HSCA VOLUME VIII HANDWRITING ANALYSIS OF LEE HARVEY OSWALD
CONTENTS
Introduction 1
The committee's approach 5
Selection of the experts 10
Issues addressed by the experts 19
Evidence examined 22
Procedures 23
Summary of conclusions 27
Findings and conclusions of Joseph P. McNally 31
Procedures 31
Conclusions 34
Findings and conclusions of David J. Purtell 55
Procedures 55
Findings 56
Findings and conclusions of Charles C. Scott 80
Procedures 80
Findings 87
Concluding remarks 144
INTRODUCTION* (1) Several critics of the Warren Commission have speculated that there were two Lee Harvey Oswalds. Two versions of this theory have been put forward. One is that the real Lee Harvey Oswald never returned from the Soviet Union; instead, an imposter was sent on a sinister mission. The second is that others, for whatever purposes, used Oswald's name. (2) One of the first proponents of the two-Oswald theory was a philosophy professor named Richard Popkin, who in 1966 published a book entitled "The Second Oswald." (1) Popkin cited the numerous instances recounted in the Warren Commission report in which people claimed to have seen or dealt, with Oswald under odd or suggestive circumstances. Examples included Oswald being seen at a rifle range, (2) driving a car, (3) and in the company of two Latin-looking men seeking financing for illegal activities from Mrs. Sylvia Odio (a Cuban refugee leader in Dallas). (4) Popkin concluded that the cases of apparent duplication could plausibly be interpreted as evidence that Oswald was involved in a conspiracy, culminating in the events of November 22, 1963. (5) (3) Sylvia, Meagher, in "Accessories After the Fact," also criticized the Commission for not seriously considering the two Oswald possibility,"* * * much less evaluate[ing] the evidence for or against such an explanation." (6) (4) The Warren Commission discounted the incidents, principally on grounds that they had occurred when it was concluded that Oswald was elsewhere--in Mexico at the time of the rifle practice, (7) en route to Mexico at the time of the Odio meeting. (8) It dismissed other incidents because they involved activities in which Oswald apparently did not engage, such as driving. (9)
The committee's approach (5) In an effort to resolve the two-Oswald issue, the committee decided to convene a panel of experts to examine samples of handwriting attributed to Oswald. These samples were taken from numerous documents purportedly written and signed by Oswald in the last 7 years of his life. They were organized according to five significant periods: (1) October 1959 through September 1959, when Oswald was in the Marines; (2) October 1959 through June 1962, when Oswald was in the Soviet Union; (3) July 1962 to September 1963. when Oswald lived in Dallas and then in New Orleans; (4) the final week of September 1963, when Oswald visited Mexico: and (5) from the end of September 1963 to the day of the assassination, when Oswald lived in Dallas. The panel was to determine if the handwriting on the documents was that of one person.
*Materials submitted for this report by the committee's questioned documents panel were compiled by HSCA staff members G. Robert Blakey and Whitney Watriss. (225) 226 (6) The committee also decided to retain another expert to verify, independently, that one or more of Oswald's signatures was in fact his. To make such a determination, the committee sought all fingerprint cards which Oswald had signed. Three were found in the FBI records, two of which were signed: One, dated October 24, 1956, was from Oswald's induction into the Marines; the second, of August 9, 1963, was from his arrest in New Orleans; and the third, unsigned, was dated November 22, 1963, the day of his arrest after the assassination. The expert was to determine if the fingerprints were all Oswald's, which would verify the signatures as Oswald's. (7) The committee reasoned that if these determinations could be made, the two-Oswald theory would be far less plausible. If not, it would be more authoritatively established. (8)
This approach of the committee was substantially different from that of the Warren Commission. The Commission had used the documents for evidentiary purposes, for example, to determine if Oswald had used the alias "Hidell" or to link Oswald with the purchase of the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle. It had accepted as fact that certain of the documents had actually been signed or written by Oswald and compared these with "unknown" documents to establish evidentiary links. (9) The committee, on the other hand, did not assume that any of the documents were written by Oswald. Instead, it sought to prove that one or more signatures were positively Oswald's and that all the documents had been written by the same person.
