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kely that it was due to nonspecific infection following traumatism from the use of the various foreign objects which the girl told she had used。 Perhaps it was partly the result of the perversions which； judging by her knowledge of them； had been practiced by others on her。
We were informed later that much indignation at our report to the judge was expressed by the crowd in attendance at the trial。 The girl's first story was so well told that many had been irrevocably convinced of the utter guilt of the father。
The father himself； who was brought to us in the course of our study of the case； was rather a low type in appearance。 He was a poor earner； evidently had earlier been alcoholic； a small whining figure with tears in his eyes。 His appearance would prejudice against him。 The brother； on the contrary； made an unusually good impression。 He had the best of recommendations。 His sister's first charges ought not to have been believed on the basis of his qualifications。 There had been 5 children； 3 died in infancy。 No history of any significance was obtained except that the development of Bessie had apparently been normal in all ways。 Her mother was said to be normal。 Both parents were evidently representative products of the underfeeding and generally poor hygienic conditions of the laboring classes in a large Irish city。 There was unquestionably a great feeling of affection between the three。 Indeed； Mrs。 S。 stated that it was the excessive kissing of the child by the father which made her suspicious。 Bessie always maintained that both father and brother treated her very well and that she loved them much。
It seemed clear to us that Bessie never knew in the least the significance of the charges she so glibly made at first。 Her mind had long been so full of these things； and their social import seemed so slight； that it meant no vindictiveness towards her loved ones to say what she did about them。 She asserted to us later that she really did not know what she said to the judge at the first hearing。 The case illustrated well the fallibility of a young girl's accusations coming even from the lips of a normally bright and affectionate daughter or sister。
For her own protection Bessie was given a trial in an institutional school。 From there it was reported after a few months that her mind was found to be so continually upon sex subjects that it would be most advisable for her to remain long under the quietest conditions and closest supervision。
… Physical conditions： Local irritation。 Case 16。 Girl； age 9 1/2。 Housing conditions： Crowded。 Early sex experiences： Excessive and pervert。 Parental control failure： No home； no mother。 Delinquencies： Mentality： Serious false accusations。 Good ability。 …
CASE 17
Summary： Boy of 16 years； not living at home； made false accusations of excessive immorality against his own family。 These involved sex perversions； and he implicated even his own sister and brother； and alleged the connivance of his mother。 The main complaint was against the step…father； who he also said was a professional thief。 The improbability of such stories being told without good foundation led to much time being spent on investigating the case。
As possible causative factors of the unmitigated lying we found （a） defective heredity leading to （b） typical constitutional inferiority with the peculiar states of mind characteristic of the latter； （c） poor developmental conditions through early illnesses； （d） excessive bad sex practices on the part of the boy himself。 Vindictive reaction to charges of delinquency against himself might be considered a factor if his false accusations had not been made without any such stimulus a long time previously。
（According to another classification this case belongs in our chapter on Border…line Types。 It is retained here because it so well illustrates pathological accusation。）
John S。； an undersized boy of 16； a pitiable specimen； when under arrest for vagrancy told such a heartrending story of home conditions； with assertions against family morality； that the judge and others were moved to indignation and an investigation was started。 The general feeling was that no one who was not insane could make such statements about their nearest of kin without foundation in fact。
We found a poorly developed； but fairly nourished young fellow； weight 112 lbs。； height 5 ft。 2 in。； good strength for his size。 Stigmata： slight facial asymmetry； ears very long and narrow； dentition very irregularone upper canine having erupted behind the central incisors。 Tattooing on the chest。 Vision defective； but how much so was impossible to estimate on account of corneal ulcer and general gonorrheal ophthalmia。 Gait and attitude very slouchy。 In contrast to general poor development； has already full sex development and much hair over body for his age。
On the mental side we found an excitable and talkative fellow； quite coherent； and giving in no way any indication of aberration by the form or trend of his conversation。 He tells us he reached the 6th grade。 He willingly works on tests and we note the general result as follows： Learning and memory processes； both for logical verbal and for meaningless associations； quite good。 Perception of form； normal。 Power of analysis of situations mentally represented； only mediocre。 Associative processes； verbal； not normally accurate。 Writes good hand。 Simple spelling correct。 Arithmetic correct for 4th grade。 Tests for several other points hardly fair to register on account of defective eyesight。 On one he failed because of not knowing the alphabet in order。 Suggestibility extreme； as evidenced by testimony test。 In giving report on the ‘‘Aussage'' picture； Test VI； he enumerated 12 items； 11 of them correct； on free recital。 Then he gave 11 more details； all correct； on cross…examination； but he accepted no less than 7 out of 8 suggestions offered。
Information on current events is good； but on points said to have been learned at school is much mixed up。 In giving responses to questions； he seized on any slight suggestion and adopted the idea。 For instance； he said he had read the life of Napoleon； but could not remember to which country he belonged。 When England was suggested he agreed to it。 He then told various wrong incidents of Napoleon's life and death； also as suggested by the examiner。 It finally came out that Bonaparte was an English nobleman who fought against France and Waterloo； was never defeated； and got sick in England。 Then in the same way we get the information that this country gained its freedom from France； that Lincoln was president directly after Washington； and so on。 John has read books from the library and various magazines； a considerable assortment。 He knows almost nothing of even simple scientific facts； but is well acquainted with items gained from the newspapers and the theatres。
Going into his story； as we were requested； we heard at once about the cruel conditions at home。 The boy's