Summary

In Chapter 12, “Confessions,” it is Klein’s suggestion to have the family see a psychiatrist to determine competency and criminal responsibility. Barber learns the particular doctor he chooses is an expert in genetic inheritance and its influence on behavior. In their meetings with Dr. Vogel, Barber indicates that his wife talked too much about Jacob. Barber believes she wanted to help Jacob so badly that she almost allowed him to be hung. She tells the woman that even from the time he was a baby Jacob would demonstrate “scary” moods by a different type of crawl. She also admits that other children were always getting hurt around Jacob. Barber reminds Laurie that Jacob grew out of all of these things when he got older, but Laurie is still convinced that something is wrong with him. Laurie also tells Dr. Vogel that as...