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ons。 Sex immorality。 …
CASE 5
Summary： A young woman of 20； bright mentally； strong physically； ‘‘confessed'' to a professor of a university where she was studying that she had shot and killed a man。 The facts were known to only three or four people and she was terribly worried about it all。 Upon her information the affair was taken up by a group of professional men； one of them a lawyer of large practical experience。 She aided in an investigation which attempted to uncover the ‘‘white slave'' feature of the case。 The data of verification proved most elusive。 Later； the young woman implicated herself in a burglary； and altogether an elaborate story of her life was evolved。 It was found that from early years she had been a great fabricator。
While a first year student at a university Marie M。 begged for an interview with one of her instructors at his home and there； with him and others； she told a detailed story of how some months previously she had escaped a difficult situation by killing a man。
The exceedingly long account which was given at intervals to several professional men and enlarged upon in response to inquiry； or as the occasion otherwise demanded； we are not justified in taking space to retell。 This case figures； as a whole； in somewhat anecdotal fashion among our others； we freely confess； it is cited to show the extent to which apparently purposeless fabrication can go。 It has been found impossible to gain a satisfactory idea of the genesis of this young woman's tendency； quite in contrast to the other cases we have cited。 It forms the only instance where we have drawn from our experience with merely partially studied cases。
Marie's story involved many items of her life since she was about 12 years of age。 A distant relative who had come to know her whereabouts （she was an orphan living with friends） figured extensively in her narrative。 This relative had hounded her in an effort to get her to engage in an evil life。 His attentions varied greatly； sometimes for months she was not bothered with him。 Once when she was on her way to Milwaukee a gray haired man approached her on the train； said he knew her relatives； they were rather a bad lot of people； and he wanted to protect her from them。 Then came a long account of being driven in a carriage； changing her clothes in a hotel； having her picture taken in an immodest costume； signing a paper at police headquarters； and； at last； safely returning home； all guided by the mysterious gray haired man。 Another trip led to an encounter with a man who took her in an automobile under the promise of meeting a friend。 Entering a building where men carried revolvers and girls were given hypodermic injections； just as she was about to receive the needle in her arm； she reached the man's revolver and shot him in the back。 Events follow swiftly in her tale； but all is thoroughly coherent； and a number of facts are included which could be substantiated。 The professional men could not help being impressed and spent much valuable time before they felt convinced that it was a fabrication。 The exact locations could not be discovered； but then Marie was a stranger in the city。
When we saw her the whole story was reiterated with but few changes； which； however； from the standpoint of testimony were most important。 We soon found we could get direct testimony on physical features which were provably untrue。 For instance； the description of a certain hallway in a building where she had gone with one of the men interested in the events was totally unlike anything that existed there。 Then； too； certain embellishments； which by this time included the payment of a large check to her as hush money； a check which she as easily gave away again； seemed altogether improbable。 Marie by this time was implicating herself in a burglary with this relative； and some other curious incidents were given。 In all of these； as we later found； there was a central event about which her statements MIGHT have been true。 There was such a burglary； she had said in previous years that she was hounded by a man； and so on。 We； too； were struck by the uselessness and lack of purpose in the lyingfor we soon felt assured that it was such。
Physically we found Marie to be a decidedly good specimen。 She weighed about 140 lbs。 Strong and firm in carriage。 Vivacious in expression。 The physical examination at the university had shown her to be without notable defect of any kind。 We can summarize Marie's characteristics by stating that from the earliest age of which we can get satisfactory record； when she was about 10 years old； she has been persistently addicted to falsehoods。 Even then she made up； without any basis； stories which puzzled many people。 It is much to the point that she has been a great loser on account of this tendency； it has injured her reputation on numerous occasions and destroyed many of her good chances。 When she was about 15 it was noticed that she was a great day…dreamer。 She thought she could write stories and once began a novel。 Much more peculiar than this was the fact that she repeatedly wrote letters to her friends which were simply a mass of fabrications； describing such things as imaginary excursions。
Tests for mental ability were not given in this case； there was no need for it。 Her marks in the preparatory course were just fair。 It had been noted by her teachers； as well as by her foster parents； that she was prone to have periods when attention to her work seemed difficult。 Aside from her peculiarities； which showed themselves entirely in her fabricating tendency and her assumed illnesses； nothing much out of the way in her mental life had ever been noted。 On several occasions she had taken to her bed； but when a physician was called； a diagnosis was given of simulation； or hysteria。 Nothing like major hysterical attacks at any time occurred；
From most excellent sources of information we have obtained an account of the family history。 No instance of insanity is known； but it is said there is much evidence of ignorance and superstition。 Marie's mother bore a good character； but was decidedly ignorant。 At about the age of 50 she made a homicidal attack upon a second husband and then killed herself。 The father was an industrious and sober laborer； but unable to support his large family。 At his death in Marie's early childhood the family was broken up and the ten children were distributed about。 None of the children is said to be abnormal mentally； but there has been a tendency to free living； even on the part of the older sisters。 It seems very sure that no other member of the family was given to telling false stories。 The brothers have been inclined to be shiftless and to roam； but then the environmental conditions often have been against them。 However； some of them have done well。 In general； as far as Marie is concerned； it may be said early home environment was not bad except on account of poverty。 Marie bears no traces of having suffered from defective conditions before or after birth。 Her early developmental history appears to be negative。 She has lived about in several different homes； the lon