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
Anything like a complete account of Gertrude's prevarications,
even as we know them, would require much space. Some idea of
their quantity and quality may be gained from the facts which we
have gleaned from several sources. As might be supposed,
Gertrude has established a reputation for falsification among
many of her acquaintances. One friend tells how she represented
herself as a half orphan, living with a hard-hearted step-mother.
Demanding promises of secrecy, Gertrude told this girl about a
sum which she had with much difficulty gradually saved from her
earnings in order to buy needed clothes. She asked the friend to
come and help her make a selection. (Now the $20 or so that was
spent Gertrude had stolen. By following her strange impulse she,
with danger to herself, related a complicated story to this other
girl who needed to know nothing of any part of the affair.) We
have knowledge of scores of other fabrications which were
detected. They include her alleged attendance at a course of
lectures, her possession of a certain library card, and her
working in various places. For many of these stories not a
shadow of a reason appeared--especially during the time we have
known her she has had every incentive to tell the truth about
everything.
When by virtue of our court work we first knew the case, her
lying centered about her other delinquencies, but even so its
peculiar characteristics stood out sharply.
Gertrude was held to the adult court in the matter of the forgery
of a check, which had been presented in an envelope to a bank
teller by her and cashed as in the regular line of business
between the bank and the firm for which she worked. Finding the
girl had lied about her age, she was held, after the preliminary
hearing, to the proper court. There, in turn, she did not appear
at the right time, it being stated that she was sick in a
hospital. One officer knew better and further investigation
showed that Gertrude herself had come to the court, represented
herself as her sister, and made the false statement about the
illness. A telephone call the same afternoon to her house
Gertrude answered.
Months of difficulty with the case began now. Her employer and
all concerned experienced much difficulty in getting at the truth
of the forgery, particularly through her clever implication of a
man who had no easy task in freeing himself. Even after the girl
confessed herself a confirmed liar she told more untruths which
were peculiarly hard to unravel. Gertrude's firm bearing, her
comparative refinement and her ability made every one unusually
anxious to do her justice, and to save her from her own
self-damaging tendencies.
During the continuance of the case, when all her interests
demanded her good behavior, Gertrude could not refrain from what
were almost orgies of lying and deceit. She well realized how
this would count against her and, indeed, wrote letters of
apology repeatedly for her misconduct.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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