The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
teen, or sixteen, or fourteen. Some day, if there is
any such thing as progress in the world, if there is
any spirit of humanity that is working in the hearts
of men, some day men would look back upon this as
a barbarous age which deliberately set itself in the
way of progress, humanity and sympathy, and com-
mitted an unforgivable act.
Yet your Honor has been asked to hang, and I
must refer here for a minute to something which I
dislike to discuss. I hesitated whether to pass it by
unnoticed or to speak of it, but feel that I must say
something about it, and that was the testimony of
Gortland, the policeman. He came into this court,
the only witness who said that young Leopold told
him that he might get into the hands of a friendly
judge and succeed. Your Honor, that is a blow
below the belt. There isn't a word of truth in his
statement, as I can easily prove to your Honor. It
was carved out of the air, to awe and influence the
court, and place him in a position where if he saved
life some one might be malicious enough to say that
he was a friendly judge, and, if he took it, the fear
might invade the community that he did not dare to
be merciful.
Now, let me take Cortland's testimony for a
minute. He swore that on the night after the arrest
of these two boys Nathan Leopold told him, in dis-
cussing the case, that a friendly judge might save
him. He is the first man who testified for the State
that any of us cross-examined, if you remember.
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