Selection of the experts (10) The committee asked the president of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners for recommendations on the leading experts in the field of questioned document examination, specifically handwritten documents. The committee then asked each of the people he recommended for their suggestions. Three names appeared consistently. After ascertaining that none had had a prior connection with the FBI or the Kennedy case, the committee requested that they undertake and examination of various documents. The panel members, all of whom belong to the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners, were Joseph P. McNally, David J. Purtell, and Charles C. Scott. (11)
McNally received a B.S. and an P.P.A. in police science from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, University of New York City in 1967 and 1975 respectively. He started in the field of questioned document identification in 1942 with the New York Police laboratory. He has been supervisor of the document identification section of the police laboratory, training officer in the police academy, commanding officer of the police laboratory, and handwriting expert in the district attorney's office of New York County. He retired from the police department with the rank of captain in 1972 and entered private practice. He serves as a consultant to New York's Human Resources Administration. (12) McNally is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and a member of the International Association for Identification, and the American Society for Testing and Materials. He has lectured at the University of New York City, Rockland College, and the New York Police Academy 227 (13)
Purrell received a Ph.D., with a major in mathematics and chemistry, from Northwestern University in 1949. He began his career in questioned document identification in 1942 with the Chicago Police Department, where he served as document examiner in the scientific crime detection laboratory. He retired in 1974 as chief document examiner and captain of police, and entered private practice in 1973. (14) Purtell is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and served as chairman of the questioned document section and chairman of the program committee. He is a past vice president and president of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners. Puttell has lectured at Northwestern University, the University of Illinois, the University of Indiana and St. Joseph's College, among other schools. He has presented and published numerous scientific papers. (15)
Scott received an A.A. degree from Kansas City Junior College in 1930 and a J. D. from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1935, whereupon be became a member of the Missouri bar. While attending law school, he rounded the University of Missouri at Kansas City Law Review and was its first editor-in-chief. He began his career as a questioned document examiner with the Federal Reserve Bank in 1935 and has been in private practice since 1946. The first edition of his three-volume book, "Photographic Evidence," was published in 1942. Now in its second edition, it has become the standard textbook on the subject. (16) Scott served on the first board of directors of the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners. lie has conducted seminars on scientific document examination for more than 20 State bar associations, written numerous professional articles, and, since 1954, has been an adjunct professor of law at the University of Missouri School of Law. (17)
Issues addressed by the experts (19) The committee asked McNally, Purtell, and Scott to address four issues:
4. Was the "historical diary" written in one sitting? 228 (20)
Subsequently, the committee asked Puttell and McNally to look at whether the signature "A. J. Hidell" on the June 15, 1963, Fair Play for Cuba card was written by Marina Oswald. In addition, McNally was asked to determine whether the signature "Jack Ruby" on the undated Cuban identification card had been written by Jack Ruby. (21) Scalice was asked to verify that the finger and palm prints which appeared on the three cards were of the same person. Subsequently, he was asked to examine some other documents.
Evidence examined (22) Handwriting.-- The committee gathered some 50 documents to be examined.* Following is a list and description of those items.
