If he knows that the pen he is using usually gives a heavier line, and for a particular writing he sees a thinner line, he may then make some modification in his handling of the pen and get the kind of line he wants.
Mr. Eisenberg. Is this similar to the retouching you mentioned earlier as being an evidence of forgery?
Mr. Cole. I would say no, since it is done in such an apparently spontaneous and confident manner. There is not the slightest evidence that any effort was made to conceal the presence of this retracing. I think I should say that generally the person producing a false or spurious writing does retouching in order to correct some imperfection of a letter, that is, he criticizes his work as he goes along and if he encounters a part which he thinks is incorrect with respect to form, he may then retouch it in order to correct it. It would be very unusual in any false or spurious writing to see any extensive retracing.
Mr. Eisenberg. Any further questions on this card?
Representative Ford. No further questions.
Mr. Eisenberg. Mr. Cole, I now hand you an item which appears to be a selective service system notice of classification with the name "Alek James Hidell" printed and the same signature, and a photograph which appears to be the photograph of Lee Harvey Oswald—and I state for the record that this item was obtained from the wallet of Lee Harvey Oswald following his apprehension after the assassination and the murder of Officer Tippit—and I ask you whether you have examined that item?
Mr. Cole. I have.
Mr. Eisenberg. May that be admitted as 795, Mr. Chairman?
Representative Ford. It may be admitted.
(Commission Exhibit No. 795 was marked and received in evidence.)