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n this account。 His mother always telephones to the police about him and that is why he is under detention now。 He wishes he were at home。 The next day we went into more of the details which had been liberally sketched to the judge and other officials。 We now learn that the step…father is a professional thief and that stolen goods he has taken are to be found in their home。 He often leaves home and perhaps takes his wife's wagesshe has to work outand just now is again living at a hotel。 The family have been informed by a physician that he is probably crazy。
On a later occasion the boy told my assistant that he wished to relate the whole story of his family。 He then describes how the step…father even blackens the eyes of the sister and that he has long been immoral with her。 It now appears that perversions began between this man and John some two months ago； never before that。 The mother is there in the house all the time and knows about and permits the step…father's immorality with daughter and son。 Cross…questioned afterward； the boy （evidently remembering what he said before） states these practices with him began the night he came home three years ago； but they had been going on with his sister before that。 He knows this because his mother wrote and told him about it。 His uncle wrote and told her to put a stop to it； but the step…father intimidates her with a revolver。
Our notes state that one afternoon when tests were being given him； John seemed to be in an excited state and often interrupted the procedure with talking。 Seen in the hallway soon afterwards he waved his hand and insisted on telling more about home conditions and about what the officers would find if they went up there。 On still another occasion he reiterated the same things； giving many details。
It was about this time that John was found to give strangely fantastic and childish accounts of circumstances with which he had been connected。 We transcribe his story of a celebration at a schoolit is a good example of his tales。
‘‘They had it on Lincoln's birthday and on the 4th of July； too。 The teacher did not believe that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves。 The children said； oh yes； he did。 But they did not believe it。 The children all hollered and said yes； he did。 Then they all run up on the platform and got to fighting about it。 The teachers would not believe that Lincoln freed the slaves till an old soldier came up there and told them yes； he did do it。'' I questioned him about this matter whether it was only a play they had； or were they in earnest。 ‘‘Oh； all in earnest and they had a fight about it。 The teachers would not believe that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and the children all run up on the platform and had a fight about it。''
Home conditions were next looked up by a court investigator and we came to know the mother and sister。 Much to our surprise we found them to be quite self…respecting； entirely credible people of good reputation in the neighborhood。 The mother is an honest hard…working woman and is exceedingly depressed about the career of this boy。 The sister is a modest and unquestionably good； self…supporting； young woman。 Not a word was heard against them in any way。 In their distress they gave us the full story。
The parents were immigrants when young。 The father died through an accident some ten years previously。 The mother has kept track of the members of both families fairly well。 She had a sister insane； said to have become so as the result of the menopause。 The father himself had occasional attacks of epilepsy； but they were never frequent enough to hinder him working as an artisan。 He was a very moderate user of alcohol。 The mother has always been fairly healthy。 Thinks she now has a cancer。 There are no other significant points in heredity that she knows。 There are three living children； a number of miscarriages came after John was born。
The pregnancy and birth were； normal。 John walked and talked very early。 Never any convulsions。 At about two years of age he was very low with a complication of diseases。 He was sick at that time for three months。 Later he was operated on for rupture。 The trouble with his eyes is of recent origin。 When he was a young boy in school a teacher once told her she did not consider him right mentally。
There has been an exceeding amount of trouble with this boy。 He was a great truant and reached only the 4th grade。 When he was living with the uncle he caused much trouble； and the uncle warned her。 He has run away from home twelve times； stays away perhaps two weeks at a time； and comes home ragged and filthy。 He has had many jobs； but stays only a day or two at work。 He steals in petty ways； takes money from home when he runs away。 He is very lazy； but a great reader； especially of cheap novels。
Among the troubles with this boy is his extremely filthy talk。 He has even lost one position on account of this。 An aunt caught the boy in bad sex practices several years ago and told the mother。 Neighbors； and earlier the school people； warned the mother that this was what was the matter with the boy。 About a year ago John was found in a room with a man and other boys engaged in bad practices。 The man was sentenced to a long term in the penitentiary on account of it。
Worst of all； the mother says the boy is the most malicious liar she has ever heard of。 They have had a frightful time with him on account of this。 For over two years John has been telling bad stories about the step…father。 Recently he could not stand it any longer and left the mother。 He was a good and rather strict man who took much interest in the children。 He tried rewards with John； but this was of no avail。 The boy has destroyed the home life； but she thought it her duty to try further with her own flesh and blood。 The sister is in utter despair about what John has said concerning her。 The younger brother also feels great humiliation。 The boy has told his worst stories about them even in their own neighborhood。
After our investigation the boy was sent to an institution for delinquents where he could have the best of treatment for his ailments。 The report from there after a few months was that he proved to be an exceedingly weak and vacillating type。 He was notorious for being a boy that would do anything that was suggested to him。 An outlook was kept for signs of insanity； but none was noted。
Over three years later we hear that John's character has not shown any radical change as demonstrated by his mode of living。 He has served at least one term in a penal institution for adults。 We do not know anything further about lying or false accusations in the case。
… Constitutional inferiority： Stigmata。 Case 17。 Mentality。 Boy； age 16。 Heredity： Father epileptic。 Maternal aunt insane。 Masturbation plus。 Pervert sex experiences。 Developmental： Much early illness。 Delinquencies： Mentality： False accusations excessive。 Dull from physical Running away repeatedly。 causes （？）。 Stealing。 Beginning psychosis （？）。 Sex perversions。 Pathological liar （？）。 Vagrancy。 …
CASE 18
Summary： Little girl of 7 makes false charges of sex assault against boy in the same institution。 She is later found to be an excessive liar and to steal。
Causative factors： （a） atrociously immoral home environment； （b） early sex experiences； （c） local irritation from active gonorrhea。
This case illustrates the fact that a young girl； who has had unfortunate sex experiences； especially if her mind is kept dwelling on sexual subjects through bodily irritation； is apt to take advantage of the stir which she knows she can make by her statements； and glibly make false accusations。 The case offered no difficulties for study and can be presented in short as typical of a number of similar cases seen by us。
We were asked to see this girl a few days after she had been taken from very bad home conditions and temporarily placed in a good institution for dependent children。 While there she had much upset the high…minded superintendent and her helpers by stating that an older boy in the place had sex relations with her。
She was a small； bright…eyed； vivacious child。 General physical conditions decidedly good。 No sensory defect。 Well shaped head。 Weight 55 lbs。； height 4 ft。 Active gonorrheal vulvovaginitis。
On the mental side we found； although she spoke in somewhat broken English； an ardent conversationalist。 With her many ideas about many subjects； she appeared decidedly precocious。 We noted her also to be very defiant and self…assertive； and her tendency to lie without rhyme or reason was soon discovered。 Her exact age never was ascertained； but undoubtedly it was about 7。 She was in the 2d grade。 At times when doing the Binet tests inhibitions would appear and she would give no answer at all even to some easy questions。 Her positive responses graded her as 6 2/5 years； but undoubtedly she c