The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
intact and he is quite obviously an individual of
high intelligence. He is correctly oriented, and in
excellent contact with his surroundings.''
The same argument was made by Mr. Darrow
with reference to Leopold as was made about Loeb.
First he began to blame the old German philosopher
Nietzsche, although every student in every uni-
versity for the last 2 5 years has read his philosophy.
And then I guess he thought that would not do be-
cause if reading this philosophy would be an excuse
for this crime, how about the countless thousands
who have gone before and who are still reading this
philosophy who lead decent, honorable lives? He
did not have a poor old nurse in this case to blame,
and he was not quite satisfied in blaming some remote
ancestor, so he blames their parents, re-
spectable, decent, law-abiding citizens. The only
unfortunate thing that ever came into their lives was
to have a snake like Leopold in that decent family.
Casting blame where blame was not due, but where
sympathy should go out as it does go out from the
heart of every person in this community, to the re-
spected families of these men.
But Darrow says, " No. Save your sympathy for
the boys. Do not place the blame on the boys.
Place it on their families. This is the result of
heredity."
Well, let us see what the doctors say: " However,
it might be said that our present degree of knowl-
edge gives us no reason to feel that a mental con-
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