The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
Q. WTiat did he say to you as to his attitude toward
friends?
A. He has had no close friends. He has always desired
a friend, but that friend must fit in, he felt, with that kingslave
fantasy which has been the keynote of his inner mental
hfe. He was very sensitive to the criticism of others. He
preferred to live a non-emotional life, if he could. His ideal
was a sheer intellectualist. His mood is more or less level,
and rather shallow. He has no strongly developed emotions.
His philosophy of life is that of sheer selfishness. He felt
that the rules which hold ordinary men did not apply to
him, because he was so superior. The only serious mistake
he could make would be a mistake of intellect.
Q. What were his reactions in jail as they appeared to
you?
A. In jail, in discussing this crime, he took particular
pains to be accurate. There was no other emotion of any
kind, neither chagrin, remorse nor discomfort at being in
jail, and no apprehension as to his future. I asked him what
his plans were. He said, " Well, I can't tell what my future
will be, but I would prefer to get married and settle down."
Q. Did you discuss with him the question of hanging?
A. Yes. He said that the end of life is the end of all;
that one might as well hang as not, and that if his family
would feel bad about it, they should disown him before he
should be hanged.
Q. Did he show any emotional disturbance when you discussed
the question of hanging with him?
A. None that I could see.
Q. Did he show any emotional disturbance when you discussed
the Franks case with him?
A. He denied any feeling of remorse; stated he had no
feeling of having done anything morally wrong. He said he
was disinclined to commit another such crime, not from a
sense of remorse, but because it would be impossible to plan
a perfect crime intellectually. He said he had no enjoyment,
pleasure, sorrow or grief from the crime.
Q. What did he tell you was the motive for the Franks
homicide and kidnaping?
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