The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
some brains to prosecute a murder case in my court
room."
If we are cold-blooded, we have, according to Mr.
Darrow, planned for three months, and conspired
to take the lives of two little boys who are wander-
ing around in dreamland. We have been held up to
the world as men who desire blood, who have no
kindly instincts within our hearts at all.
That is not fair to Tom Marshall, not fair to
Joe Savage, both of whom have the respect and
confidence of the people of this community.
I have never been vicious nor cruel. I believe in
God — which may be considered a fault in this
case not only by the two defendants but by the
master pleader who represents them — and I be-
lieve in the laws of this State. I believe the State's
Attorney is as kindly a man as the paid " humani-
tarian," who believes in doing his fellow citizens
good — after he has done them good and plenty.
I have a right to forgive those who trespass
against me, as I do, in the hopes that I in the here-
after will be forgiven my trespasses. As a private
citizen I have that right, and as a private citizen I
live that religion. But, as a public official, I have
no right to forgive those who violate their country's
laws. It is my duty to prosecute them.
Your Honor has a right to, and I know you do,
forgive those who trespass against John R. Caverly.
But, sitting here as the Chief Justice of this great
court, you have no right to forgive anybody who
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