The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
of these families; not only the Loeb and Leopold
families, but the Franks family, and of course it is
unusual. And next is the fact it is weird and un-
canny and motiveless. That is what attracted the
attention of the world. Many may say now that
they want to hang these boys ; but I know that giving
the people blood is something like giving them
their dinner. When they get it they go to sleep.
They may for the time being have an emotion, but
they will bitterly regret it. And I undertake to say
that if these two boys are sentenced to death, and
are hanged, on that day there will be a pall over the
people of this land that will be dark and deep, and
at least cover every humane and intelligent person
with its gloom. I wonder if it will do good. I
wonder if it will help the children — and there are
many like these.
What about this matter of crime and punishment,
anyhow? I may know less than the rest, but I have
at least tried to find out, and I am fairly familiar
with the best literature that has been written
on that subject in the last hundred years. The
more men study, the more they doubt the effect of
severe punishment on crime. And yet Mr. Savage
tells this court that if these boys are hanged, there
will be no more murder. Mr. Savage is an optimist.
He says that if the defendants are hanged there will
be no more boys like these.
I could give him a sketch of punishment, punish-
ment beginning with the brute which killed some-
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