The two almost identical phone logs?

[Myster]

Not sure what to make of these two almost identical phone logs though... any ideas?

I've not reduced the size so they're best downloaded, examined and compared in your own image viewer...

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[Caroline]

All pointless pursuits, imo.

Not sure what to make of these two almost identical phone logs though... any ideas?

I've not reduced the size so they're best downloaded, examined and compared in your own image viewer...

Yes, I've seen these before, personally I think that West made a pigs ear of writing out the log the first time and rewrote it. He then spelt 'Tolleshunt' incorrectly and had to write it out again (there are several versions of this log).

[Myster]

Yes, I've seen these before, personally I think that West made a pigs ear of writing out the log the first time and rewrote it. He then spelt 'Tolleshunt' incorrectly and had to write it out again (there are several versions of this log).

The letter formation and position/spacing of the words is almost exactly the same in both though, so I get the feeling that the one on the right, being darker and slightly blurred, is a carbon copy of the left one.  The words - "TEL. MALD. 860209", "ILLNESS" and "5 Persons killed - CID dealing" might have been added later after the top page of the phone log pad was torn off (or the carbon paper removed) before being fully completed.

[Opal]

Now that you point it out  Myster....it is obvious that the right hand side of the log is a carbon copy of the left.  I agree with the extra words being added after the carbon paper was removed.

[Caroline]

The letter formation and position/spacing of the words is almost exactly the same in both though, so I get the feeling that the one on the right, being darker and slightly blurred, is a carbon copy of the left one.  The words - "TEL. MALD. 860209", "ILLNESS" and "5 Persons killed - CID dealing" might have been added later after the top page of the phone log pad was torn off (or the carbon paper removed) before being fully completed.

Maybe but Tolleshunt is spelled differently, one is incorrect.

[Opal]

Is it though Caroline? It looks to me as though some of the printing as come through from the carbon paper from earlier writing.

[Caroline]

Is it though Caroline? It looks to me as though some of the printing as come through from the carbon paper from earlier writing.

Yes, in the first example it's spelled Toleshunt and the second Tollshunt. Also 'scene' is spelled incorrectly in both, in the first it is spelled 'scence' and in the second 'seene'.

[Myster]

I printed out both pages on A4, with letters as near as damit equal in scale, then held them up to the light, one above the other, and they matched fairly well, words aligning accurately.  So I don't think they are two totally different versions written at different times. Where they do differ is, as you say, with the spelling of "TOLLESHUNT" and "SCENE", and also with additional inserted wording which I mentioned in reply #738...

[Caroline]

I printed out both pages on A4, with letters as near as damit equal in scale, then held them up to the light, one above the other, and they matched fairly well, words aligning accurately.  So I don't think they are two totally different versions written at different times. Where they do differ is, as you say, with the spelling of "TOLLESHUNT" and "SCENE", and also with additional inserted wording which I mentioned in reply #738...

I have to admit, this is odd  &%+((£

[APRIL]

I have to admit, this is odd  &%+((£

I have, in the past, suggested that there were always duplicates in police work. Originally blue/black carbon paper was used. This was superseded by carbon impregnated(?) paper. It certainly appears, from the letter formation, that the same hand was responsible, by whatever means, for both original and 'back-up'(?)

[Holly Goodhead]

All pointless pursuits, imo.

Not sure what to make of these two almost identical phone logs though... any ideas?

I've not reduced the size so they're best downloaded, examined and compared in your own image viewer...

The phone log stationery was obviously standard government issued.  As APRIL has said, and I vaguely remember  , such stationery pads came with a piece of carbon paper that was slotted between the pages.  It was very flimsy and any slight movement when writing caused the sort of blurring and movement seen in the report.  Where a word is missing this might be as a result of the carbon being damaged due to pressure eg striking something through and then it doesn't have any carbon left in that area to copy.   As the sheet of carbon was loose and used for the whole pad it often became damaged by being dropped, collecting debris.  Also creases prevented copying.  Sometimes if the copy was illegible, often apparent after the carbon paper had been removed, an attempt would be made to realign and go over the master which was never exact.  That's what it looks like to me anyway.   

[Myster]

The phone log stationery was obviously standard government issued.  As APRIL has said, and I vaguely remember , such stationery pads came with a piece of carbon paper that was slotted between the pages.  It was very flimsy and any slight movement when writing caused the sort of blurring and movement seen in the report.  Where a word is missing this might be as a result of the carbon being damaged due to pressure eg striking something through and then it doesn't have any carbon left in that area to copy.   As the sheet of carbon was loose and used for the whole pad it often became damaged by being dropped, collecting debris.  Also creases prevented copying.  Sometimes if the copy was illegible, often apparent after the carbon paper had been removed, an attempt would be made to realign and go over the master which was never exact.  That's what it looks like to me anyway.

Vaguely remember!!!?... I've still got some CP together with a manual typewriter hidden away in a cupboard, just in case my computer packs up.

If you have a printer, want to try superimposing the two pages and holding them up to the light to compare, use the attachments below.  One is definitely a direct (carbon?) copy of the other, the only differences being in the handwriting and spelling of certain words/phrases mentioned in the earlier posts.

[Caroline]

Vaguely remember!!!?... I've still got some CP together with a manual typewriter hidden away in a cupboard, just in case my computer packs up.

If you have a printer, want to try superimposing the two pages and holding them up to the light to compare, use the attachments below.  One is definitely a direct (carbon?) copy of the other, the only differences being in the handwriting and spelling of certain words/phrases mentioned in the earlier posts.

I did this and it does all pretty much match up except for the spelling errors. I think it might be likely that some details were added later as they gathered more info, perhaps West separated the copy and original prematurely and just wrote in the extra details on both. There certainly can't be anything suspicious as both logs contain more or less the same information - just a bit sloppy.

[John]

Not sure what to make of these two almost identical phone logs though... any ideas?

I've not reduced the size so they're best downloaded, examined and compared in your own image viewer...

One would appear to be the original and the other a duplicate with bits added.