Pathology of Lying, Accusation, and Swindling: A Study in Forensic PsychologyHealy, William
Science
Pathology of Lying, Accusation, and Swindling: A Study in Forensic Psychology
Healy, William
Criminal psychology; Swindlers and swindling
``I was taking up law suits, little law suits. There was a case
on before Judge O. and I wanted a new suit of clothes to wear to
go to court in. My sister said I could not take my brother's
suit. He told me to take it and bring it home in good condition
at night. My sister is supposed to be the plaintiff, but she did
not make the complaint. The landlady came in and hit me three
times in the head with a broom. My sister called her in and then
she threw a piece of wood after me. Sister started crying, but
she did not get hit. The landlady got hit. When I fell down I
striked her with my head and hurt my head bad. I think I hit her
with the left side of my head. The landlady made complaint in
German to an Irish policeman. He could not understand. The
officer did not do what the law tells because he took a complaint
from a boy of the age of 6 years. He translated for her.
``The trouble started because I wanted to get my brother's suit
because I wanted to appear before Judge O. to protect a party in
the hearing of a case. I took a few lessons over in the Y.M.C.A.
class and in a law office I read books through. I have books at
home, rulings of every court. I know I got a good chance to work
up because I know I have a good head for the law. My father he
wont believe it, that's the trouble. I know I could stand my own
expenses. I said, `Officer, wait here a minute. I'll explain
how this is.' He began stepping on me. He threw me on the
floor. I wanted to go out the back way so nobody would see me.
He kicked me down the front way. There was a big crowd there.
Another rough officer pinched my arm. At the station when the
officer said this boy hit his sister, my sister said, `No, he did
not hit me,' but she said it in German.
``I was in court awhile ago because father thought I would not
work. I was paroled. I was trying to find a position. This man
that had the rehearing said, `You wont lose anything.' He made
as much as a contract with me. He said to another person in my
hearing, if that fellow wins my case I will pay him $10 for it.
The first case I had was in X court. I was interpreter there. I
want to make something out of myself. Labor is all right, but I
like office work or law work better. I tell you, doctor, if I
come up before the judge I will tell him just the same story I
tell you. I can remember it just that way.''
This young man told us he had graduated from intermediate school
in Hamburg; in this country he had attended for about a year and
a half and, in spite of the language handicap, he was in sixth
grade. There is a brother a little older and an older sister.
Mother has been dead for 5 years. His father is an artisan and
makes a fair living.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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