pathology of lying-第13章
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ful and contented。 No special volitional disturbances were noted。 Was found to act in an hysterical manner when she felt ill。 She was neat； tidy； and cleanly in her habits。 Appetite was good and she slept well。 Such was the report from the institution where she was held for six months。 There was no material change in her condition during this time； she showed herself very proficient with the needle； she was discharged when her sentence expired。
We note a statement from one hospital that this ‘‘girl'' gave no evidence of having had any direct sexual experience； or that she had ruminated much over these matters。 Her story about frequent fainting attacks given at this time was not corroborated by observation。 The diagnosis from one hospital was neurasthenia； but investigation of her case in most places seems to have led merely to the conclusion that she was a tremendous liar。
Notwithstanding our long record of this case and the accounts which have been handed in to us of experiences with her in other localities； we do not presume to know a tithe of the places Inez has been to or lived in during the last eight years。 It is more than likely that she herself would find it difficult to give any accurate account of her rovings。 At the time we first saw Inez her parents had not heard from her for about three years。 Shortly after this we found that she had renewed correspondence with them and had sent them money as if she were now prosperous。 Her family have all along； in spite of her stories； been poor。 At one period she visited several cities in the southeastern states and was at a hospital in one of them。 In Charleston there is a family by the name of B。 （spelled the same as the name of the people she was with in Tennessee）。 These were the people Inez asked us to write to in an appeal； because they had long known her and were wealthy； for a chance to get an education。 She stated they were immediate relatives of the B。's in Tennessee； and that she had visited them once at their fine home in Charleston for three or four months。 These people replied to us that they had been receiving letters for years from associations and organizations in regard to this girl whom they had never seen。 They were convinced she had assumed their name because she had understood they were well…to…do and liberal。 ‘‘We know nothing about her education； but judge she has enough to dupe people with； posing as poor at one time； sick at another； and anxious for an education at another； as you inform us。''
From another correspondent with whom Inez had lived in Alabama for a few weeks we had a marvelous tale which they heard from her。 She had told them she formerly lived in the most beautiful part of New Orleans and when 5 years old was placed in a convent； and then taken to a boarding…school； from which she was kidnapped and taken to a small town in Georgia。 She was later placed in another boarding…school and there met the wealthy B。's of Charleston who took her home with them。 While there she had to go to a hospital on account of some infection。 One day she was thrust into a taxicab； taken on a boat； landed at another city； etc。 The B。's of Charleston have thus figured long in her story； and we learned from several correspondents that this kidnapping has figured over and over as a big event in her life。
Once； years ago； Inez was taken into a private home accompanied by a trunk； we hear； which was found to contain a considerable amount of jewelry。 This was pawned in the name of the people with whom she then lived and was redeemed later by some one else。 Inez laid claim to the jewelry after a time； but apparently was unable to produce anybody who could vouch that it was really hers。 Its ownership has remained unknown。
When she went to St。 Louis at one time she had stated she was to meet a relative there； but the person； we have come to know； was a certain very decent young man who had become acquainted with her through a correspondence bureau。 He had thought well of her and warned her not to come to that city； but when she did so he met her and took her at once to his own home where the womenfolk looked after her until she was found a place elsewhere。 The deliberate attempt to throw herself upon his protection was thus frustrated by his relatives。 Many other reports of the misrepresentations of Inez have been given us。 She has discovered that borrowing money on the strength of invented statements is sometimes possible； particularly for her with her good presence and convincing manner。 The B。's complained that when she left Tennessee there were in her trunk many dollars' worth of articles that belonged to them。
Throughout our long experience with Inez we have never been able to make up our mind whether or not she remembered all of her past。 Her lying always stood in the way of getting at anything like the real facts。 On no occasion has she truthfully dealt with her career as we know it。 She has professed absolute lack of knowledge of her accident； and of the time and place of its occurrence。 It is interesting that none of her acquaintances mention this。 Although Inez has told long stories of her past to many people； and with some inclusion of truth； she never seems to have mentioned this important event of which we learned from her family。 We cannot； then； decide about possible amnesia for this occurrence。
On occasion Inez has expressed the same desire for religious experience as for education； and has written to friends that she had become imbued with the Spirit。 Her story of her religious upbringing is altogether unreliable and contradictory； but while in one hospital she professed belief； took communion； and was baptized in a certain faith。 Her behavior was not； however； in the least modified by this。
