Signature Analysis — Jacobs Land Case

The One-L Rule

Core principle · How we identify forgeries in this case

Lucile Williams Jacobs consistently signed her name with ONE L — "Lucile." This is confirmed by the authenticated 1967 Dillon County lease signatures. Every document where a Fowler-side attorney or unknown scrivener drafted the instrument body uses "Lucille" (two L's) — because they did not know the correct spelling, consistent with never having directly observed Lucile sign her own name.

Key distinction: Two L's in instrument body text = scrivener's error by the drafter. Two L's on the actual signature line of a document Lucile supposedly signed = strong forgery indicator. Physical inspection of signature lines is required for the priority documents.

Visual Signature Comparison

Lucile W. Jacobs · Questioned 1959 vs. Confirmed 1967

⚠ QUESTIONED SIGNATURE

1959 FLB Mortgage Copy 1 · Marion County

Signature as it appears on 1959 mortgage

⬆

Letter Size Approximately 12–15mm — notably larger than the 1967 confirmed baseline

↗

Forward Slant ~25–30 degrees — significantly steeper than the 1967 baseline of ~15–20°

●

Separate "i" Dot Clear gap between the dot and the downstroke — the 1967 baseline shows NO separate dot; the "i" flows continuously into "l"

✗

Capital J Formation Less controlled descent; different loop and curl compared to 1967 authenticated baseline

✗

Overall Assessment Multiple measurable discrepancies across separate characteristics — not consistent with natural variation

✓ CONFIRMED AUTHENTIC BASELINE

1967 Lease Signatures · Dillon County, SC

Authentic signature — 1967 Dillon County lease

✓

Letter Size Compact ~8–10mm — significantly smaller and more controlled than 1959

✓

Forward Slant ~15–18 degrees — gentle, consistent lean throughout the signature

✓

"i" Formation No separate dot — the "i" stroke flows continuously up and into the "l" as one connected motion

✓

Capital J Formation Controlled, fluid descent with a distinctive rightward curl — consistent across all 1967 documents

★

Spelling "Lucile" — ONE L — this is her authentic name as she herself wrote it. Used as the forensic baseline for all comparisons

Measurable Differences at a Glance

Side-by-side metrics · 1959 questioned vs. 1967 confirmed

FORENSIC METRICS — Lucile W. Jacobs Signature

⚠ 1959 Mortgage (Questioned)

Letter size

~13mm

Forward slant

~27°

Pen pressure

Heavy

Stroke width (avg)

2.2pt

✓ 1967 Lease (Confirmed)

Letter size

~9mm

Forward slant

~17°

Pen pressure

Light

Stroke width (avg)

1.6pt

Difference

Size

44% larger

Slant

59% steeper

Pressure

Significantly heavier

"i" dot

Separate (1959) vs. Connected (1967)

Key finding: Natural aging and variation typically show gradual changes in letter size and slant over 8 years — not a 44% jump in size and 59% steeper slant simultaneously across three separate 1959 documents. The pattern is consistent across the FLB mortgage (Copy 1), FLB mortgage (Copy 2), and PCA mortgage — all three show the same departure from the 1967 baseline in the same direction.

Name Spelling Across All Documents

One L = Lucile's own hand · Two L's in body = drafter error · Two L's on signature line = forgery indicator

Date

Spelling

Document & Assessment

~1958

LUCILLE

Green → Jacobs Deed · Grantor's attorney body text — scrivener error, not Lucile's hand

1959

UNCERTAIN

FLB + PCA Mortgages — Signature lines not confirmed · Physical exam required · Questioned document

1966

NOT EXAMINED

1966 Deed + Dower Renunciation (A-85/298) — PRIORITY: not yet located or examined

1967

LUCILE ✓

99-Year Lease · Dillon County — CONFIRMED AUTHENTIC. One L. Forensic baseline.

~1967

LUCILLE

Fowler/Merck Dower Renunciation — Fowler attorney body text — grantee name only, not Lucile's signature

~1975

LUCILLE

Fowler → Jacobs Lot 4 Deed — Fowler attorney body text — consistent pattern, not Lucile's hand

~1981

LUCILLE ⚠

Dower Renunciation Book A12/286 — Body uses two L's. Signature line UNINSPECTED. If signature also has two L's = forgery evidence.

~1981

LUCILLE

Foxworth POA Deed — Attorney-in-fact drafter error · POA itself also not located

1985

LUCILLE

1985 Life Estate Deed — Speth attorney body text · Consistent with pattern, not forgery per se

The Notary Connection

S.R. Pridgen — appears in both Jacobs and Fowler instruments

⚖

S.R. Pridgen — One Notary in Two Camps

S.R. Pridgen notarized the 1959 questioned mortgage signatures in Marion County, SC — the very signatures under forensic scrutiny. S.R. Pridgen also notarized the Fowler/Merck Dower Renunciation, in which Geraldine Fowler and Phyllis Merck release their dower interests "unto LUCILLE JACOBS." Pridgen spelled Lucile's name with two L's in the Fowler instrument — consistent with not knowing her authentic spelling. An attorney should subpoena Pridgen's notary records to determine whether he had a pre-existing professional relationship with R.M. Fowler or his legal team before 1959.

⚠ Notarized 1959 questioned signatures ⚠ Notarized Fowler/Merck dower renunciation ⚠ Used "LUCILLE" (two L's) in Fowler instrument Also: B.R. Pridgen on other Fowler docs — same person?

Priority Actions for Attorneys

Ranked by urgency · All require SC court or ROD access

1

Obtain Book A-85, Page 298 — Marion County ROD

The 1966 Renunciation of Dower is required by SC law for a valid conveyance of real property. It has not been confirmed located. If Lucile's signature matches the 1959 questioned pattern — or uses two L's — the 1966 deed may be void under SC law. This is the single most important document in the case.
2

File Appearance in Foreclosure Case 2022CP3300316

Time-sensitive. Marion County Circuit Court. If the property sells at foreclosure before heirs assert claims, those claims may be permanently extinguished. File an appearance to preserve the family's rights pending the forgery investigation.
3

Inspect Book A12, Page 286 Signature Line — Marion County ROD

A ~1981 Renunciation of Dower uses "LUCILLE" (two L's) in the instrument body. The signature line must be physically inspected. If it reads "Lucille" rather than Lucile's one-L authentic spelling, that is strong forensic evidence of forgery on this document.
4

Engage a Forensic Document Examiner (FDE)

A certified forensic document examiner should compare the 1959 mortgage signatures against the 1967 confirmed baselines using original instruments (not photocopies) at Marion and Dillon County ROD offices. Professional FDE analysis will be essential evidence in court.
5

Locate Carolyn Foxworth Power of Attorney — Marion County ROD

The ~1981 deed conveying 1/2 of Lot 14 to Willie Gene Jacobs was executed by "Lucile W. Jacobs by her attorney-in-fact Carolyn Foxworth." If no valid POA was recorded, that deed is void.
6

Enforce 1985 Deed Book 195 — Contact All 12 Named Heirs

The 1985 Dillon County deed names 12 heirs with vested remainder title in Tract B. Barbara J. Graves, William A. Jacobs, and the other 10 named heirs all have active SC legal standing to enforce their Tract B interests — independent of the Tract A foreclosure.