The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
in jail to Napoleon at St. Helena. His illnesses at
puberty. His lack of resistance to infection as dis-
closed by the examination.
His feelings of inferiority. His small stature.
His attendance at the girls' school, being accom-
panied to the school by a nurse for many years.
His projection into college life at an early age, with
the same temptations for drink and sex, and the
need of living up to the standards of much older
men.
His attitude towards hanging. His readiness, his
desire to show consistency. His desire to leave
puzzles for the scientists. His desire to write an
apologia. His obvious lack of good judgment,
which was even apparent to his companions who
testified as lay witnesses. His willingness to sub-
ject himself entirely to the hazards of a criminal
career in order to obtain satisfaction of his patho-
logical needs.
He had a paranoid personality. Loeb had a
schizophrenic personality. All these things were
found during a real examination by our psychiatrists.
There is no doubt he considered himself a super-
man. If that was not a delusion and there was that
in him which justified him in thinking he was a
superman through normal tests, what do you think
about what he did to that superman? Here was
a superman in his custody. He ruined the superman
by this crime.
Just one word more, if your Honor please, and I
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