The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Lcopold Case
relationships would never be appealing nor satis-
factory, and the other accidently inculcated upon his
impressionable mind that he was superior to all he
knew, but if he ever found someone superior to him-
self he should become the object, dutiful and un-
questioning slave, of his " King " (cf. " The St.
Christopher Legend"). These ideas of superiority
to criticism and to the ordinary code of social ethics
and the ideas of being the perfect slave grew dis-
tortedly until he became delusional and irresistible.
He found in his neighbor, Loeb, an adequate sweet-
heart and what he regarded as a mind superior to
his own to which he entered slavish bondage.
Referring to Richard Loeb Dr. Hulbert testified:
My opinion is that the man is not normal physically or
mentally, and there is a close relation between his physical
abnormalities, largely of the endocrine system, and his mental
condition. Intellectually, he far excels the average boy of
his age. But his emotional reactions are those — I estimate
because I cannot measure — of a boy of about 9 or 10, cer-
tainly less than a boy of puberty. And in matters of judgment
he is childish.
This discrepancy between his judgment and his emotions
on the one hand, and his intellectual attainments on the
other, is a greater discrepancy than we find in normal persons.
He seemed to be quite interested in describing the planning
of this crime. In the description of the crime itself
he was extremely indifferent. And in describing the pain
he brought to the families involved he seemed quite indif-
ferent. He had no remorse. He was interested in the crime
as a technical thing. He had no adequate emotional reaction
to it.
Richard got quite a kick out of discussing the crime with
his family. It pleased him that his mother should say to
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