Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-17
Your Own Detective
BY FREDERICK J. HASKIN

hand as If to shrink from it. Uncon.
scious that he has made these typical
gestures, however, he swears that the
knife does not belong to him and he
has never seen it before.
The stimulation of various emotions,
at all times very difficult unless the
person be peculiarly gifted, is next to
! impossible in court room. In cases
where it has been attempted the effort
was easily discernible and deceived no
one. Astonishment, for example, Is
, expressed by raising the hands in the
air, often covering the mouth with the
palm. This gesture is SO entirely in
advertent that any deliberate simula-
ton of it would be perfectly obvious.
| One of the hardest emotions to de.
tect is that of scorn, for it is one which
people go to the most pains to conceal.
There are many persons for whom you
may feel contempt, but out Of sense
of politeness or eXpediency you cannot
show it. The keen observer, however.
can always detect the presence or
! scorn. 1t is characterized by an arti.
fetal tone of the voice almost nasal,
and dilation of the nostrils. The
shoulders are also raised, as if the
person were trying by main force to
! lift himself into another atmosphere.
Sometimes the breath is rapidly inhal-
ed through the nostrils, producing a
sort of sniff
The exhibition of scorn in the court
room is always considered good sign
by the criminal lawyer. 1t is difficult
for man with very guilty con-
science to feel scorn for another. 1t is
sometimes simulated, but in such
cases is always accompanied by what
is meant to be deprecating smile.
Real scorn does not smile. If man
has lust uttered a SANDER against you
and you are scornfully angry, you 40
not feel like smiling.
Every one of the emotions has us
significant and typical gestures. Def
ance and spite, which are comblna-
ton of resolution and scorn, are ex-
messed by clenching the teeth or bar
ing them slightly. This is always &C.
companied by frown, while the
breath IS inhaled rapidly through the
nostrils.
Rage Is characterized by many ges-
lures. The persons body is held rigid
" erect or thrown we'll forward. HIS
muscles are contracted and his mouth
and teeth pressed tightly together.
The voice is vibrant, or lower than
usual with g. touch of hoarseness. The
forehead is wrinkled and the face
either flushed or pale. All OF these
signs do not necessarily appear al
once, but separately or all together,
thew are typical. Resignation is char
acterized by the unconscious folding
Of the hands in the lap and slight
droop of the shoulders.
The hands, although held carefully
in the lap, tell much. The involuntary
clench Of the fingers in anger, the
cramped fingers expressing pain, or
anv of the other spasmodic and ner'
vous movements of the hands and I'm
gers are keenly observed by the GRIM
inal lawyer.
Tn women the feet are most express
sive. Unable to give vent to their an
ger by stamping their feet, they press
their toes close to the ground. When
embarrassed they turn their toes In
ward and describe circles and curves
on the floor. When impatient they tap
the floor with great rapidity, first with
the heel and then the toe. OF course
these movements seem perfectly OBJ
yious, but when there is just the faint
est suggestion of them it requires very
keen perception to see them at all.
A prisoner may keep his secret for
months, but in the end his gestures
will tell the truth to the trained Oh.
server. The shifty man in business,
the woman who is trying to hide the
truth. the acquaintance who poses as
friend while he really dislikes you -
thew are all betraying themselves
everv minute, if you only know what
n watch, It is no more than plain
statement Of fact that murder will out
and not only murder but everything
cleo that a man feels and tries to hide,
Learn to look, and you will see.