The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-09-12
MACHINES WILL
SOON Be ABLE
To CURE LIARS?

Cambridge, Mass. Sept. 12.-Prof. Hugo
Munsterberg OF Harvard university has
Just crowned the achievements of a life
devoted TO psychological research by the
Invention or several little machines TO re-
cord the emotions and reveal the secrets
OF the human mind.
th-compelling machines" is what
one scientist calls them. Machines to
cure liars, another designates them.
What they may accomplish i'm the Grim
inal and legal world can scarcely be ap-
preciated at the present time, but the
berg has reduced a knowledge of the
truth to an exact science" and that a
few years hence no innocent person Will
be kept in Jail. nor. on the other hand.
Will any guilty person cheat the demands
OF justice
No less a criminal than Harry Orchard
was made the subject OF Prof. Munster
bergs first exhaustive test OF these ma
chimes. These tests were made at the
time OF the trial at Boise. Prof Munster
berg is now at work on a treatise cover
ing these tests. concerning which he
says:
ITO deny that the experimental psy-
chologist has possibilities OF determining
the truth-telling powers is as absurd as
TO deny that the chemical expert can find
out whether there is arsenic in the stom-
ach."
An inquiry among scientists and psy-
biologists reveals the fact that one OF
the machines used by Prof Munsterberg
is not unknown to science, but an oppor-
tunity has never before been offered for
making such remarkable tests
The simplest of these machines is call
ed the "automautograph." and consists
merely OF a wooden sling suspended from
the ceiling. upon which rests the arm OF
the person being examined. A pencil is
grasped lightly In the fingers. the point
OF the pencil just reaching a smooth
sheet OF paper. which records the invol-
untary writings OF the suspect.
1t has been learned that the arm mus
cles and finger muscles thus used con-
stantly twitch under the stress OF any
PASSING emotion. Tests upon different
persons have disclosed the fact that the
same general outline is made by any per-
son under the stress OF the same emotion.
Another instrument, much more delicate
in construction, is the "pneumograph.
which records the normal breathing and
emotional suggestion. The recording of
these emotions is done electrically and In
another room far removed from the sus-
pect.
The effect OF emotional stress upon the
rate OF breathing is matter OF common
but the reduction OF the char
acter o feach breath is a matter OF very
recent scientific research. Every breath
writes it's own history and thoughts OF
ence TO the chart.
Perhaps the most delicate OF these In
struments Is the "sphygmagraph," which
Is attached TO the wrist and records the
action OF the heart beats. OF the three
kinds OF emotion, that Of the heart is tho
most sensitive and the least Influenced
by the will. For this very reason II is
the surest test. The record of its halts,
jumps. and rapid beating is the most sig
nificant OF all.
With all these instruments attached to
a sane person at once. and definite
charted knowledge of every motion at
hand, II is declared. all that will be neces-
sary, when examining a suspect. will be to
the involuntary records he has
made under examination with the records
Of an innocent man under similar exami-
nations.
The last of the three instruments also
employs electricity In the form OF an In
strument somewhat resembling the re-
cording telephone. Any suspicion on the
part of the suspect would assist rather
than hinder the investigation. Hesitancy
In trying to avoid discriminating answers
would make a significant sign on the rec
ords