134 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
1. THE ORIGIN OF DISCREPANCY. 
Discrepancies arise between the statements of trustworthy persons 
through a difference of stand-point: 
(a) Either in the persons making the statements; 
(b) Or in the persons to whom the statements are made; 
(c) Or in both those making the statements and those to whom 
the statements are made. 
Illustrations :— 
Case 1. 
(a) The Discrepancy.—B, a farmer, stated that he bought a farm 
at an auction. C, the auctioneer, and other trustworthy persons present 
at the sale, stated that D, a drover, bought the farm at the auction. 
The Circumstances.—The farmer had arranged privately with the 
drover that the drover should bid for the farm on the farmer’s behalf. 
The drover secured the place at such a low figure that he broke faith 
with the farmer and kept the farm himself. 
CASE 2. 
(b) The Discrepancy.—B, a merchant, stated at successive intervals 
that a certain property cost him $10,000, $5,000, $25,000, $20,000, and 
$30,000. 
The Circumstances.—The merchant bought an old store for $10,000, 
the building being worth $5,000 and the site $5,000, and replaced the 
store by a new block which cost him $20,000. After the original 
purchase and before the removal of the old store the merchant stated 
to a casual inquirer that the property cost $10,000. After the removal 
of the old store and before the erection of the new block he stated to 
an inquirer interested in the value of sites that the property cost $5,000. 
After the erection of the new block the merchant stated to the assessor, 
inquiring for assessing purposes, that the property cost $25,000. Still 
later, to an inquirer interested only in the cost of buildings, he stated 
that the cost of the property was $20,000; and finally, to his banker 
