pathology of lying-第35节
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bout the money I took from my mother and used to put it back and then would say； ‘No； I just must have it。' ''
This girl had been working at different factories and homes since her mother's trial。 She confessed to thieving from stores。 The stealing she had done at home was； it seems； long before the death of the little child。 Libby made much of her mental states and of her dream…life in talking to us。 ‘‘I like to go to nickel shows。 I saw a sad piece once and if I feel sad now I think about it and it makes me want to go to my mother。 I have a funny feeling about going home。 I don't know what it is。 At night I dream about it and something keeps telling me to go home。 I want to go to an institution now and learn to do fancy work and to be good； and then I want to go home。''
Libby told us enough about her first father for us to know he had had a terrifically bad influence upon her。 She also long associated with bad companions who instructed her thoroughly in the ways of immorality。 She described attacks in which she felt weak and thought she was going to fall； but never did。 （The young child in the family who had epilepsy was no relation whatever to her。） She knew that her mother had long been living with her step…father in common…law relationship； but insisted on what was undoubtedly the truth； namely； that they were temperate and very respectable people。 Libby never gave us any explanation for her testimony against her mother； but acknowledged that she herself had been delinquent earlier。
The physical examination showed a normally developed girl： weight 108 lbs。； height 5 ft。 3 in。 Well shaped head and rather delicate features。 Her teeth showed a defective line in the enamel near the gums on the incisors and the cuspids。 Bites her finger nails。 Slight irregularity of the left pupil。 Careful examination of the eyes in other ways entirely negative。 Prompt reaction of pupils to light。 No sensory defect of importance。 Knee jerks active。 Heart sounds normal； and all other examination failed to show defect。 Complained of frequent headaches； but these were not of great severity。 After information from the mother we felt that Libby's feelings of weakness and tremblings were probably of the hysterical variety。
During the period in which we had Libby under observation she showed more or less emotional disturbance； but even so we were able to assure ourselves that her mental ability was fair。 We did not expect good results from formal education because in her case it had been very irregular。 Many of our ability tests； however； were done well； but she failed where she was asked to demonstrate good powers of concentration and attention。 We noted that she showed a very eager attitude toward her work； but was nervous about it。 Always pleasant demeanor。
Most significant results were obtained on the ‘‘Aussage'' or testimony test。 After viewing our standard picture she volunteered only 8 details in free recital。 On cross…examination she gave 21 more； but no less than 7 of these were incorrectly stated。 Then she accepted the 4 suggestions which were given her。 This result from a girl of her age and ability was exceedingly poor。
We never found any evidence whatever of aberrational mental conditions。 Our final diagnosis was ‘‘fair in mental ability with poor educational advantages。''
It should be definitely understood in considering this case that even to the time of our last interview with Libby； after she had acknowledged her own extensive prevarications； we had evidences of the unreliability of her word。 In giving details she never made any special effort to tell the truth； whether it was in regard to the date of her father's death or any other immaterial detail。 We were inclined to classify her as a pathological liar； as well as a case of pathological false accusation。 Her traits as a liar and a generally difficult case have； we learn； been maintained during her stay up to the present time in an institution for delinquent girls。
From the fairly intelligent mother； who cooperated well with us； we obtained a carefully stated developmental history。 During pregnancy with Libby the mother was run over by a bicycle； but was not much injured。 The child was born at full term and was of normal size and vitality。 Instruments were used； but no damage was known to have been done。 Libby walked and talked early。 A couple of times when she was an infant she had convulsions； but never after that。 From 7 weeks until she was 3 years old there was constant trouble on account of some form of indigestion。 For a time at that age she was in the hospital； but the mother was never told exactly what the trouble was。 Her stomach was large。 As an older child she was subject to fits of anger when she could not have her way。 She never had anything that was suggestive of epilepsy。 Twice she fainted； but once was when she came home half frozen one winter's day。 At 11 years she had pneumonia。 She menstruated at 14 years。
The heredity and family history in this case is of great interest。 Libby's mother went to work for her first husband's family in the old country。 At about that time this man's first wife died； but he had previously left her。 He came of a good family； he was himself； however； a hard…drinking man。 He left two children by his first wife with his parents and came to this country with Libby's mother。 Here they lived in a common…law marriage relationship for many years； and two children （one of them Libby） were born to them。 The man continued to be a terrible drunkard and was probably insane at times。 He once bought a rifle to kill his family。 He was notorious for his great changeableness of disposition。 Sometimes he would be very pleasant； and then quickly be seized by some impulse when he would grind his teeth； become very angry； and use vile language。 Even when sober he would go along talking to himself and people would follow him on the street to hear what he was saying。 He threatened often to kill his wife。 He deserted her at times for months together。 He only partially supported his family and his wife worked as a washerwoman。 She left him once； but later went back to him。
In evidence of the character of this man and his wife we have seen several statements from reliable people。 The man's son by his first wife came to this country and lived with them。 He found his own father impossiblea terribly bad man who was continually fighting at home。 He himself urged his step…mother to break up the home on account of the way in which she was abused。 He made a statement of this fact under oath。 （It is only fair to say in this whole connection that these people all came from a part of Europe where what we call a common…law marriage is an ordinary relationship。） It was from the language of her father that Libby first gained acquaintance with bad sex ideas； we are assured by the mother。 After a terrific time of stress Libby's mother was rescued from her miserable conditions by the man who later lived with her and finally married her； and who has supported her and been true to her ever since。 He is a sympathetic man of good reputation。
Libby's maternal grandparents died early and her mother had to begin very young to support herself。 All that we know of the mother's developmental history is that she had some sort of illness with convulsions once as a child and is said to have been laid away for dead。 She has brothers and sisters who are said to be quite normal。 She knows her own relatives and her first husband's； also； and feels very sure there has been no case of insanity； feeblemindedness； or epilepsy among them。
Libby's moral history is of great import。 She became definitely delinquent very early in life。 At 13 years she had already been in an institution for delinquent girls in an eastern State and the superintendent writes that she was notorious for disobedience； lying； and stealing。 She was placed there twice； besides having been returned once after an escape。 When she was 6 or 7 years of age she began thieving。 She took things from her mother's trunk and pawned them。 The child stole from the people's rooms where her mother worked as janitress。 Later she was truant and associated with immoral girls。 In Chicago she stole a bracelet and a ring from a down…town store； wearing the bracelet later。 She took 15 from a neighbor's house。 She went to saloons in company with an immoral woman； and at least on one occasion she had been drinking。 At 12 or 13 she was known to be ‘‘crazy about boys；'' but probably was not immoral then。 The mother insists that the girl； resembling her father in this； is most changeable in disposition。 Long before the trial for murder her pastor had urged the mother to put the girl away in an institution； but the mother's heart was too soft。 （It seems strange that all this evidence of the girl's own bad character and unreliability； which was readily obtained by us； was not utilized at the time when she first made the charges of murder。）
The mother's explanation of Libby's behavior is that it was spite work。 However； that is； of course； unsatisfactory。 The mother not long previously earnestly had warned the girl against pursuing her down
