Rev. Dr. Walter G. Summers, S.J. PhD

In 1938, proponents - as well as critics - of the polygraph, (the device utilizing running measurements of blood pressure-pulse and breathing rate and magnitude) - BOTH received a jolt - from which they have never entirely recovered, even to this very day. In that year, in the case People vs. Kenny 167 Misc.51, NY (2d) 248, 1938, the Judge ruled that the results and record obtained by Professor Rev. Walter G. Summers of Fordham University, New York City, NY  constituted admissible Reasonable Doubt in determining innocence of criminal charges and released Defendant Kenny.

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1937 Article on Father Summers in Modern Mechanics

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Professor Rev. Summers testified for 2 days that his test and technique was 98% to 100% effective in finding guilt or complicity and 100% effective in finding innocence, backed up by Prof. Summers years of research, over 6,000 individual tests and his solid training in Physics,(Doctorate of Physics from Georgetown University) Physiology, Medicine and Psychology at Georgetown/Fordham Universities and University of Vienna, Austria was found by the Court to be accurately recording of psychological and physiological coexisting reactions of human emotions and was admissible.

 

In 1931-32, Summers examined existing devices for lie detection. He was dissatisfied with the accuracy and reliability of existing polygraph types using measurement of blood pressure, pulse-rate and respiratory i.e. breathing devices. He was a man of action and invented his own - commonly known by the public as a Lie Detector.

Probably no single phase of his numerous achievements attracted such favorable comment and interest from all over the United States from the scientific, professional and legal world. Father Summers' meter and method of operation based on electrodermal response of the autonomic nervous system/brain activity,  is the same test, technique and meter type which was patented: Applied 1948, U.S. Patent approved 1950, which Lie Detection Services of NYC/New Jersey use to this very day.

 

Being a seasoned academic, in 1936 Summers checked the accuracy of his equipment and those furnished by the Keeler Polygraph. He utilized 12 groups of 62 persons each at Fordham University - and 271 persons by the NYC Police - each individual hooked up to both instruments during the examination.

Each sub-group tested had 3 types of participants:

1.) They who neither knew who was guilty, nor the details

2.) Those who knew who was guilty but did not participate in the crime, nor knew the particular details and

3.) Those who knew the crime and details because they did it.

 

Summers instrument detected the lie in the preliminary control group 95% correct, where the polygraph had 47% correct. In the Actual Test record: Summers' instrument had 100% correct in the detection of verifiable guilt and the polygraph found 54% guilty and 46% negative.  These data results were reported by the Yorkville Medical Society, NY and American Psychological Association September meeting in 1937.    

 

His method was taught and used in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maryland and Michigan and after teaching proper utilization of his method to Police Departments, his method was adopted throughout the nation. At the time of his death, he was working on a book on his Pathogalvanometer and a book on Systematic Psychology.

Rev. Dr. Walter G. Summers, S.J. Ph D
Priest - Scientist - Innovator
1889-1938

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Professor of Physics, Georgetown University

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Professor of Psychology

Head of the Graduate School of Psychology

Founder/Director of the Psychology Department
Fordham University

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