The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
On page io8, we learn that before he knew that he
would have to chloroform his emotion and let intel-
lect walk into the court alone, he stated that he is
rather fond of small children, that he always wanted
to take a crying child into his arms and comfort it.
On such occasions he almost noticed a functioning
of his lachrymal glands.
" While in the jail the patient has clearly been
under considerable emotional tension, and is rather
irritable at times."
" The patient ordinarily is able to make a calm
and self-possessed appearance, and before reporters
and visitors seems perfectly self-possessed and un-
concerned. On the other hand, when he does not
feel the need for doing it, and when he is talking
frankly with people and no longer posing, he shows
a good deal of irritability and nervous tension."
When he is not posing to prepare a defense based
on the fact that he has no emotion, these doctors say
he shows a great deal of emotion. He wouldn't lie
either. Why, your Honor, it really would be too
bad if these two young fellows imposed on Old Doc
Yak. I showed to you what Loeb said he would do,
I showed to you in this report what he has done.
He has lied repeatedly to the doctors. He has lied
under advice of counsel and family. He has sup-
pressed and distorted.
Let's see what Leopold said he would do. On
page 109: " He seems to be reasonably frank dur-
ing the examination, particularly with regard to his
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