The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
as criminals, nor to their crimes as cold-blooded.
We have violated the finer sensibilities of their
counsel.
These two college graduates — the poor sons of
millionaires — are mere infants wandering around
in dreamland. The State's Attorney should not dis-
cuss the gruesome details of the horrible crime in
their presence. A kindly old nurse ought to tell
them a bedtime story. They did not commit a murder;
they broke a jar of jam in the pantry. That
is not blood on their hands; it is jam.
It has been suggested also that with the plea of
guilty entered the State should say no more; their
arguments must go without a reply. Put away the
judicial slipper; do not spank these naughty boys;
let them go back to play. They are not the intel-
lectuals who say there is no God. Oh, no, they still
believe in Santa Claus.
Who but the State's Attorney could be so vicious
and cruel as to talk about the death penalty in a
case of this sort? Savage and Marshall should have
come up here and tried them with " kindness " and
" consideration."
I can imagine, your Honor, when this case was
called for trial and your Honor began to warn these
two defendants of the consequences of their plea,
and when you said we may impose the death pen-
alty. Savage and Marshall both rushing up and
saying: "Now, Judge! now. Judge! not so fast!
We don't intend to be cruel in this case. We don't
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