One serious minded woman took Inez at her word when she said she wanted to study algebra and offered her a good opportunity which was never accepted。 This demonstrated clearly that the desire was a matter of words only。 Inez' constant assertion of independence has been one of her main sources of temporary success。 Kindly people have speedily taken up with her。 Sympathy is undoubtedly； in spite of her statements to the contrary； one of the strongest needs of her nature。 In one of her letters we note her expression of satisfaction in a certain situation where she found herself much ‘‘mothered'' by kind nurses。 All her chances； however； have been spoiled by her indulgence in lies。
Inez has remained adamant to every plea and suggestion made by many well…wishing friends that she reform and begin again。 After her parents and other relatives were found and communicated with； her career partly known； and her mother's need of sympathy shown to her； she still refused to change her story in many particularseven when she knew that we had discovered about her writing home within recent months。 She steadily refused to acknowledge her true age。 When the evidence was complete； showing that she could not be held as a runaway girl； but must be treated under the law as a woman； she went forth to begin； as we heard from many other sources； her old misrepresentations of herself； which speedily got her into further trouble。
We were not astonished； even after we had accumulated almost the entire knowledge of the career which we have outlined above； and Inez knew that we had done so； to be visited by two fine philanthropic women who wanted to consult with us about an unfortunate girl who had won their sympathy； and who had been placed by them in a leading hospital after having shown some signs of acute bronchitis。 In fact； she was in such a bad condition that she had to be transferred in an ambulance。 But her illness had rapidly cleared up and now after ten days of observation an eminent diagnostician had thoroughly scolded her for simulation； and the girl was once more on their hands。 Indirectly they learned that we knew of the case of this ‘‘girl of 16。'' They realized that they had been taken in； but it had been done so cleverly； and； as they expressed it； Inez showed herself such a splendid actress； that they wondered if she had not extraordinary histrionic abilities which could be utilized。 （It remains to be seen whether anything constructive can be done by following this lead。 We feel that previous psychiatrists who gave earlier an unfavorable prognosis in this case were perhaps quite right。 But perhaps we should not let our opinions in this be swayed by the fact that my associate； Dr。 Bronner； who went to this last hospital was met by an absolute denial on the part of Inez of the essentials of the above career； by her insistence that she was not the same person as the daughter of the Smiths； and that she was only 17all this in spite of her knowledge of our correspondence with her family and others； and her own previous acknowledgments of lying。）
Summary： In summarizing the characteristics of this woman we may first insist that she has ambition； push； and energy in high degree。 Her personality as expressed in general bearing； features； and facial action is remarkably strong and convincing。 Her ambition was shown in her work on our tests as well as in her social behavior。 （We have wondered if it was not her desire to shine which prevented the typical performance of the pathological liar on the ‘‘Aussage'' test。） Her self…confidence as expressed on numerous occasions is no less striking。 ‘‘I tell you； doctor； that I have told lies； but you will see that I will come out on top。''
Inez has been free from the overt problems of sex life。 We have repeatedly been informed that she has been a girl of good character in this respect。 ‘‘I ran away from home for a good cause。 I'm not one of those girls who is crazy about the boys。'' Usually Inez shows a very even temper。 It is only when her own personality is trod upon that she grows angry； and obstinacy is then her leading reaction。 Some pathological liars may be weak in character； but not Inez。 She is the firmest of persons。 On occasions her attitude is entirely that of the grand lady。 Her type of lying is clearly pathological。 It would often be very hard to discern a purpose in it； and over and over again she has defeated her own ends by further indulgence in prevarications。 To her the utterance of lies comes just as quickly and naturally as speaking the truth comes to other people。 Even in interviews with us when she was voluntarily acknowledging her shortcomings in this direction she went on in the same breath to further falsifications。
The medical aspects of the case come under the same category as the lying。 The dysuria； the spitting of blood； the sugar in the urine； the hairpins found twice in the abdomen； the simulated pains； neurasthenia； and bronchial attacks； together with her stories of accidents and fainting spells illustrate her general tendency。 This behavior； like her lying； serves to feed her egocentrism； her craving for sympathy and for being the center of action。 As with the lying； repetition of this type of conduct probably is largely a matter of habit。
The bearing of this case on the problems of testimony is interesting。 As shown in our account of tests done； when objective concrete material was considered by this woman she
