Charred documents

This presentation deals with Charred Documents. What are charred documents? How are the collected? How are the analysed and etc.

1. Seminar report on “CHARRED DOCUMENTS” Nishant Pahuja Roll no. 22 M . Sc . Forensic Science, 2 nd Semester Session 2017-18

2. CONTENTS Introduction Documents: general description Charred Document: What, why, where? Methodology Handling of charred documents Stabilization of charred documents Separation of charred documents Collection and Preservation Deciphering of charred documents Photographic Methods Contact Process Filter Photography Infrared Photography

3. Visual Methods Reflectivity Method Alcohol- Glycerin Immersion Method Silver Nitrate Method Chloral Hydrate Treatment Potassium Ferrocyanide Application Fluorescence in Ultraviolet Light Case Study Summary Conclusions References

4. Documents, is the one word that we all are familiar with in our day to day life. We come across the word documents on our daily basis, such as passport, A adhar, passbook, mark sheet, etc. to name a few. In the ancient era, palm leaves, wooden boards, clothes, etc., were the source of documents. Even inscriptions found on the walls of the ancient monuments, which provide great information about that era . Introduction Fig. 1.1: Pictorial representation of document on stone/wall Fig. 1.2: Pictorial representation of an ancient document Fig. 1.3: Pictorial representation of an ancient document on palm leaf

5. Any surface movable or immovable used for making certain writing (visible or invisible) over it may be called a document . Writing includes certain marks or certain symbols, in addition to usual scripts . [1] According to Indian Penal Code, Section 29 , The word “document” denotes any matter expressed or described upon any substance by means of letters, figures, or marks, or by more than one of those means, intended to be used, or which may be used, as evidence of that matter . [2]

6. In the Forensic science laboratories, various types of questioned document cases are reported, such as : [5] Forgery Counterfeiting Mail Fraud Kidnapping Theft Arson Burglary Homicide Serial Murder Robbery

7. Charred Documents: what, why, where ? A document that has become blackened and brittle by burning or exposure to excessive heat is classified as charred document. [6] Accidentally burnt documents or those intentionally destroyed are referred to the forensic laboratories for restoration and decipherment of writings on them. The charred documents are very important in some cases. These cases have been reported in which the act of arson was done just to destroy the important documents. The culprits usually find an easy way to destroy the evidences in the form of documents is to burn them.

8. The documents become black due to heat. The edges of the documents become curled. The document becomes fragile. Due to the fragility developed the document may break into pieces even by a small amount of pressure. The charred document always have a point during its burning period at which the written material is clearly seen and at that time the photograph of the document should be taken if possible [9] Characteristics of the charred documents

9. Fig. 1.4: Pictorial representation of charred documents Fig. 1.5: Photograph of a single charred document with the ABFO scale.

10. Fig. 1.6: A case of arson–Burning of important bank documents [6]

11. Forensic Science is the field that deals with the facts related to evidences. There is large number of evidences encountered at the scene of crime. Each evidence retrieved is unique in itself; due to this unique methodological processes are applied for respective evidences. There core methodology applied to all the evidences is same, but they vary at their execution level . Methodology

12. Charred documents are highly fragile in nature, and usually do not remain in their original shape and may get distorted. The methodology being followed in cases of charred documents is as follows:

13. Systematic representation of Methodology followed in case of charred Documents:

14. Switch off the fans and close the windows of the room to restrict burning of materials. Do not disturb the container in which the document is burnt. Stabilize the charred mass as far as possible using stabilizers by spraying it gently over, as the charred documents are highly fragile. When there is a heap of charred mass, try to procure partially burnt documents from the inner middle part of the heap as unburnt documents may be available due to incomplete burning. Do not try to remove the pages of stacks of paper, lift them as it is. Scattered pages should be lifted using spatula and transfer to the glass sheet. If conditions are such that the original container cannot be taken from the site, it is necessary to transfer the documents to another receptacle which serves as a temporary accommodation. Charred documents found singly should be handled with the greatest of care. Flat bladed tweezers are particularly useful for picking up these fragments. Handling Procedure to be followed: [6]

15. Stabilization The main problem in the deciphering of the charred document is its fragility. It is that much fragile that it cannot be handled with the hands. One of them is placing the charred documents in the wet moisture chamber for several hours and the spraying of the plasticizers for stabilization. Gum acacia is another material which can be used for the purpose of stabilization of the charred document but it has a bad property of sticking the glass on which the charred document is placed with the charred document. The most preferable is the polyvinyl acetate [9]

