreigners who make deposits at that institution. In fact, tin thumb mark lias become as necessary on cheques drawn by that class of the bank's depositors as is the written signature of the drawer. The system lias been in use some little time, and whereas formerly all was turmoil, the bank has siire had not the slightest trouble with its foreign depositors. There arc probably more nationalities in the particular city where this bank is located than in almost any other city of the world. The population includes hundreds of labourers from Asialie countries. Corenns, Japanese, Chinese, Mexicans, Indians, Lithuanians, Czechs, IV.cs, llrnarians, Hohemians, Welshmen, .Irishmen, Orceks, Italians, and about every other nationality. Many of these people deposit their savings, in the bank. a nd very few of them can write their names, especially in letters which ca" be read by tin ordinary basincss man.

An additional source of trouble to Iho banker is the great resemblance so many foreigners bear to others of their' own nationality, a resemblance so strong that identification in many cases is almost impossible. To the average man every .Japanese resembles every other Japanese, whilo Chinamen arc as alike as peas, l-'n-less they happened to be well acquainted'with a depositor, the bank officials soon discovered they were having a "real deal of trouble in identifying either the drawers or the payees of cheques which came to tliem.

I At the time of opening an account I with a bunk it is, of course, always customary for the depositor to file his signal urc, the more readily to prevent forgeries. Hut the bank in question was nonplussed when many of its depositors placed signatures on the file which would throw the ordinary chirographical expert into a fit/ Now, however, each foreign patron of the bank when he makes a deposit is required to place his thumb on an inked pad and then make an impression on a card, which, with his ordinary signature and his name as written by the bank cashier, is deposited iii the records of the bank. Whenever a cheque is presented drawn by this patron, his thumb signature must appear on the cheque and must correspond with that on the card in the record. If it does not correspond the cheque is thrown out ns a forgery, The cashiers have become so proficient in reading thumb signatures that they can recognise the prints of a great many of the bank's patrons without reference toi the records.