The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-12
.STACEDA 'HOLDUP'
Professor McKeever OF Agricul-
tural College
Gives Interesting Experiment
Before Psychology Class.
THREE YOUNG MEN.
They We're Told and Instructed
What to Do.
Purpose to Show UnreIiability
of Eye Witnesses.

Manhattan, Kan, Feb 12.-Professor
McKeever of the State Agricultural col
1ege has performed an interesting ex-
pertinent before a psychology class in
which he staged ''holdup'' in his class
room and afterwards took testimony on
the subject. The object was to test the
reliability of eye witnesses.
Professor McKeever selected three
young men to stage the holdup and had
them practice their parts in his office.
He also made note OF the. personal ap-
pearance. They were instructed exact
ly what to do and what to say. All OF
these things were placed in note book
in order that the testimony might be
compared with the facts.
The class in psychology had just
taken UP when in rushed Jones, who
whirled about and pointed a Wr-.rch al
his pursuers and exclaimed, "Stay back
or I'll shoot" Turning he ran across
the room and dropped to his knees, let
ting fall the small bag which he car
ried, saying, There, take it, and
rushed out of the room. He was close
~ followed by Smith and White.
Smith yelled, "Give it up, you scoun-
drel," grabbed the bag and ran out be-
hind the other two.
White came in carrying a small re-
volver with the cylinder removed.
yelling, take it from him, Eddie, he
won't hurt YOU"
The scene lasted only few minutes.
Professor McKeever appeared very
much agitated but when the affair was
over he told the pupils the object of the
test and asked each member of the
class to write an account OF what had
happened.
The testimony regarding the conduct
OF Jones varied greatly. Following are
some of the accounts:
First-Pointed his finger at Smith and
said: Get out of here, Ed"
Second-The whole class was par
alyzed with fear.
Third-He pointed a revolver.
Fourth-Pointed an imaginary pistol.
Fifth-Pointed a heavy object at the
others as he went out.
SiXth-Held a revolver in his hand.
(Witness recognized Jones).
Seventh-Had something like re-
volver. Jones was masked.
The testimony regarding Smiths con-
duct would have been particularly
damaging in a criminal case. Although
he was not armed in any manner nor
carried anything in his hands, yet two
testified that he carried a revolver in
his hands and snapped it several times,
while third credited him with saying.
stop or III shoot" at the same time
aiming at Jones.
White was scarcely noticed. One wit
ness testified that he carried a club Of
some kind. but not one mentioned the
fact that he carried the revolver with
the cylinder removed, which was the
case. It seems strange that White who
was armed was not noticed and Smith
who had nothing at all in his hands
was accused by three eye witnesses OF
carrying q revolver.
Likewise testimony as to the appear
ance of the different individuals did not
agree. Some said that Jones wore a
rain coat and others said White did
This test was unusually thorough
The witnesses were not expecting such
an occurrence and there we're no
prejudices to influence the testimony.
It was just q plain case of attempting to
tell what they had seen during an ex-
citing period.