The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
minute details, they were perfectly assured that
their plans were so perfect that they themselves
would never be suspected, and of course would
never be apprehended.
And nothing, in my judgment, but an act of God,
an act of Providence, is responsible for the unravel-
ing of this terrible crime. I think that when the
glasses that Leopold had not worn for three months,
glasses that he no longer needed, dropped from his
pocket at night, the hand of God was at work in
this case. He may not have believed in a God.
But, if he has listened and paid attention and
thought as the evidence was unfolded, he must begin
to believe there is a God now.
I have referred to the fact that they tried to
create an impression that when the doctors were
examining them they were perfectly frank, they
cooperated, they did not lie, they did not distort,
they did not hold back any evidence, and that is
the sworn testimony of the three doctors from the
East.
Let us find out whether that is true or not. I
suspected and I tried to get them to admit on cross-
examination that boys of superior education and
intellect, boys who could plan a crime of this sort
stretching over a period of six months and attend
to every minute detail, boys who showed such an
abandoned and malignant heart as the facts in this
case show that they possessed, might possibly, when
caught like rats, lie just a little bit to friendly doc-
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