What happens to children who falsely accuse adults of sexual abuse when they grow up? Some, like Ed Sampley, try to make amends. Sampley was one of five kids who accused John Stoll, then a 41 year old carpenter of sexual abuse. Stoll got 40 years in jail.

Last January, Sampley and three other former accusers returned to the courthouse where they had testified against Stoll. This time they came to say Stoll never molested them. They are in their late 20's now. They have jobs in construction, car repair, sales. A couple of them have children about the same age as they were when they testified. Although most of the boys drifted apart after the trial, their life stories echo with similarities. Each of them said he always knew the truth -- that Stoll had never touched them. Each said that he felt pressured by the investigators to describe sex acts. A fifth accuser isn't sure what happened all those years ago but has no memory of being molested.

The article, in Sunday's New York Times magazine, is seven pages. Unfortunately, the hysteria may be cyclical.

...discredited child-sex rings like McMartin actually may not be a bogeyman of the past. Some parents, therapists and child-protection professionals continue to believe ritual sex abuse took place at McMartin preschool. ''In 10 to 15 years, there will be an attempt to rehabilitate the ritual abuse scare,'' [Univ. of Texas psychologist Wood says. ''You can bet on it.''

Sampley still feels guilt over his false testimony: