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
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.
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