Procedures (23) The panel members traveled to Washington, D.C. at various times to examine and photograph originals of documents to be examined. These were located at four places:The National Archives, the Department of Defense, the FBI, and the offices of the committee. The panel members prepared photographs of the originals for further study in their own laboratories. (24) The panel met as a whole on July 6, 1977, to review the original documents and discuss their respective findings. Each member then prepared a final report of his findings and conclusions (these also provide further detail on the procedures followed by each member). (25) The panel followed standard procedures and techniques in its examinations. The writings and signatures were looked at individually and in juxtaposition with each other, taking into consideration the gross characteristics of the writing process, writing skill, slant, speed, proportions of the letters, ratio of small to capital letters, height ratio, lateral spacing, and overall writing pattern. Significant differences were looked for. A stereoscopic microscope was used for minute examination and comparison of individual letters and characteristics. (26) Scalice examined and compared the inked impressions on the three fingerprint cards on June 8, 1978, at the latent print section of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C. 233
SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS (27) With the restrictions and reservations stated in each panel member's final report,* the members conclude, generally, that the signatures and handwriting purported to be by Oswald are consistently that of one person. Because of the poor condition of the historical diary, they are unable to conclude firmly whether it was written at one or more than one sitting. On balance, it appears to have been written at one or a few sittings. (28) Purtell and McNally conclude the name "A. J. Hidell" was written on the 1963 Fair Play for Cuba card by the same person who wrote the exemplars attributed to Marina Oswald. (29) Finally, McNally concludes that the name "Jack Ruby" written on an undated Cuban identification card was by the same person who wrote the exemplars attributed to Jack Ruby. (30) Scalice concluded that all inked finger and palm prints were identical and were Lee Harvey Oswald's.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF JOSEPH P. MC NALLY
Procedures (31) I conducted an examination and comparison of the signatures and writings on the items described in this report. At the time of the initial work in Washington, D.C., I made color photomacrographs of the signatures and the writings on these documents. I then made slides from the photomacrographs, which I subsequently projected and studied. The signatures were a particular focus of my examination. (32) I first met with committee staff in Washington, D.C., on September L 1977, to examine and photograph signatures and writings on documents available at the Department of Defense and the National Archives. On September 17 1977, I went to the committee's offices to examine and photograph a photoreproduction designated item No. 47. On May 8, 1978, I returned to Washington, D.C., to make additional examinations and photographs. These were made at the Department of Defense, the National Archives, and the committee offices. (33) On July 6, 1978, I met with other members of the handwriting panel to review the documents examined and to consult with them. Subsequently, I prepared my final report with my findings and conclusions.
Conclusions (34) I, The signatures "Lee Harvey Oswald" and "Lee H. Oswald" on the following documents were all written by the same person: 1,2,4,5,7,11, and 12. Marine Corps documents. 3. U.S. Armed Forces Loyalty Certificate. 6. USMC fingerprint form. 8. ID card---U.S. Armed Forces, Japan. 9 and 10. Three (3) passport signatures. 13. Carbon of U.S. Armed Forces Report of Discharge. ---------------------------------- *In particular, members noted that not all documents were available in their original. It is standard practice in the profession of questioned document examination to make definitive conclusions only about documents examined in their original. Thus the panel members gave only tentative opinions for items provided them in some type of facsimile.
234 14. Selective Service registration. 15. Selective Service card. 17. Citizenship revocation. 22. Support affidavit. 25. Letter to "The Worker". 27, 45 and 46. Signatures on U.S.P.O. applications (4). 31. Photo of Lee Oswald (back). 32. Letter to "Fair Play for Cuba". 33. Fair Play for Cuba card. 34. Passport application. 36. New Orleans Police Department fingerprint form, dated Aug. 9, 1968. 37. Photocopy of New Orleans Police Department fingerprint form. 38. Letter to the "Communist Party U.S.A." 39. Hotel registry. 40. Application for Cuban visa. 41. Photograph of carbon of application for Cuban visa. 42. Letter to Russian Embassy. 43. Employment form. 44. Form W4. 45. P.O. Box 6225 application. 46. Receipt for key to P.O. Box 6225. 48. Photomechanical copy of letter to Russian Embassy. 55. Dallas Public Library card. (35)
II. The script writing on the following documents was done by the same person: 17. Citizenship revocation. 19. Stationery of Holland-American Line. 20. Self-questionnaire. 21. Photocopy of self-questionnaire. 22. Support affidavit. 25. Letter to "The Worker". 29. Xerox of Klein's money order. 30. Letter to "Fair Play for Cuba". 38. Letter to "Communist Party U.S.A.". 42. Letter to the Russian Embassy. 48. Photomechanical copy of letter to Russian Embassy. (36)
III. A number of documents have script and handprint, both of which are by the same person (the script writings of these documents correspond to that of documents listed above under I and II): 16. Historical diary. 18. Aline Mosby interview. 26. Employment application with letter. 30. Envelope and order form--Klein's. 43. Employment application and letter of resignation. (37)
IV. A few documents have handprint only. On those listed below, all the handprint is by the same person, and it corresponds to the handprint on documents listed above under III. Since the script in items under III corresponds to the script in items under II, it can be concluded that the items under II, III, and IV correspond. 9. Inside cover of passport. 27, 45 and 46. U.S.P.O. forms--box rental. 51. Speech. 235 (38)
V. In summary, the script writing (much of it on documents also bearing the signature of Lee H. Oswald) is identifiable with the signatures, "Lee H. Oswald." From the script writing on the documents described in section II, it is possible to create composite signatures, "Lee Harvey Oswald" and "Lee H. Oswald," which correspond to the Oswald signatures on the documents listed in section I. (39)
VI. The Russian language writing on documents 23, 56, and 57 is by the same person. Although there are a few letter design forms which appear to be in the Cyrillic alphabet, the bulk are in the Latin alphabet and correspond to their counterparts in the script and handprint in the documents listed in sections I, II, III, and IV above. (40)
VII. The two signatures, "Lee H. Oswald," in item 52 (receipts salary--Texas School Book Depository) do not correspond to the Oswald signatures as described under section I. The handwriting appears to be more skillful, with a more rhythmic flow. It varies in slant and differs in proportion. The overall writing pattern differs from the Oswald signatures in section I, as do the individual letter designs. The "L" of item 52 is taller and without an eyelet loop at the top right of the "L" as found in the section I signatures. The "H" of item 52 is distinctly different from the "II" in the section I signatures. The "0" of item 5'2 retraces on itself, not the case in the section I signatures, where it loops around at the top right and usually swings into the following "s". The "d" of item 52 reverses slant to go backhand, which does not occur in the section I signatures. (41)
VIII. The signature, "Lee Harvey Oswald," on the Hunt note (item 4-7) does not correspond to the Oswald signatures described under section I. To begin with, the bulk of the documents which are signed with the full name, "Lee Harvey Oswald," are more formal in tone. For example, the full name appears on all but one of the Marine Corps documents. The full name appears infrequently elsewhere-usually only the first name, middle initial, and last name are used. Further, in the Hunt note, the middle name "Harvey" is misspelled-the "e" appears to be missing; the "H" of "Harvey" differs from that found in the section I signatures; the "ar" of "Harvey" is ellided to a point that does not occur in any section I signatures; the "0" of "Oswald" is retraced part of the way along the left side, not true of the section I Oswald signatures; and the ending "d" of Oswald is smaller than the preceding "l", whereas most of the ending "d"s of the section I signatures are taller than the "l" (only in signatures that appear to be "squeezed-in" is the end "d" shorter than the preceding "1"). (42) While the script writing on the Hunt note is similar in pictorial quality to the writings under section II, the format of the note differs from that of the notes and letters of section II. The writing line is so exact as almost to give the impression it has been made on a ruled line. Usually Oswald writes in an arhythmic manner--for example, with an irregular and crooked writing line. This writing creates the jumbled effect apparent in the section II documents. (43) From the examinations of item 4-7, it was determined that the signature does not correspond with any of the Oswald signatures of section I. Similarly, the writing does not correspond to that in the section II Oswald documents. (44) I would like to note, however, that the quality of the original photoreproductions of the Hunt note was poor. Under the best of cir- 236 cumstances, reproductions lack clarity and detail. Here, as can be seen from the copies, the original photoreproduction was out of focus, giving the document a fuzzy appearance. Accurate analysis was difficult. The note is highly suspicious. The original would have to be checked in order to make a more definite analysis and reach a definitive conclusion. (45)
IX. An examination and comparison was made of writings and signatures on documents attributed to Marina Oswald. The writings on the note (item 28) are such poor copies that it is virtually impossible to make a definite determination as to whether they correspond with the signatures of Marina Oswald on item 24. There is some similarity between the name in the return address on the envelope of item 28 and the signature of Marina Oswald on her entry papers (item 24), but the return address name is obscured to some extent by the postmark. The rest of the writing on the note (item 28) is not sufficiently parallel to the writing on her entry documents (item 29) and exemplars (item 54) to warrant any effective determination. (46) The name, "A. J. Hidell" on the Fair Play for Cuba card (item 33) was examined and compared with the exemplar writings of Marina Oswald (item 54). It was determined that. the "A. 5. Hidell" of the card (item 33) was written by Marina Oswald (as in item 54). The writing pattern of the signature on the card corresponds with that of the name "A. J. Hidell" as written by Marina Oswald on item 54. The Hidell signature in question is written with the same degree of writing skill as evinced by Marina Oswald. The slant, speed, proportions, et cetera, of the Hidell signature is matched in the writings of Marina Oswald. The design, form, and execution of stroke making up the individual letters of the Hidell signature in question (item 33) correspond to those of the letters in the writing of Marina Oswald (item 54). (47)
X. The "Jack Ruby" signature on the Cuban identification card (item 53) was examined and compared with exemplars of Jack Ruby (item 49). It was determined that the "Jack Ruby" of the Cuban identification card was written by the author of the exemplar signatures attributed to Jack Ruby (item 49). While there is an odd "J" in the identification card which does not occur in the Ruby exemplars, the rest of the letters tally in all respects. The signature has been written quickly, easily, and fluently, consistent with the writing pattern of the known exemplars. The odd "J" may be "accidental" or could be accounted for in additional writing of Ruby, most likely in spontaneous writing contemporaneous with the signature of the identification card. "Request" writing, such as that of item 49, sometimes differs slight extent from "spontaneous" writing. (48)
XI. A check was made of the historical diary (item 16). The 12 pages were written with the same type of writing instrument. The paper used for 11 of the 12 pages is similar; only the last page differs--it is appreciably thinner. The writing has a continuity from page to page and line to line that is indicative of being written about, or at, the same time. It does not give the impression of being "random" as would be expected of a diary extended over a period of time. It appears that this diary has been written within a short period of time and not over any extensive period. 237
Summary of conclusions (49) Virtually all the Lee H. Oswald and Lee Harvey Oswald signatures are by the same person. There is some normal variation among the signatures, and no significant differences along the Oswald signatures identified as being the same. The overall writing pattern consistently similar, and the individual letter designs match throughout without major differences. The same holds true for the script and handprint on these documents that are identified as being written by the same person. (50) The same writing is on the U.S. Postal money order to Klein's (item 29) as is on the various letters and correspondence. The same writing is on the order form and envelope (item 30) as is on the letters and on the inside cover of the passport (item 9). (51) The writing and signatures that appear on the letters (items 25, 32, 38, and 42) agree with the writing and signatures on the U.S. Post Office applications for post office boxes (items 27, 45, and 46). (52) The signature and writing on the back of the photograph (item 31) agree with the signatures and script writing of Oswald (sections and II). (53) Differences indicative of different authorship were found on the "Hunt" note (item 47) and the salary receipts (item 52). (54) It appears that the historical dairy (item 16) was written with- in a short period of time.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF DAVID J. PURTELL