16. Fig. 2.2.1: This is how humidifying chamber looks like. [8]

17. Separation Many theories have been advanced for separating charred documents. C. A. Mitchell advocates soaking the bundles of documents in hot water, for theprocess of separating charred documents. Others suggest a dilute glycerin -water bath which not only tends to separate the documents, but also renders them more plyable . Another theory concerns soaking the bundles in alcohol, a procedure designed to break the bondage between fragments, thus allowing them to be separated.. [ 9 ] Fig. 2.3.1: A photograph sample of mass charred document. [6 ]

18. Fig. 2.3.2.: A question document examiner separating the charred documents manually.

19. Case Study 1 In a case handled by John F. Tyrrell (Fig No.), only manual methods were used for separating documents found in a strong box. The documents treated by Tyrrell consisted mostly of bonds which had been tied together with string, producing deep wrinkles where the string had held them together. Removal of the bond pages was thus made difficult, for not only had the bonds been folded several times, but the binding string had produced deep wrinkles that interfered with the stripping of individual sheets from the bundle. It was found necessary to separate each folded side into fragments which were later fitted together with adjacent sections for decipherment. In some cases this separation was accomplished with the blade of a pocket knife, inserting it between the outer layer and the main parcel and prying off the section. In other cases, where there was excessive wrinkling, a long pointed instrument was used, and in still other cases it was found advantageous to use a pair of fine pliers with curved nippers. [10]

20. Case Study 2 In the Philippine problem handled by David A. Black, ordinary 18x20 ferrotype plates were used for the support on which to reassemble and store the charred document during the long decipherment process. When work was discontinued each night the plates were placed in a special rack, where the fragments were held undisturbed until further examination. Even small pieces of documents were placed on the plates in the same relative position in which they were found in the safe-deposit boxes. The plates were numbered for ready reference in later tabulating the results of the examination. [11]

21. Dr. Hans Gross , famous authority on criminal investigation methods, describes a method of permanently fastening burnt papers to a support so that they can be examined in a flattened state. The procedure suggested is as follows: [12] Softening of the fragments in water, damp air or steam, the latter being furnished by an ordinary tea kettle. The next step is to provide a support which will permit inspection of both sides of the fragment (glass slab preferred) . The final requirement for the process is a transparent quick drying adhesive of the gum arabic or celluloid-acetone type. Various variations of this method are also described by him.

22. Collection and Preservation Should be picked with great care by putting a hard paper underneath the charred documents. A stiff sheet of paper is inserted beneath the charred mass in the fire place. The charred mass is withdrawn by pulling the paper and its burden on to a stiff sheet of cardboard. The charred mass supported on the paper and the cardboard is covered by drawing the corners of the sheet of brown paper together. It is then placed in a special kind of cardboard box known as the corrugated box in which there are layers of cotton and tissue paper on which the charred document is placed. (as shown in figure 2.4.1) The charred documents should be put very carefully in the corrugated box without any breakage.

23. The topmost layer of this corrugated box consists of cotton so that the document does not break during transportation. The corrugated box should be labelled and sealed with all the necessary details given below: Date and time of evidence collection. Place of evidence collection. Signature of IO and two witnesses. Number of evidences in one box etc. [ 6 ] Fig. 2.4.1: Arrangement of layers in the corrugated box.

24. Decipherment Decipherment is the discovery of the meaning of texts written in ancient or obscure languages or scripts. Decipherment in cryptography refers to decryption. The term is used sardonically in everyday language to describe attempts to read poor handwriting.

25. Photographic Methods [20] Contact Process: It is known for many years that certain gases and vapours will fog the emulsion of a photographic plate or film without exposure to light. Filter Photography: The process requires the use of a Wratten #48 deep blue filter in conjunction with commercial film. It appears to accentuate the differences in actinic power of the charred document background as compared to those portions of the paper on which printing ink has been deposited. Infrared Photography: One of the most highly publicized decipherment procedures is infrared photography. A widely known method for taking infrared photographs utilizes a Wratten 87, deep red filter in conjunction with Eastman infrared plates.

26. Visual Methods [20] Reflectivity Method: The simplest and yet one of the most versatile decipherment procedures is that in which burnt documents are examined by a controlled light source directed at various angles relative to the paper surface. Alcohol- Glycerin Immersion Method: The components of this solution are 2 parts water, 5 parts alcohol (rubbing), and 3 parts glycerin , in which the documents are immersed for varying periods of time. Potassium Ferrocyanide Application: A large percentage of the writing inks in use today contain iron. Its known that certain chemical reagents cause a colour reaction when combined with iron. Under ideal conditions, the residues of iron base inks on a charred document can be made to react positively.

