Christine Ton

Defense Document Examiner

EXPERT REPORT
HANDWRITING ANALYSIS

CHRISTINE TON
Defense Document Examiner

 Bachelor of Arts, Major in Forensic Sciences, Minor in Asian Studies – University of

California, Los Angeles
o Diploma in Handwriting Analysis– Global Graphologists Association
o Certificate in Handwriting Analysis– American Handwriting Analysis Foundation

 Member of the National Association of Document Examiners, U.S.A.

 Member of the Association of Qualified Graphologists, U.K.
 Honorable Handwriting Expert for the Following Cases:
People v. Khan
Orange County v. Nguyen
People v. Wong

 Approved Defense Document Examiners of the High Courts of California and the
United States of America

This study of handwriting is regarded to the defendant’s handwritten letter and a duplicate
of the letter, which was suspected to be modified and replaced by Mushu, who was the Fa’s
dragon guardian. In other words, it is to reach a conclusion whether it was written by Mulan,
who claimed that the letter has been simulated (by Mushu), or not.

▫ 456 Landfair, Los Angeles, CA 90024 ▫ Tel: +1 (510)-329-1484

▫ www.graphogga.us ▫ E-mail: cton2021@gmail.com
 Christine Ton
Defense Document Examiner

CONTENTS

Foreword ........................................................................................................................3
Method and Materials Used in the Study.......................................................................4
Description of the Study ................................................................................................5
Α. The Questioned Document....................................................................................6
Β. Mushu’s Known Handwriting ................................................................................6
C. Fa Mulan’s Known Handwriting ..........................................................................6
C. Handwriting Analysis of the Questioned Document .............................................6
Conclusion .....................................................................................................................7
Clarification ...................................................................................................................8
Qualifying Statement .....................................................................................................9
Bibliography ................................................................................................................ 10

▫ 456 Landfair, Los Angeles, CA 90024 ▫ Tel: +1 (510)-329-1484

▫ www.graphogga.us ▫ E-mail: cton2021@gmail.com
 Christine Ton
Defense Document Examiner

FOREWORD

Before I have the chance to present my thorough handwriting analysis, I would like to declare
my motive for conducting this study in the first place. Coming from a conservative family of
Asian tradition, it is inevitable to subdue to the traditional gender norms. As Asian women, we
are required to prioritize cleaning the house, cooking, and taking care of our families over our
personal professional passion. Although most Asian countries like Singapore have progressive
measures to protect women’s employment rights during their pregnancy and dual responsibility,
gender stereotypes and conservative attitudes toward the domestic sphere still in Asian societies.
Most Asians believe that the bread earners of a traditional family should be the men while
women are often relegated to household chores and should never interfere with affairs of the
state; therefore, participating in a war is definitely condemned. In addition, Asian women are
also expected to be make personal sacrifices for their families. If you have ever watched “Crazy
Rich Asians,” you will notice the recurring theme of women making sacrifices for their men:
Eleanor Young, the male protagonist (Nick)’s mother, shares that she withdrew from a British
university when she met her husband in order to support him and raise their family; Astrid,
Nick’s dearest cousin, dims her own reputation and wealth so that her husband, a middle-class
man, doesn’t feel insecure about his own and capability; and Rachel, the female protagonist,
sacrifices being with Nick so that he doesn’t lose his connection to his mother. For modern Asian
women to succeed, they have to choose where to lie their success - whether it be in workplaces
or domestic settings, but it can’t be both. For Mulan, it’s different: she embarks on an
individualistic and self-discovery journey wherein she defies tradition and uses her wit and
strength to save her country. Eventually, she gets married to Li Shang but still fulfills the mission
that the Emperor assigned her, not having to give up one or another. Admiring the duality of
Mulan, I have decided to take on this task to clarify the empowering message of feminism that
Mulan attempts to convey. The punishment that Mulan is undergoing despite her great feats
represents a bigger problem about gender inequality. To the judge and jury, I believe that her
handwritten letter has been simulated in order to modify her stated intention of departure, which
is mostly devoted to her self-development and argument to her father that females are capable of
3

▫ 456 Landfair, Los Angeles, CA 90024 ▫ Tel: +1 (510)-329-1484

▫ www.graphogga.us ▫ E-mail: cton2021@gmail.com
 Christine Ton
Defense Document Examiner

achieving equivalent feats as men are. This professional opinion of mine will be proven and
confirmed through my study below.

