The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
a philosophy in a complicated world like this, and
the fact that he was to be the judge, the sole judge,
as to whether a thing was right, if it gave him pleas-
ure, is evidence bearing upon the question as to
whether his is a paranoid personality.
In Messrs. Singer and Krohn's book again, under
the head of " Paranoid Psychoses," the authors say:
Assuming, then, the typical state of well developed
energy of reaction, the paranoid personality may be
described more concretely as follows: The man is a domi-
nant, aggressive person, anxious to be in the forefront
and careless of the feelings and interests of others. He
takes life seriously, works hard and with purpose.
Just as Leopold did. He worked with his birds,
he was a teacher of ornithology; all the things he
did required seriousness of purpose and hard work.
He is always sure of himself, is satisfied with his own
views and constantly endeavors to impose them on others.
He is quick to take affront, yet seldom fights openly,
and continually seeks for hidden motives and meanings
behind the words and acts of others that do not tend
to his own advantage or accord with his own views.
Leopold's letter to Loeb clearly indicates all of this.
The authors also say:
The increased feelings of interference with securing
personal satisfaction lead to close observation of the say-
ings and doings of others, with the object of detecting
plots and schemes that are responsible for his own
failures.
Note the close observation here, if your Honor
please, as shown by the letter of Leopold to Loeb of
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