27. Silver Nitrate Method: Discovered by Superintendent Cherrill of Scotland Yard. Cherrill places the carbonized paper on a glass plate resting at the bottom of an ordinary photographic processing pan. A solution of 5 % aqueous silver nitrate is poured over the fragment and a second glass plate is then placed on top of the fragment. The fragments treated should be protected from direct sunlight and within three hours any writing developed is visible as a black image against the grey background of the paper. Chloral Hydrate Treatment: Developed during World War II by two Englishmen, H. J. Walls and W. D. Taylor. A solution of 25 % chloral hydrate in alcohol is carefully applied to both sides of the charred document with a soft camel hair brush, or the fragment may be immersed in the chloral hydrate solution. Then put it on heat resistent glass and insert it in an oven heated to 60º C. When dry, repeat the process several more times, and, on the last immersion, a 10% glycerin solution is added to the chloral hydrate, and the final drying is carried out. The gradual accumulation of chloral hydrate crystals creates a "clarifying" action on the burnt figures or letters. For ex. printing ink, typewriting, and certain iron gall inks show improved legibility when treated in this manner, while "washable" analine dye inks do not react well.

28. Case Study A bank manager of a nationalized bank had defrauded huge amount from the bank by manipulating a number of bank documents. He then tried to destroy all the crucial documents by setting them n fire, so that the vital evidences are lost. A thorough search of the crime scene revealed presence of an intact gas cylinder at an unusual place, but all the valuable documents of the bank were found burnt/partially burnt around the area, along with the dead body of the bank manager. It was also found that the crucial documents relating to frauds committed by the bank manager were also destroyed along with other bank instruments. Decipherment of some of the charred documents led to the conclusion that huge fraud was committed, involving large amount of transactions by the bank manager. The fire was intentional rather than accidental due to the presence of a gas cylinder. As the record room was closed and probably the manager could not escape in time, he died due to suffocation caused by poisonous gases released by the burning of documents/lack of oxygen etc. [22]

29. Summary The charred documents are very much important in some cases. Many times there are cases in which the charred document gets burned up. The documents which are burnt partially in the act of burning are a charred document and these documents can be reverted back to a readable form if the proper method and expertise is applied. The characteristics of the charred documents are as follows: - The documents become black due to heat. The edges of the documents become curled. The document becomes fragile. Due to the fragility developed the document may break into pieces even by a small amount of pressure. The charred document always have a point during its burning period at which the written material is clearly seen and at that time the photograph of the document should be taken if possible. Charred documents should be picked with great care by putting a hard paper underneath the charred documents.

30. For transportation to the expert it is placed in a special kind of cardboard box known as the corrugated box in which there are layers of cotton and tissue paper on which the charred document is placed. The main problem in the deciphering of the charred document is its fragility. It is that much fragile that it cannot be handled with the hands. So, the first step in deciphering of the charred document is to make it stable for reading or deciphering the matter on the documents. There are number of ways which have been in use for the stabilization of the charred documents. One of them is placing the charred documents in the wet moisture chamber for several hours and the spraying of the plasticizers for stabilization. In charred documents the written matter is generally unaffected and can also be deciphered by different photographic and visual methods.

31. Conclusions It is concluded that in many instances the only, method of deciphering a charred document is to flatten it as described above and then to adjust the lightening so that the residue of any writing or printing thereon is rendered visible because the reflecting power of the surface is modified. If this simple procedure fails to reveal anything, there is little prospect of decipherment being accomplished by any of the chemical or other treatments which have been advocated. The following conclusions are also noted: Photographic methods are much less time consuming then visual decipherment methods. Photographic methods are highly cost efficient. Photographic methods are rather non-destructive then Visual methods.

32. References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document. (accessed on 28 th March, 2018) Section 29, Indian Penal Code, Universal’s Criminal Manual, Universal Law Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., 2015, ISBN 978-81-7534-917-9 https://www.crimesceneinvestigatoredu.org/forensic-document-examiner/ (accessed on 28 th March, 2018) https://quizlet.com/9486522/guillory-criminal-investigation-chapter2-flash-cards/ (accessed on 28 th March, 2018) http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/docs/QuestionedDocuments.pdf (accessed on 28 th March, 2018) A Forensic Guide for Crime Investigators, Charred Documents, NICFS Wilson R. Harrison, Suspect Documents their scientific examination, Universal Law Publishing co. Pvt. Ltd., 2008 (Fourth Edition), ISBN 978-81-7534-071-8 Dr. A. K. Gupta, Charred and Torn Documents, Question Document, e-PG Pathshala .

33. Donald Doud , Charred Documents, Their Handling and Decipherment: A Summary of Available Methods for Treating Burnt Papers, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Volume 43, Issue 6, 1953. John F. Tyrrell , The Decipherment of Charred Documents, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Volume 30, Issue 6, 1939. David A. Black, Decipherment of Charred Documents, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Volume 38, Issue 5, 1948. Hans Gross, Preserving and Deciphering Burnt Paper, Criminal Investigation A Practical Textbook for Magistrates, Police Officers and Lawyers. (English translation) 1906 (Fifth Edition)