Procedures (55)Items 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17,18,19,20,22,23,24,25, 27,29,31,32,33,34,36,38,39,40,43,45,47,48,51,54,55,56,57,58,59,61,and 62 were studied, both visually and microscopically. A detailed drawing was made of all features observed in tile writings. Later, each piece of writing was compared with every other piece of evidence. Photographs were taken of the evidence, and these were studied along with the detailed drawings. Thus the evidence was evaluated a total of three times. Findings (56) The examinations and comparisons revealed that all the writ- ings were executed by a person having limited writing skill. The writings show physical evidence of natural movement and manner, with some normal variations. The carefree qualities and the unrestrained movements associated with genuine writing are present. None exhibit the characteristics of simulation produced by imitators attempting to duplicate the writing of another. The writings have similarities in the formation of letters, quality of writing, movement within tile writing, size and proportions of letters and parts of letters, beginning and ending strokes. pen pressure, slope of the writing, spacing, alignment, direction, and speed. (57) These similarities and the lack of any unexplainable differences resulted in the following findings and opinions: (58)
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF CHARLES C. SCOTT
Procedures (80)
The above-described methods of examination were applied to all original documents submitted for examination, with the exception of two fingerprint cards. dated October 24. 1956, and August 9, 1963 (items 6 and 36), which were not received in time for this type of treatment. (86) Photographic reproductions could only be compared visually with other photographic reproductions or with original documents. All conclusions based solely upon photographic reproductions are necessarily tentative and inconclusive. since they cannot reveal much about pen pressure and other dynamic qualities of handwriting. Further, they sometimes conceal, rather than reveal, evidence of tracings, alterations, erasures, or obliterated writing.
Findings (87) Question. Are all of the signatures and other writings on the documents purported to have been written by Oswald by one and the same person? (88) Opinion. After very careful examination and comparison of the documents provided, I am of the opinion that, on the following original documents, Oswald's purported signatures and other writings are all in the same handwriting and were all written by one and the same person. (89) Item l--October 24, 1956. U.S. Marine Corps enlistment con- tract and record, signed "Lee Harvey Oswald." (90) Item 2--October 24, 1956. Carbon copy of item 1 bearing an original signature, reading "Lee Harvey Oswald." (91) Item 3--October 24, 1956. Loyalty certificate for personnel in the Armed Forces, signed "Lee Harvey Oswald." (92) Item 4--October 24, 1956. U.S. Marine Corps examination of applicant by recruiting officer, signed "Lee Harvey Oswald." (93) Item 5--October 24, 1956. U.S. Marine Corps record of emergency data, signed "Lee Harvey Oswald." (94) Item 6--October 24, 1956. Armed Forces fingerprint card, signed "Lee Harvey Oswald." 244 (95) Item 7--October 25, 1956. U.S. Marine Corps miscellaneous information and index form, signed "Lee H. Oswald" in three places. (96) Item 9--c.* September 10, 1959. U.S. passport, signed "Lee H. Oswald." (97) Item 10--c.* September 10, 1959. Photograph on page 4 of U.S. passport, signed "Lee H. Oswald." (99) Item 11--September 11, 1959. U.S. Marine Corps notice of obligated service, signed "Lee Harvey Oswald." (100) Item 10--September 11, 1959. U.S. Marine Corps security termination statement, signed "Lee Harvey Oswald." (101) Item 15--September 14, 1959. Selective Service System registration card, signed "Lee H. Oswald." (102) Item 16--July 15, 1961 to January 4, 196e. Page 11 of a 10-page diary. (103) Item 17--November 3, 1959. Declaration requesting revocation of U.S. citizenship, signed "Lee Harvey Oswald." (104) Item 19--1960, undated. Handwriting on Holland-American Line stationery. (105) Item 22--January 17, 1960. Affidavit of support addressed to the American Embassy, Moscow. signed "Lee H. Oswald." (106) Item 25--June 10, 1962. Letter to the "Worker," 23 West 26th Street, signed "Lee H. Oswald." (107) Item 26--c. July 13, 1962. Letter to Leslie Welding Co., signed "Lee H. Oswald." (108) Item 27--October 9, 1962. Application for P.O. Box No. 2915, signed "Lee H. Oswald." (109) Item 31--May 4, 1963. Photograph of man with rifle. On the back of this photograph is a notation reading "To my friend George from Lee Oswald 5/IV/63." (110) Item 32--May 26, (1963?). Letter to Fair Play for Cuba Committee, signed "Lee H. Oswald." (111) Item 34--June 25, 1963. Passport application, signed "Lee H.. Oswald." (112) Item 35--June 25, 1963. Passport photograph attached to application and signed "Lee II. Oswald." (113) Item 36--August 9, 1963. Fingerprint card of New Orleans Police Department, signed "Lee H. Oswald?" (114) Item 38 August 28, 1963. Letter to central committee of the Communist Party, signed "Lee H. Oswald." (115) Item 43--October 15, 1963. Employment application, signed "Lee H. Oswald." (116) Item 44--October 16, 1963. Employee's withholding exemption certificate, signed "Lee II. Oswald." (117) Item 45--November 1, 1963. Two cards. Application for P.O. Box 6225, both signed "Lee H. Oswald." (118) Item 46--November 1, 1963. Receipt for key to P.O. Box 6225, signed "Lee II. Oswald." (119) Item 51--Undated. Handwritten speech. (120)
