"That they are veritable autographs."
"How do you judge this?"
"From the harmony of the signatures with the text of the body of the letters, by the free and natural shaping and interflowing of the lines, and by a general impression of truthfulness which it is very difficult to communicate in words."
"What do you think of the signatures to the assignment?"
"I think they are all counterfeits but one."
"Prof. Timms, this is a serious matter. You should be very sure of the truth of a statement like this. You say you think they are counterfeits: why?"
"If the papers can be handed to me," said the witness, "I will show what leads me to think so."
The papers were handed to him, and, placing the letters on the bar on which he had been leaning, he drew from his pocket a little rule, and laid it lengthwise along the signature of Nicholas Johnson. Having recorded the measurement, he next took the corresponding name on the assignment.
"I find the name of Nicholas Johnson of exactly the same length on the assignment that it occupies on the letter," said he.
"Is that a suspicious circumstance?"