The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-26
TWIN DEATH IS BLAMED ON SOCIETY Nothing Strange About Love Pact, Says
 Lawyer . SANITY OF BOTH
 IS QUESTIONED Main Street Repression,
 Strict Laws, Acted As Causes
(Leased Wire to The Age.Herald)

(Leased Wire to The Age. .Herald)
 CHICAGO, September 25.- "They should not hang; it is society's crime"
 Thus Clarence Darrow, hu- manitarian, psychologist and lawyer, epitomized his atti- tude towards the Rev. Law renee M. flight, Ina, Dl., poison pastor" l" and his affin- ity, Mrs. Elsie Sweetin.
 In his little, dimly-lighted office Dar- row sat and looked at large portrait of Abraham Lincoln as he discussed what he believed to be the underlying causes that led the minister to assist Mrs. Sweetin to poison her husband and then to murder his own wife. The at torney shook his straying locks as he discussed with candor possible reme- dies to prevent such anti-social offenses.
 There is nothing strange about this pact into which a man and woman en- tered in order that they might free themselves of persons who stood in the way of their romance" Darrow com menced.
 Sanity Is Doubted
 Assuming that both parties to this pact and poisoning were sane-which I am inclined to doubt-it simply re- solves itself into a struggle between the primitive instincts of man and wom- an who want to possess each other"
 Darrow analysed the fundamental causes of the double murder:
 l. Sex instinct.
 2. Expressions of a small town.
 3. Strict divorce laws.
 4. Inhibitions of society.
 Do they deserve to hang?" Darrow was asked.
 Most certainly not" he replied "I am very sorry for both the man and woman and l hope they do not hang. am very much interested in this case, which presents an enlightening cross section of society"
 Darrow stroked his chin as he pom dered over question relating to wheth- CT he would take hand in the case.
 Worn By Franks Case
 'I do not expect to-" he said. am afraid that it will be long time before I have anything to do with a big criminal case again. The Franks case wore me out, but I did not real ize it until it was over.."
 "The inhibitions and customs with which society has insisted on binding itself are largely responsible for this crime," the attorney said. Tt is the animal in the man which leads him to carry out primitive instincts such as those displayed by the minister. So- called civilized man has developed, in my opinion, from primitive man to an animal below him. He has. however. retained all the original instincts necss- sary to the preservation of human life, which includes the sex instinct.
 InhibitiOnS Blamed
 ''The power of the sex instinct is sec ond only to the instinct to get food. In certain circumstances, and under great strain, civilized man, through his sex and food instincts, will overcome the inhibitions of society. That is one of the reasons for these homicides.
 "In this poisoning case we have sim ply an illustration of the relative strength of the instincts and inhibi- tions. Where there is distinct clash it resolves itself into a question of the character of the human machine and the power of the instinct.
 ''This man should be judged with no greater severity because of the fact that he happens to be a minister, as all men have the same instincts, to a greater or less degree, and likewise are surrounded by the same conventions"