The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
Now, both sides have called alienists and I will
refer to that for a few moments. The facts here are
plain; when these boys had made the confession on
Sunday afternoon before their counsel or their
friends had any chance to see them, Mr. Crowe sent
out for four men. He sent out for Dr. Patrick, who
is an alienist; Dr. Church, who is an alienist; Dr.
Krohn, who is a witness, a testifier; and Dr. Singer,
who is pretty good — I would not criticize him but I
would not class him with Patrick and with Church.
I have said to your Honor that in my opinion he
sent for the two ablest men in Chicago as far as
the public knows them, Dr. Church and Dr. Patrick.
You heard Dr. Church's testimony. Dr. Church is
an honest man though an alienist. He admitted the
failure of emotional life in these boys; he admitted
its importance; he admitted the importance of be-
liefs strongly held in human conduct; he said him-
self that if he could get at all the facts he would
understand what was back of this strange murder.
Every single position that we have claimed in this
case Dr. Church admitted.
Dr. Singer did the same. The only difference be-
tween them was this, it took but one question to get
Dr. Church to admit it, and it took ten to a dozen
to get Dr. Singer.
Now, what did they do in their examination?
What kind of a chance did these alienists have? It
is perfectly obvious that they had none. Church,
Patrick, Krohn went into a room with these two
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