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The record on the ‘‘Aussage'' picture test is as follows： She gave 16 items on free recital with considerable reference to functional details and with side comments as to who the little girl might be； and what the dog wanted； and so on。 So far； this was the performance of a rational； quick…minded person。 On questioning； 28 more items were added； but no less than 12 of these were incorrectshe evidently supplied freely from her imagination。 Of the 7 suggestions which were offered she took 5。 Twice not only was the main suggestion accepted； but imaginary details were added。 Naturally； this is a very unusual record from a normal person。
There is absolutely nothing of significance in the heredity； according to the accounts received by us。 All the grandparents are still alive in the old country。 They are small townspeople of good reputation。 Epilepsy； insanity； and feeblemindedness are stoutly denied and are probably absent in near relatives。 The father is a staunch citizen who feels keenly the disgrace of the present situation。 He is a hard working clerk。 We early learned the mother was not to be relied upon。 Our best evidence of this came from Gertrude。 She told us she had always been accustomed to hearing lies in her own household。 According to the father his wife's falsifications are merely to shield the children and she only shows the ordinary deceit of woman。 We have no history of this woman ever having indulged in elaborate fabrications and； in general； she is of thoroughly good reputation。 In delicacy of feature the girl is her mother over again。
Gertrude's birth was comparatively easy after a normal pregnancy。 After a healthy first infancy she had an illness at 2 years which lasted for three or four months。 The exact nature of this is not plain； but it was probably bronchitis with complications。 There were no evidences of any involvement of the nervous system。 She walked and talked early； at about 1 year of age。 She has had no other serious illness in all her life and has had no convulsions。 None of the children has suffered from convulsions。 Gertrude is one of five； all of whom are alive and well。 In the last couple of years she has complained a little of headaches and some other minor troubles。 It was typical of the family situation that after Gertrude had told us of a series of fainting spells a year previously； the mother corroborated her and； indeed； made them out even worse。 But when the reliable father was consulted on the matter it turned out there had been no such fainting attacks； nor could they be verified by communication with a doctor who is said to have attended Gertrude。 Unquestionably they never occurred。 Gertrude went to school at the usual age； but on account of poverty and immigration missed many long periods。 However； at 14 she had gone through the 6th grade。
About Gertrude's moral evolution we got very little aid from the parents or indeed from any others。 It was very evident that from earliest childhood the girl had led a mental life of which her relatives knew nothing。 Naturally； the mother gave us no account of the development of the tendency to lying； she merely glossed over her daughter's deceptions。 The father； who had been obliged to work away from home much during Gertrude's early years； merely knew that at about the time she left school； namely 14 years； she began to lie excessively。
Anything like a complete account of Gertrude's prevarications； even as we know them； would require much space。 Some idea of their quantity and quality may be gained from the facts which we have gleaned from several sources。 As might be supposed； Gertrude has established a reputation for falsification among many of her acquaintances。 One friend tells how she represented herself as a half orphan； living with a hard…hearted step…mother。 Demanding promises of secrecy； Gertrude told this girl about a sum which she had with much difficulty gradually saved from her earnings in order to buy needed clothes。 She asked the friend to come and help her make a selection。 （Now the 20 or so that was spent Gertrude had stolen。 By following her strange impulse she； with danger to herself； related a complicated story to this other girl who needed to know nothing of any part of the affair。） We have knowledge of scores of other fabrications which were detected。 They include her alleged attendance at a course of lectures； her possession of a certain library card； and her working in various places。 For many of these stories not a shadow of a reason appearedespecially during the time we have known her she has had every incentive to tell the truth about everything。
When by virtue of our court work we first knew the case； her lying centered about her other delinquencies； but even so its peculiar characteristics stood out sharply。
Gertrude was held to the adult court in the matter of the forgery of a check； which had been presented in an envelope to a bank teller by her and cashed as in the regular line of business between the bank and the firm for which she worked。 Finding the girl had lied about her age； she was held； after the preliminary hearing； to the proper court。 There； in turn； she did not appear at the right time； it being stated that she was sick in a hospital。 One officer knew better and further investigation showed that Gertrude herself had come to the court； represented herself as her sister； and made the false statement about the illness。 A telephone call the same afternoon to her house Gertrude answered。
Months of difficulty with the case began now。 Her employer and all concerned experienced much difficulty in getting at the truth of the forgery； particularly through her clever implication of a man who had no easy task in freeing himself。 Even after the girl confessed herself a confirmed liar she told more untruths which were peculiarly hard to unravel。 Gertrude's firm bearing； her comparative refinement and her ability made every one unusually anxious to do her justice； and to save her from her own self…damaging tendencies。
During the continuance of the case； when all her interests demanded her good behavior； Gertrude could not refrain from what were almost orgies of lying and deceit。 She well realized how this would count against her and； indeed； wrote letters of apology repeatedly for her misconduct。
‘‘Let me come and tell you all。 The time has come when things must stop； therefore I feel that I must talk to someone。 I have lived a lie from the day I was born until now。''
After these letters she went on making false statements which could readily be checked up。 Nothing is any more curious in Gertrude's case than the anomaly of her telling several of us who tried to help her that up to the time of the given interview she had not thoroughly realized how bad it was to lie； and how she now felt keenly that she must cease； while perhaps at the end of the very same interview a reaction to a new situation would produce more fabrications。 Personally I have seen nothing any more suggestive of the typical toper's good resolutions and sudden falling from grace。
The story of the forged check was fancifully embellished and ever more details were su