This episode is all about forensic handwriting analysis and signature forgeries. This was a field pioneered by a frenchman, jean hippolyte mishon, in the mid 18 hundreds. But really there's not a lot of graphology in this episode. We stick to mostly the scientific penmanship analysis and expert witness stories. So if you like sitting around and gabbing about weird court cases and up strokes and down strokes, this is your lady.
Is it weird to have different handwritings? How do you forge ancient documents? What pen should you use to write checks? Who is the greediest person in American history? Forensic document examiner Sylvia Kessler met up with Alie in the back of a Nebraska office store to chat about penmanship, ransom notes, court cases, self-expression, and we *very* lightly touch on the fringe -ology that uses handwriting to analyze personalities and how Barnum knew best when it comes to carnival "magic."
More about Sylva: http://forgerydetectionexperts.com
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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris
Theme song by Nick Thorburn