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We know that the first gray hair in no sense indicates the last lover； and according to Tait； a period of powerful sex…impulsion ensues directly after the climacterium。 Now of what use； so far as child…birth is concerned； can such an impulse be？
But because natural instincts endure beyond their period of purposive efficiency； it does not follow that they are unconnected with that efficiency； we eat and drink also when the food is superfluous as nourishment。 Wonderfully as nature has adjusted the instincts and functions to definite purposes； she still has at no point drawn fixed boundaries and actually destroyed her instrument where the need for it ceased。 Just because nature is elsewhere parsimonious； she seems frequently extravagant； yet that extravagance is the cheapest means of attaining the necessary end。 Thus； when woman's passion is no longer required for the function of motherhood； its impulsion may yet be counted on for the psychological explanation of more than one criminal event。
What is important； is to count the maternal instinct as a factor in criminal situations。 If we have done so； we find explanations not only of sexual impropriety； but of the more subtle questions of the more or less pure relation between husband and wife。 What attitude the woman takes toward her husband and children； what she demands of them； what she sacrifices for them； what makes it possible for her to endure an apparently unendurable situation； what； again； undermines directly and suddenly； in spite of seemingly small value； her courage in life；these are all conditions which appear in countless processes as the distinguishing and explaining elements； and they are to be understood in the single term； ‘‘maternal instinct。'' For a long time the inexplicability of love and sexual impulse were offered as excuses； but these otherwise mighty factors had to be assigned such remarkable and self…contradictory aspects that only one confusion was added to another and called explanation。 Now suppose we try to explain them by means of the maternal instinct。
Section 69。 （e） Submerged Sexual Factors。
The criminal psychologist finds difficulties where hidden impulses are at work without seeming to have any relation to their results。 In such cases the starting…point for explanation is sought in the wrong direction。 I say starting…point； because ‘‘motive'' must be conscious； and ‘‘ground'' might be misunderstood。 We know of countless criminal cases which we face powerless because we do indeed know the criminal but are unable to explain the causal connection between him and the crime； or because； again； we do not know the criminal； and judge from the facts that we might have gotten a clew if we had understood the psychological development of the crime。 If we seek for ‘‘grounds；'' we may possibly think of so many of them as never to approach the right one； if we seek motives； we may be far misled because we are able only to bring the criminal into connection with his success； a matter which he must have had in mind from the beginning。 It is ever easy for us when motive and crime are in open connection： greed； theft； revenge； arson； jealousy； murder； etc。 In these cases the whole business of examination is an example in arithmetic； possibly difficult； but fundamental。 When； however； from the deed to its last traceable grounds； even to the attitude of the criminal； a connected series may be discovered and yet no explanation is forthcoming； then the business of interpretation has reached its end； we begin to feel about in the dark。 If we find nothing； the situation is comparatively good； but it is exceedingly bad in the numerous cases in which we believe ourselves to have sighted and pursued the proper solution。
Such a hidden source or starting…point of very numerous crimes is sex。 That it often works invisibly is due to the sense of shame。 Therefore it is more frequent in women。 The hidden sexual starting… point plays its part in the little insignificant lie of an unimportant woman witness； as well as in the poisoning of a husband for the sake of a paramour still to be won。 It sails everywhere under a false flag； nobody permits the passion to show in itself； it must receive another name； even in the mind of the woman whom it dominates。
The first of the forms which the sexual impulse takes is false piety； religiosity。 This is something ancient。 Friedreich points to the connection between religious activity and the sexual organization； and cites many stories about saints； like that of the nun Blanbekin； of whom it was said； ‘‘eam scire desiderasse cum lacrimis； et moerore maximo； ubinam esset praeputium Christi。'' The holy Veronica Juliani； in memory of the lamb of God； took a lamb to bed with her and nursed it at her breast。 Similarly suggestive things are told of St。 Catherine of Genoa； of St。 Armela； of St。 Elizabeth； of the Child Jesus； etc。 Reinhard says correctly that sweet memories are frequently nothing more or less than outbursts of hidden passion and attacks of sensual love。 Seume is mistaken in his assertion that mysticism lies mainly in weakness of the nerves and colicit lies a span deeper。
The use of this fact is simple。 We must discover whether a woman is morally pure or sensual； etc。 This is important； not only in violations of morality； but in every violation of law。 The answers we receive to questions on this matter are almost without exception worthless or untrue； because the object of the question is not open to view； is difficult to observe； and is kept hidden from even the nearest。 Our purpose is； therefore； best attained by directing the question to religious activity； religiosity； and similar traits。 These are not only easy to perceive； but are openly exhibited because of their nature。 Whoever assumes piety； does so for the sake of other people； therefore does not hide it。 If religious extravagance can be reliably confirmed by witnesses； it will rarely be a mistake to assume inclination to more or less stifled sexual pleasure。
Examples of the relationship are known to every one of us； but I want to cite two out of my own experience as types。 In one of them the question turned on the fact that a somewhat old； unmarried woman had appropriated certain rather large trust sums and had presented them to her servant。 At first every suspicion of the influence of sex was set aside。 Only the discovery of the fact that in her ostentatious piety she had set up an altar in her house； and compelled her servant to pray at it in her company； called attention to the deep interest of this very moral maiden in her servant。
The second case dealt with the poisoning of an old； impotent husband by his young wife。 The latter was not suspected by anybody； but at her examination drew suspicion to herself by her unctuous； pious appearance。 She was permitted to express herself at length on religious themes and showed so very great a love of saints and religious secrets that it was impossible to doubt that a glowing sensuality must be concealed underneath this religious ash。 Adultery could not be proved； she must have for one reason or another avoided it； and that her impotent husband was unsatisfactory was now indubitab