Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-08
CHAPTER XVII.
THIRTY IMPORTANT WORDS.

CdA1IER AV44.
THIRTY IMPORTANT WORDS.
f~0ROENER was subjected to &C.
In we're cross examination, but he
IN maintained ignorance Of any
assault ON the photographer
and Of the stolen boots of Kittredge
He sneered contemptuously at Haute-
vile and Coquenil. The Judge finally
had the guard put handouts on the
prisoner prior to ordering him to the
Sante prison. Now the accused show
ed furious anger.
mark my words. Judge Hauteville,' -
he threatened fiercely, you have or
dered handouts put on a prisoner for
the last time"
what do you mean?"
But almost instantly Groener had
become calm again.
"Groener," demanded the magis-
trate impressively, I'VE are coming to
an unpleasant part of this examine
ton. It is unpleasant because it
| forces guilty person to betray him
self and reveal more or less Of the
truth that he tries to hide"
The prisoner looked up incredulous-
ly. "You say It forces him to betray
himself?"
'Fhat's practically what 1t does"
"Why?"
because If you are guilty we shall
know it and can go on confidently
looking for certain links now missing
In the chain of evidence against you.
On the other hand. if yor are limo
cent we shall know that, TOO, and II
you are innocent. Groener, here is your
chance to prove it. We make the ac-
cused register his own guilt or his
own innocence with his own words"
whether he wishes to or not?"
The judge opened leather portfolio
and selected several sheets of paper
ruled in squares. Then he took ont
his watch.
ION these Sheets" he explained, IN.
Coquenil and have written down
about a hundred words, simple, every
day words, most Of them, such as
house. music tree baby that have
no particular significance. Among
these words. however, we have intro
duced thirty that have some associa-
ton with this crime, words like AN
SONIA billiards. pistol shall speak
these words slowly. one by one, and
when I speak word want you to
speak another word that my word sug-
gests. For example, If / say tree you
might say garden If say house
you might say chair OF course you
are free to say any word you please,
but you will find yourself irresistibly
drawn toward certain ones according
as you are innocent or guilty.
'For instance, Martinez, the Span
lard, was widely known as a billiard
player. Now, II l should say billiard
player and you had no personal feel
ing about Martinez you might easily,
by association Of ideas, say Span
tard.' but If you had killed Martinez
and wished to conceal your crime
then when said billiard player you
would not say 'Spaniard,' but would
choose some innocent word like table
or chalk. That is crude Illustration,
but it may give you the idea"
"And is that all?" asked Groener, in
evident relief.
mo. There is also the time taken
in choosing word. If say pen or
umbrella it may take you three-quar-
tiers of second to answer ink or
RAIN while it may take another man
whose mind acts slowly second and
q quarter or even more for his reply.
Each person has his or her average
time for the thought process, some
longer, some shorter. But that time
process is always heightened after one
Of the critical or emotional words-1
mean If the person is guilty. Thus
If 1 say tAnsonia' to you and you are
the murderer Of Martipez it will take
you one or two or three seconds longer
to decide upon safe answering word
than 1T would have taken IL you were
not the murderer and spoke the first
word that came to your tongue. Do
you seeY
II see," shrugged the prisoner, ''but
it never would carry weight in court
Of law"
''Never is long time" said the
Judge. "Wait ten years. We have a
wonderful mental microscope here, and
the world will learn to use it. I use
it now"
''Do you really think," Groener asked
presently, "that If were guilty Of this
crime I could not make these answers
without betraying myself"
sTm sure you could not"
'sThen II I stood the test you would
believe me fnnocentY
The magistrate reflected a moment.
Eyes, should think you innocent"
&c" Let me understand this" laughed
the prisoner. you say over num-
Der of words, and I answer with other
words. You note the exact moment
when you speak your word and the
exact moment when speak mine; then
you see how many seconds elapse be-
tween the two moments. Is that it?''
That's It, only have a watch that
marks the ffths Of a,second. Are you
willing to make the test?'
Suppose refuseY'
The magistrates face hardened. "If
you refuse today / shall know how to
force you to my will another day. Did
you ever hear Of the third degree,
Groener?" he asked sharply.
"After ALL" Groener said carelessly,
what does it matter? Go ahead with
your little game. It rather amuSes me-"