The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
Almighty God their thanks that their daughter was
not the victim of this fiendish conspiracy, as Leopold
planned.
Why, Judge, if ever there was a case in history
that deserves the most severe punishment, this is
the case. And I want to say, your Honor, that if
your Honor does not hang both of these murderers,
it will be a long time in Cook County before we ever
hang another. Capital punishment will mean noth-
ing in our law and might as well be abolished.
And I want to say to your Honor that the men
who have reached the gallows prior to this time
have been unjustly treated, if these two do not fol-
low. I know your Honor will live up to his full
responsibility; and that you will enforce the law as
you see it should be enforced. The people of this
great community are looking to your Honor to mete
out justice, that justice that the murderers in this
case so richly deserve.
And when your Honor metes out that justice we
will have no more supermen; we will have no more
men with phantasies, whose desires are to ravish
young children and then murder them.
And, your Honor, when you inflict the extreme
penalty in this case, you will have told the world
that Cook County is a safe place for one's children,
and that the people will have no fear for their
children's lives when they are returning home from
school.
And you will have set, your Honor, that con-
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