criminal psychology-第13节
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already wounded by that time？ We might then conclude that all the evidence about A contained nothing against himbut if we relate it to the confession； then this evidence is almost equal to direct evidence of A's crime。
But if individual sense…perceptions are mingled with conclusions； and if other equivalent perceptions have to be considered； which occurred perhaps to other people； then the analysis is hardly so simple； yet it must be made。
In dealing with less intelligent people； with whom this construction cannot be performed； one must be satisfied with general rules。 By demanding complete accuracy and insisting； in any event； on the ratio sciendi； one may generally succeed in turning a perception； uncertain with regard to any individual； into a trustworthy one with regard to the confessor。 It happens comparatively seldom that untrue confessions are discovered； but once this does occur； and the trouble is taken to subject the given evidence to a critical comparison； the manner of adaptation of the evidence to the confession may easily be discovered。 The witnesses were altogether unwilling to tell any falsehood and the judge was equally eager to establish the truth； nevertheless the issue must have received considerable perversion in order to fix the guilt on the confessor。 Such examinations are so instructive that the opportunity to make them should never be missed。 All the testimony presents a typical picture。 The evidence is consistent with the theory that the real confessor was guilty； but it is also consistent with the theory that the real criminal was guilty； but some details must be altered； often very many。 If there is an opportunity to hear the same witnesses again； the procedure becomes still more instructive。 The witnesses （supposing they want honestly to tell the truth） naturally confirm the evidence as it points to the second； more real criminal； and if an explanation is asked for the statements that pointed to the ‘‘confessor；'' the answers make it indubitably evident； that their incorrectness came as without intention； the circumstance that a confession had been made acted as a suggestion。＇1＇
Conditions similar to confessional circumstances arise when other types of persuasive evidence are gathered； which have the same impressive influence as confessions。 In such cases the judge's task is easier than the witness's； since he need not tell them of evidence already at hand。 How very much people allow themselves to be influenced by antecedent grounds of suspicion is a matter of daily observation。 One example will suffice。 An intelligent man was attacked at night and wounded。 On the basis of his description
＇1＇ We must not overlook those cases in which false confessions are the results of disease； vivid dreams； and toxications； especially toxication by coal…gas。 People so poisoned； but saved from death； claim frequently to have been guilty of murder （Hofman。 Gerichtliche Medizin； p。 676）。
an individual was arrested。 On the next day the suspect was brought before the man for identification。 He identified the man with certainty； but inasmuch as his description did not quite hit off the suspect he was asked the reason for his certainty。 ‘‘Oh； you certainly would not have brought him here if he were not the right man；'' was the astonishing reply。 Simply because the suspect was arrested on the story of the wounded man and brought before him in prison garb； the latter thought he saw such corroboration for his data as to make the identification certaina pure which did not at all occur to him in connection with the vivid impression of what he saw。 I believe that to keep going with merely what the criminalist knows about the matter； belongs to his most difficult tasks。
Section 9。 （g） Interest。
Anybody who means to work honestly must strive to awaken and to sustain the interest of his collaborators。 A judge's duty is to present his associates material； well…arranged； systematic； and exhaustive； but not redundant； and to be himself well and minutely informed concerning the case。 Whoever so proceeds may be certain in even the most ordinary and simplest cases； of the interest of his colleagues；hence of their attention； and； in consequence； of the best in their power。 These are essentially self…evident propositions。 In certain situations； however； more is asked with regard to the experts。 The expert； whether a very modest workman or very renowned scholar； must in the first instance become convinced of the judge's complete interest in his work； of the judge's power to value the effort and knowledge it requires； of the fact that he does not question and listen merely because the law requires it； and finally of the fact that the judge is endowed； so far as may be； with a definite comprehension of the expert's task。
However conscientiously and intensely the expert may apply himself to his problem； it will be impossible to work at it with real interest if he finds no co…operation； no interest； and no understanding among those for whom he； at least formally； is at work。 We may be certain that the paucity of respect we get from the scientific representatives of other disciplines （let us be honest；such is the case） comes particularly from those relations we have with them as experts； relations in which they find us so unintelligent and so indifferent with regard to matters of importance。 If the experts speak of us with small respect and the attitude spreads and becomes general； we get only our full due。 Nobody can require of a criminal judge profound knowledge of all other disciplines besides his own the experts supply thatbut the judge certainly must have some insight into them in so far as they affect his own work； if he is not to meet the expert unintelligent and unintelligible； and if he is to co…operate with and succeed in appraising the expert's work。 In a like fashion the judge may be required to take interest in the experts' result。 If the judge receives their report and sticks to the statutes； if he never shows that he was anxious about their verdict； and merely views it as a number； it is no wonder that in the end the expert also regards his work as a mere number； and loses interest。 No man is interested in a thing unless it is made interesting； and the expert is no exception。 Naturally no one would say that the judge should pretend interest；that would be worst of all；he must be possessed of it； or he will not do for a judge。 But interest may be intensified and vitalized。 If the judge perceives that the finding of the experts is very important for his case he must at least meet them with interest in it。 If that is present he will read their reports attentively； will note that he does not understand some things and ask the experts for elucidation。 One question gives rise to another； one answer after another causes understanding； and understanding implies an ever…increasing interest。 It never happens that there should be difficulties because of a request to judicial experts to explain things to the judge。 I have never met any in my own practice and have never heard any complaints。 On the contrary； pleasure and efficiency are generally noticeable in such connections； and the state； above all； is the gainer。 The simple explanation lies here in the fact that the expert is interested in his profession； interested in just that concrete way in which the incomparably greater number of jurists are _*not_。 And this again is based upon a sad fact； for us。 The chemist； the physician； etc。； studies his subject because he wants to become a chemist； physician； etc。； but the lawyer studies law not because he wants to become a lawyer； but because he wants to become an official； and as he has no especial interest he chooses his state position in that branch in which he thinks he has the best prospects。 It is a bitter truth and a general rulethat those who want to study law and the science of law are the exceptions； and that hence we have to acquire a real interest in our subject from laymen； from our experts。 But the interest can be acquired； and with the growth of interest； there is growth of knowledge； and therewith increase of pleasure in the work itself and hence success。
The most difficult problem in interest； is arousing the interest of witnessesbecause this is purely a matter of training。 Receiving the attention is what should be aimed at in rousing interest； inasmuch as full attention leads to correct testimonyi。 e。； to the thing most important to our tasks。 ‘‘No interest； no attention；'' says Volkmar。＇1＇ ‘‘The absolutely new does not stimulate； what narrows appreciation； narrows attention also。'' The significant thing for us is that ‘‘the absolutely new does not stimulate'' a matter often overlooked。 If I tell an uneducated man； with all signs of astonishment； that the missing books of Tacitus' ‘‘Annals'' have been discovered in Verona； or that a completely preserved Dinotherium has been cut out of the ice； or that the final explanation of the Martian canals has been made at Manora observatory； all this very interesting news will leave him quite cold； it is absolutely new to him； he does not know what it means or how to get hold of it； it offers him no matter of interest
