SAVED BY HEART-BEATS.
PULSATIONS ACCEPTED AS SHOWING A PRISONER’S GUILT OR INNOCENCE. Accused of being a vagrant with a criminal record, Arthur Smith was acquitted at Watts, California, on evidence that has never before been accepted in a court of justice. It was the first demonstration of the theory of Dr. Hugo Munsterbsrg, professor of psychology at Harvard University, that the pulsations of the heart betray the guilt or innocence of a person charged with crime. Smith was placed in a chair and a doctor adjusted his stethoscope, ana with a stop-watch took his regular heart action. He found the normal heats were seventy-nine to the minute. Then the magistrate began to question Smith. He asked him what li'.s real name was, and the man replied, “James Sniithers-” The doctor announced that the heart action of the prisoner had increased from -seventynine beats per minute to ninety-one. “You are not telling the truth,’ said the judge. “I asked your real name.” The heart action registered ninetyfive -per minute, showing plainly the strain he was under. Finally lie said: “Arthur Smith is my real name, but I'm an honest working man, and no vagrant. I’m sorry I lied.’’ Smith was then asked whether be had ever been convicted of a felony, and replied, “Never. This is the -first time I have been under -arrest.” During the questioning the heart action had decreased to its normal seventy-nine beats per minute. “Did you ever serve time for forgery in San Quentin?” questioned the judge. “Never,” came the answei. His heart action slightly increased, following this answer, and the doctor nodded to the judge to cont’nue his questioning. “'Have you any friends or relatives in iSan Quentin?” said the judge, and Smith replied, ‘• Yes, I have a frieno. imprisoned there for forgery.” His heart action was normal again.
After a few more questions Smith was discharged, Justice Cassidy being convinced he had told the..truth’in all instances except when he was first asked his name.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GIST19120330.2.14
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Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3488, 30 March 1912, Page 3
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330SAVED BY HEART-BEATS. Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3488, 30 March 1912, Page 3
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