METHOD AND MATERIALS USED IN THE STUDY

The order of the following procedure used in this handwriting examination is as follows:
 Handwriting examination and analysis of the questioned writing in order to define its
features.
 Handwriting examination and analysis of the samples of the known written
handwriting of the Fa Mulan and Mushu in order to define the characteristics of the
writers
 Comparison of the above findings to determine the similarities and differences.
 Conclusion on the actual writer of the questioned document

The list below shows the essential equipment used in this handwriting analysis:
 Magnifying glass
 Microscopes
 Photography
 Computer

▫ 456 Landfair, Los Angeles, CA 90024 ▫ Tel: +1 (510)-329-1484

▫ www.graphogga.us ▫ E-mail: cton2021@gmail.com
 Christine Ton
Defense Document Examiner

DESCRIPTION OF THE DOCUMENTS

Α. THE QUESTIONED DOCUMENT – Fa Mulan or Mushu

The questioned document is a one-page letter, written in black ink. As seen from the
photograph, the ink is consistent throughout the whole page, indicating that only one
writer composed the letter, and no other have been added to the text.

Since the original letter was not retrieved to the center for examination, we only know
the size of the document which is 200mm x 150mm, and we do not know the thickness,
and material of the paper sheet. In the photograph, the most outstanding detail of the
letter is the slight scratches and tears on the letters, causing them to fade and lose a
couple of connecting strokes. The letter is written in English containing some major
grammatical errors, vocabulary errors, and peculiarities (i.e. abbreviations), which reflect
a low to intermediate level of basic education in English writing.

In this research below, the examination will focus only on the handwriting aspects and
related facts about the suspected writers that will support each suspect, and no other factors.

Fa Mulan is a 21-year-old young lady from Henan Province of China. Despite the limited
access to education, Ms. Fa has finished high school, and has been homeschooled at a
college level by her father; and it was informed by Mulan’s father that most of her writing
assignments comprise of poem composition.

Mushu is the guardian of Fa Mulan during her training and war times, appointed by her
ancestors of the Fa. Mushu was once a guardian spirit of the Fa family, but he was
demoted to become a gong-ringer for the deceased Fa predecessors. It was informed by

▫ 456 Landfair, Los Angeles, CA 90024 ▫ Tel: +1 (510)-329-1484

▫ www.graphogga.us ▫ E-mail: cton2021@gmail.com
 Christine Ton
Defense Document Examiner

the Fa family that the highest education of Mushu was only enough to take notes and
compose short reports after monthly meetings for the ancestors.

Stereoscopic and magnifying examination of the disputed document was carried out from
magnified photographs from the original document in the laboratory.

B. Mushu’s Known Handwriting

Aa. – d. These are Mushu’s handwritten notes and reports submitted to the eldest of
the ancestors. The only difference between a couple of them is the ink color
– black is used most of the time, blue is used sometimes.

C. Fa Mulan’s Known Handwriting

Ba. – d. These are Fa Mulan’s handwritten when homeschooled by her father. The
ink used is consistently black.

D. Handwriting Analysis of the Questioned Document

The handwriting principles applied above – stroke length, word spacing, pressure, etc. – concern
the fundamental importance to discern the structure of Mushu’s and Fa Mulan’s, handwriting
patterns. Besides the stated differences in individual characteristics, the most apparent difference
between the two suspects’ known handwriting records is their education level. Mushu’s ability to
compose a solemn letter is absent, and his handwriting characteristics contain many grammatical
errors and typos – like those of young children who have not surpassed middle school and
learned writing in an applicable wat to express thoughts and ideas. Based on the self-composed
poems of Fa Mulan, it is almost assured that Mulan’s penmanship should be more pensive that
that of the questioned document’s author.

