The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
intend to be harsh. We want to try these boys,
these kiddies, with kindness and consideration.
Your Honor ought not to shock their ears by such
a cruel reference to the laws of this State, to the
penalty of death. Why, don't you know that one
of them has to shave every day of the week, and
that is a bad sign? The other one has to shave
twice a week only, and that is a bad sign. One is
short and one is tall, and it is equally a bad sign in
both of them. When they were children they
played with Teddy bears. One of them has three
moles on his back. One is over-developed sexually
and the other not quite so good." If one of them
had a hairlip I suppose Darrow would want me to
apologize for having had them indicted.
Imagine Savage and Marshall making a plea of
that sort to your Honor, and saying: " Instead of
sending these two mad boys, who are wandering
around in the dark, to prison for life, parole them
to us. Marshall will take ' Dickie ' and Savage will
take ' Babe.' And we will try to get them out of
this ' fantasy life.' "
I know what your Honor would have said if they
had pursued that line of conduct. You would have
said: " Mr. Sheriff, search these men, find out how
much money they have in their pockets."
And if no money were found in their pockets,
your Honor would tell the sheriff to take them to
the psychopathic hospital, and you would send for
me and say: " Crowe, send up somebody who has
2ZS