I examined each of the above-described documents (with the exception of items 6 and 36) under a stereoscopic microscope by reflected light, side light from all angles, transmitted light, and ultra- --------------------------------------- *Circa is used because a passport is usually signed by the holder after receipt, which is often different than that of the date of issuance. 245 violet rays. I also inspected them under infrared, using an infrared image converter. (121)
I did not find any evidence of tracing or copying in any of the signatures or other handwriting purporting to be Oswald's on any of the original documents, nor did I find any material erasures, alterations or obliteration's. All seem to have been executed in the ordinary course of business without any suspicious signs. Equally important, all the purported signatures and writings of Oswald on the above described documents conform with each other in letter formation, slant, proportions, alignment, and connecting strokes--allowing for normal variation. If Oswald's writing were imitated by some other person, in all probability the imitations would display a slavish uniformity somewhat like that of rubber stamping. There was no such suspicious uniformity and lack of natural variation in the signatures and writings. (122)
Also highly significant was that all the signatures and handwriting on the above-described original documents were executed with the same type of free rapid writing movement and without any indications of suspicious hesitations or skips. (123) Where, as here, two or more writings conforming with each other in the pictorial aspects of form or design (allowing for natural variation) show evidence of having. been written with the same type of writing movement and rhythm, and lack any indications of tracing or other imitative processes, the conclusion is inescapable that all were written by the same person. (124)
With respect to the carbon copies and photographic reproductions submitted for examination, the form or design, slant, proportions, connecting strokes, and the like conformed with the writing on original documents. Therefore, tentatively, and subject to modification should the original documents become available for examination, it is my opinion that the following are probably carbon copies or photoreproductions, as the case may be, of documents bearing writings that conform with the writing on the original documents purporting to be Oswald's: (125)
Item 13--September 11, 1959. Carbon copy of Armed Forces of the U.S. report of transfer or discharge bearing a carbon copy of a signature reading "Lee Harvey Oswald? (126) Item 18--November 15, 1959. Photocopy of handwritten account of interview with Miss Mosby. (127) Item 21--1962, undated. Photocopy of document identified as a "self-questionnaire." (128) Item 37 August 9, 1963. Photocopy of fingerprint card and mug shots taken by New Orleans Police Department, signed "Lee H. Oswald" (129) Item 39--September 27, 1963. Photograph of a page from a hotel register signed "Lee Harvey Oswald." (130) Item 40--September 27, 1963. Photographs (one of entire document and one of signature on visa application), Cuban Consulate, Mexico City, signed "Lee H. Oswald." (131) Item 41--September 27, 1963. Photograph of carbon copy of item 40. (132) Item 47--November 8, 1963. Two photographs of a letter to Mr. Hunt (one of entire document, the other an enlargement of signature). 246 (133) Item 48--November 9, 1963. Photomechanical (halftone) reproduction of typewritten letter to Soviet Embassy, signed "Lee H. Oswald." (134) Item 50--Undated. Photograph of unsigned rough draft of Item 48. (135)
The photographs of the visa application (item 40) and of the carbon copy of the visa application (item 41) appear to be in the same handwriting as the other purported signatures of Oswald, as far as the pictorial aspects of form or design, slant, proportions, connecting strokes, et cetera, are concerned. Because the pictures are fuzzy, it is impossible to rule out tracing or some other method of imitative writing. (136) It is impossible to determine positively whether the letter to Hunt (item 47) is or is not in the handwriting of the same person as the other writings purporting to be Oswald's. (137) The photographs appear to be photohgraphs of a document bearing handwriting of the same person as that in the other documents purporting to be Oswald's. It is true that the signature is not typical--"Harvey" is misspelled--but that could be due to haste. If not genuine, the original from which this photograph was made is certainly a clever imitation. (138) It is recommended that. an effort be made to obtain the originals of all of the above-described reproductions so that they can be submitted to the same thorough examination, given the original documents.
