The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-23

going right on with their experi- ments. Two scopalamine tests, to prove guilt or innocence, have been made within a week of each other In each case the suspect was exonerated.
 It all began with Ed Smith, n negro charged with murder by the police of Dallas, Texas. He stayed in jail six months and then asked that the drug be administered. For a week they fed Smith on scopalamine. The re- suit of cross eximation was to make him reiterate his Innocence. Smith challenged his accusers to undergo the same test. They refused, Smith was released.
 "Scopalamine is G drug which tends to break down the inhibitions." explained Everett D. Martin of New York, who as psychologist, author Of The Behavior of Crowds" and chairman of the National Board of Motion Picture Censors, ought to know all about inhibitions and thelr tricky ways; e man under the in, fiuence of scopalamine would be more likely to confess a crime. But the fact that he did not do so would not be proof of his innocence.
 Tt has thyroid action, and 1t is so dangerous to use that if 1t isn't administered carefully it will knock the patient out. But why use scopa- famine! Alcohol has q similar effect"
 pr. A. A. Brill characterized its use In criminology as absurd If being accused of crime, you are dosed with this drug and then questioned" said pr Brill, you not only may fail to admit the truth but you may confess yourself guilty of crimes which you never committed.
 Like Laughing Gas
 Tn this respect, the action of scopalamins Is like that, in some cases, of laughing gas. Patients have accused dentists of beating them. and have really belived that the dentists beat them, when 1t was only a laughing gas hallucination"
 Still and all, the idea of dropping grain of scopalamine into the tur- gid depths of a lie and having 1t turn the lie instantly into a clear and liquid truth. this is intriguing So intriguing that the idea was put up to the New York districtFattorney's office. Assistant District Attorney Winter Russell said with a twinkle in his eye that he had never heard of this drug being tried on prisoners here and he did not think the New York criminal courts would lay in supply of scopalamine this season.
 The homicide bureau to whom the idea was next offered. remarked as one man: Whats scopalamine, any way?" and that was that.
 But, oh! If only the Dallas idea works out. If only by slipping a bit of scopalamine into fathers coffee and asking sharply: Well, where were you last night when you said you were at the club"
 If only by trumbling small lump of 1t into the fudge sundae of the stage favorite and then inquiring innocently: "Dearie what really be- came of that s5o,0oo necklace you said a burglar took"
 If only by inserting a few grains into the cigarette of the lady who Is suing for divorce and then remarking nonchalantly. What did you say was the name of your gentleman friend who"
 If only by baking a half ounce of 1t into the sponge cake and then won dering easily: Clarence, I wonder whatever became of that girl with the blonde hafr.s iG~sFsaa
 An, well. If only these things be- come possible. how very much sim pier life will be. And at the same time, how very much more complex.