pathology of lying-第11节
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quent。 We saw her on many occasions and tried to get at the truth of her stories of ill treatment and the like。 Investigators found there was unquestionably some truth in her statements； but never from first to last in the many interviews which we had with her was there ever any possibility of separating truth from falsehood。 The girl simply did not seem to know the difference between the two。 What was more； we found that the mother presented the same characteristics。 She also； by her most curious and complicated fabrications； led even her most rational sympathizers into a bewildering maze。 A woman of magnificent presence； tremendous will； and good intelligence； she nevertheless was soon found to be absolutely unreliable in her statements。 This woman's numerous inventions； so far as we have been able to ascertain； have been quite beside the mark of any possible advantage to be gained by her or her family。 Naturally we here thought heredity played an important role； until our final discovery that the two were not related。 The details which we know about this case would cover scores of pages。 In summary it stands as follows：
On the physical side Beula at 17 was a striking looking young woman； but of very poor development。 She was only 4 ft。 7 in。 in height and weighed 102 lbs。 Expression was quiet； pleasant； and responsive。 Unusually clear and pleasant voice。 Typical Hutchinsonian teeth。 All other examination negative。 Menstruation first at 13 1/2； normal and regular。
Notwithstanding the mother's report of her being subnormal mentally； we found that she had fair ability。 Her range of information was good。 She was always desirous of writing compositions； she wanted to be a story writer； she said； but her diction was very immature and her spelling was poor； making altogether a very mild production。 Never did we see any essential incoherency in her mental processes； or any other signs of aberration。 A series of association tests given in an endeavor to discover some of the facts which her mother maintained she herself was desirous of knowing （but really could not have been）； failed to elicit anything but the most normal reactions； even to ideas about which we considered there must be some feeling…tone。
On the ‘‘Aussage'' Test only ten items were given from the picture upon free recital。 On questioning twelve more details were reported correctly； but no less than seven of these alleged facts were incorrect。 Only one out of the five suggestions offered was accepted。
No purpose would be served in recounting the details of falsehood which were told by this girl about family affairs； about the places she had worked； about the facts of home treatment； etc。 Her lying was not done cleverly； but it served to create much confusion and gave considerable trouble to a number of social agencies that came in contact with the family。 Even when she was applying directly for help her lies stood greatly in the way of achieving anything for her。 The confusion was vastly added to by the many vagaries of her alleged parent； but； even so； one of the chief accusations of the prevaricating mother was that the girl herself was a terrible liar。 The whole situation was rendered completely absurd and needless by the behavior of both the woman and the girl。
After we had known this case for about three years and the truth about Beula's antecedents had come to light as the result of a new person stepping in on the scene； the girl's tendency to falsification seemed quite inexplicable。 No one who came to know the circumstances； even as we previously had been acquainted with them； felt they could blame Beula much for her attitude of dissatisfaction and her tendencies to run away。 We felt； too； that the mystery which had always hovered about this girl was sufficient to have led her to be fanciful and imaginative and that the fabrications of the self…styled ‘‘mother'' did not form an atmosphere in which the girl could well achieve respect for truth。 But Beula's almost confusional state concerning the facts of her family life seemed quite explicable in the light of what we at last ascertained。 Soon after we first saw the girl the woman had told us a most remarkable tale of how it was she happened to be the mother of the child； and the attempt was then made by several to straighten out the apparent doubt in the girl's mind。 But it seems that the clever and tragic tale of the mother； although well calculated to do so； did not entirely cover the points remembered by this girl of her earliest childhood。 Evidently for a time Beula tried to correlate the two； but doubt grew apace。 It seemed almost as if her doubt as to who she was led her to say first one thing and then another。 It was particularly at a period of stress of this kind that she was figuring in other cities as the ‘‘mystery girl。''
The earlier facts of the case probably never will be known。 Of the many details known by us it is sufficient to say that the woman adopted Beula as a young child and proceeded by devious methods to weave a network of lies about the situation of their relationship。 Who Beula's parents really were neither she nor any one else of whom we have heard； ever knew。
Beula showed such delinquent tendencies after a time that she had to be sent to a corrective institution。 After coming out she made off in the world for herself before we could give her the information soon afterwards obtained by us。 At her last visit we felt that her report in a terribly tragic mood on the family conditions was totally unreliable。 She went forth to weave； no doubt； new fabrications。 … Early experiences： Peculiar treatment Case 2。 and excessive misrepresentations Girl； age 19 years。 in home circle。 Mental influences： Contagion from long continued untruthfulness at home。 Mystery of antecedents。 Mental conflict about the above。 Heredity and developmental conditions （？） Hutchinsonian teeth only clew。 Delinquencies： Mentality： Lying。 Fair ability with Running away。 poor educational Sex。 advantages。 …
CASE 3
Summary： In its wonderfully clear presentation of characteristics this case classically represents the type。 A woman of 27 years （usually claiming to be 17）； during a career of 7 or 8 years has engaged in an excessive amount of misrepresentation； often to the extent of swindling。 Alleging herself to be merely a girl and without a family； she has repeatedly gained protection； sometimes for a year or more； in homes where her prevaricating tendencies； appearing with ever new details； have sooner or later thwarted her own interests。 By extraordinary methods she has often simulated illnesses which have demanded hospital treatment。 For long she was lost to her family； traveling about under different names； making her way by her remarkable abilities and unusual presence。
This case illustrates； again； two points we have often made； namely； that the difficulty of getting safe data concerning genetics increases rapidly with age； and that the chance of altering tendencies after years of character formation vastly diminishes。 These features appear strongly here； yet our long knowledge of the person and of the many details of her career gives the history great interest。
A young woman； whom we will call Inez B。； a name she once assumed for a time； arrived at a girls' boarding home in Chicago with merely a small traveling bag and money sufficient only for a few days。 In appearance and conversation she gave distinct evidences of refinement。 She showed indecision and confessed she knew no one in the city。
Just at this time a wealthy eastern girl； Agnes W。； was missing from her home； and the police everywhere were on the lookout for her。 A detective who was ordered to visit the boarding club showed a picture of Agnes W。 to the matron； who instantly discerned a likeness to Inez and informed him of her recent arrival。 Inez was questioned； but could or would give no satisfactory response concerning her own home。 She maintained she was just 17 and had come to Chicago to make her own way in the world。 After some account of herself； the details of which were somewhat contradictory； it was inferred that she might be Agnes W。 She vehemently denied it； but being the same age and some likeness being discerned； the questioning was continued。 Various matters of Agnes W。's antecedents were gone into and after a time Inez burst out with； ‘‘Well； if you must have it so； I am Agnes W。'' The girl was thereupon taken in charge by the police authorities； and she herself registered several times as Agnes W。 After the family of the latter had been communicated with； however； it was ascertained that Inez was not the lost heiress。
She now said that anyhow she really was a runaway girl。 She had left her adopted parents because they were cruel and immoral。 It was her unhappy brooding over her own affairs that led her to lie about being the other girl。 She insisted she was sorry for the many lies s