(139) (Question. Although they purport to be the handwriting of one Hidell, were the postal money order (item 29) and the envelope addressed to Kleins (item 30) actually written by the person who wrote the signatures and other writings which purport to be Oswald's? (140) Opinion. The original of the money order (item 29) was examined and compared With the original writings purporting to be Oswald's. I am of the opinion that the fill-ins on the face of this money order are in the handwriting of the same person as the signatures and writings purporting to be Oswald's. The writing on the money order conforms with the writing purporting to be that of Oswald on the other documents in every material way, including writing movement and rhythm (L) as well as the pictorial aspects of form or design, proportions, alignment, slant, and connections. It is also significant that the writing on this money order shows no indication of being a mere copy or imitation of the writing purporting to be that of Oswald. This money order was submitted in the original, and hence it was possible to give it a complete microscopic examination and to study it under the infrared image converter. (141)
The envelope addressed to Kleins (item 30) was available only in the form of a microfilm enlargement. This is even less satisfactory than a photocopy as a basis for an opinion on handwriting. It can only be said that as far as the pictorial aspects of form or design. proportions, alignment, slant, and connecting strokes are concerned, the writing on this envelope, although it purports to be that of one Hidell, conforms with the original writing submitted for examination which purported to be that of Lee Harvey Oswald. (142) (Question. Was the diary (item 16) written from day to day, as it is dated, or was it written at one sitting? 247 (143) Opinion. While the diary was submitted for examination in original form, it was almost completely unsuitable (with the exception of p. 11) for document examination because of treatment with fingerprint developer. Little patches of ink were unobscured, but these were insufficient as a basis for a definite conclusion. From the patches of ink that could be studied, there are indications that the same pen and, ink could have been used to write the: entire diary. However, this observation is based solely on microscopic examination; no chemical tests were made or authorized. Use of the same pen and ink (particularly when, as here, a fountain pen or a dip pen, rather than a ballpoint pen, was used) is more consistent with the diary having been prepared at one time, or over a few consecutive writing sessions, than it is with execution from day to day over the extensive period covered.
Concluding remarks (144)
As far as original documents are concerned, the conclusion is that the signatures and writings on them which purport to be Oswald's are all in the handwriting of the same person. In those instances where reproductions of any kind were examined, it was found that the writing conformed in pictorial aspects with the writing purporting to be Oswald's on the original documents examined. Only a tentative opinion could be reached as to these reproductions. (145) Attached are two photographic comparison charts, prepared by the examiner, one showing most of the signatures reading "Lee Harvey Oswald," placed close to each other for ready comparison, the other a composite of most of the signatures reading "Lee H. Oswald" and of one signature reading "Lee Oswald." Large mural-size reproductions of these charts, suitable for simultaneous viewing by a number of persons, are being sent to the committee under separate cover. (146) The photographs on these charts were taken by this examiner, who also prepared the charts. They are reliable representations of all of the signatures depicted, and they show all signatures enlarged to approximately the same extent.