The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
been sent to Daunemora. This evidently refers to
a former conviction in some other jurisdiction, after
which he had been committed to an insane asylum.
And he adds (quoting Doctor White) ' In all
probability this present disturbance would all dis-
appear very rapidly if the causes for its existence
were removed.' "
In all probability the present mental disease of
these two defendants would disappear very rapidly
if the causes for its existence were removed. If the
glasses had never been found, if the State's Attor-
ney had not fastened the crime upon these two de-
fendants, Nathan Leopold would be over in Paris or
some other of the gay capitals of Europe, indulging
his unnatural lust with the $5,000 he had wrung
from Jacob Franks. If they were to be discharged
today, through some technicality in the law, this
present disturbance would all disappear very rap-
idly, if the causes for its existence were removed.
I used to wonder why they got Doc White — and
this explains it.
Now, if your Honor please, we will go back of this
defense, and see whether it is an honest defense or
not, see whether these mental disturbances came on
as suddenly as they would disappear if the causes
of them were removed. Your Honor will recollect
that while doctors employed by the defense were
sitting in the court room, witnesses were put on to
testify to fainting spells. The purpose of that was
to lay a foundation, in my judgment, for some
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