Mr. Cole. No; as a matter of fact, it is usual to find variations in handwriting, and, of course, that is demonstrated by the various standard writing that we have here, where you find the same combination of letters they are not identical with a photographic sameness, but they have a range of variation. I would say that no part of the questioned writing that we have considered on 785 would go outside of that normal range of variation which is true in the standards.
Mr. Eisenberg. Did you find any differences between 785—or 773, of which 785 is a reproduction—and the standards?
Mr. Cole. I don't find anything that I would regard as a significant difference, but, of course, there are points where there is not a perfect identity. For example, in the combination of letters "Ill." an abbreviation for Illinois, while we don't have that same abbreviation in the standards, we have got the full name written out on chart B, item 5, and item 14. We have a smooth curved connection between the "I" and the following "l" in those particular parts of the standard, but there is an angular connection on 785 between the same letters. That is a difference or variation, but I don't regard it as necessarily being a significant one. It could be merely an accidental feature, a momentary hesitation on 785 before proceeding into the making of the "l."
Mr. Eisenberg. Why don't you conclude on the basis of that difference that the questioned document was written by a different author than the standard documents?
Mr. Cole. Because it is not nearly enough to raise such a question. There would be required for an opinion that this was made by some other person, a similar body of differences corresponding to the similarities that I have talked about. In other words, if in fact this was in the handwriting of some other person, I would expect to be able to make about the same demonstration with respect to differences as I have already made with regard to similarity.
Mr. Eisenberg. Would you need to find as many differences as similarities in order to say there was a different author involved in the questioned and standard?
Mr. Cole. No; depending upon the character of the differences. A fairly small number would prevent a conclusion of identity or show the hand of some other person, if they were really distinctive differences.
Mr. Eisenberg. Mr. Cole, did you find any evidence in 773 that the author attempted to disguise his handwriting?
Mr. Cole. Were you referring to 785?
Mr. Eisenberg. 785 is a reproduction of 773. You can use 785 to answer the question, yes.