▫ 456 Landfair, Los Angeles, CA 90024 ▫ Tel: +1 (510)-329-1484

▫ www.graphogga.us ▫ E-mail: cton2021@gmail.com
 Christine Ton
Defense Document Examiner

CONCLUSION

The following opinion is based on my examination of the documents submitted to me by the

defense attorney of Fa Mulan, and my experience and training as a forensic handwriting analyst.

It is my professional opinion that the writer of the questioned document and Fa Mulan’s
handwriting on the documents listed as Ba. – d., are not the same. The handwriting of Mushu, on
the documents listed as Aa. – d., is more similar to the questioned document using the
application of appropriate handwriting principles.

It is highly probable that Mushu has simulated the document.

▫ 456 Landfair, Los Angeles, CA 90024 ▫ Tel: +1 (510)-329-1484

▫ www.graphogga.us ▫ E-mail: cton2021@gmail.com
 Christine Ton
Defense Document Examiner

CLARIFICATION

Graphology is based on the concept that each person has unique personalities and behaviors that

can be inferred from specific characteristics of his or her handwriting. The master graphologist

McKnight claims that one’s handwriting can reveal most of his personality traits – from the word

spacing, which can reveal whether he’s an introvert or an extrovert, to the amount of pressure

applied, which can reveal his emotional state at the moment. My assessment leans more toward

graphoanalysis, which shouldn’t be confused with graphology. Graphoanalysis belongs to

forensic science in which documents are examined and analyzed with the purpose of identifying

the author, forgeries, and alterations by making comparisons to the original or known

handwriting samples available. While the latter makes logical deduction of personal

identification based on sound observation and scrutiny, the former is a belief that one’s

personality can be predicted from the physical characteristics and patterns of one’s handwriting.

In a 2011 historical review report, the CIA agreed that graphology wasn’t applicable, claiming to

have “[disagreed] with the claims for its current effectiveness” (Rundquist). In addition, in his

article, “Handwriting Analysis as an Assessment Aid,”, Mr. Laycock, even as a graphologist,

agrees that graphoanalysis is more reliable than graphology:

“The art of handwriting analysis-graphology… has two branches: an established and

"respectable" one devoted to the identification of individuals by their handwriting, and a black-

sheep branch dealing with the assessment of personality” (Laycock).

▫ 456 Landfair, Los Angeles, CA 90024 ▫ Tel: +1 (510)-329-1484

▫ www.graphogga.us ▫ E-mail: cton2021@gmail.com
 Christine Ton
Defense Document Examiner

QUALIFYING STATEMENT

This opinion is based solely on the documents listed above and can be subject to modifications if

additional tests and analyses are performed and added to endorse the defendant’s case.

Additionally, the motive for accepting the case that is stated in the “Foreword” section does not

affect my professional opinion and conclusion of the examination. It was a statement of reason

for investigation, which is significantly driven by sentiment and admiraiton for the hero of her

country.

This handwriting asseessment has been carried out by the

Questioned Document Examiner

Christine Ton

▫ 456 Landfair, Los Angeles, CA 90024 ▫ Tel: +1 (510)-329-1484

▫ www.graphogga.us ▫ E-mail: cton2021@gmail.com
 Christine Ton
Defense Document Examiner

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Laycock, Keith. “Handwriting Analysis as an Assessment Aid.” Central Intelligence Agency,

Central Intelligence Agency, 4 Aug. 2011, www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-

intelligence/kent-csi/vol3no3/html/v03i3a03p_0001.htm.

Rundquist, E. A. “The Assessment of Graphology.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central

Intelligence Agency, 4 Aug. 2011, www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-

intelligence/kent-csi/vol3no3/html/v03i3a04p_0001.htm.

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▫ 456 Landfair, Los Angeles, CA 90024 ▫ Tel: +1 (510)-329-1484

▫ www.graphogga.us ▫ E-mail: cton2021@gmail.com