NCJ Number
139777
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 37 Issue: 6 Dated: (November 1992) Pages: 1679-1683
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a study that developed an effective method for restoring ballpoint pen handwriting that had been obliterated with crayon wax markings.
Abstract
In the case at issue, all the lines of one side of a two-sided handwritten letter made in ballpoint blue ink were obliterated by red and black wax crayon. The paper was school notebook paper. Transmitted light and video scanner did little to help in deciphering the message. Microscopic examination revealed only small portions of the underwriting. The need for a method for removal of the crayon material from the document was evident. Nine different types of writing instruments were used, and eight solvents were selected for testing: hexane, petroleum-ether, toluene, chloroform, acetonitrile, dibutyl phthalate, 1,2- dichloroethane, and methanol. To test how the solvents would affect the chosen inks, a piece of paper over which something was written was submerged in the solvent. A fresh piece of paper was prepared for each test. Each paper was used only once in the course of the experiments. Vibration in ultrasonic bath provided better results than simple immersion of the paper into the solvent. A preliminary experiment was performed with a dummy document using the method to be used on the original. The underlying writing was adequately visible for both deciphering the message and comparing the handwriting. 1 table, 2 figures, and 5 references