The Washington times., 1924-06-03
Insanity Plea Seen as
Darrow's Defense in
States Perfect Case
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International News Service

international News Service.
CHICAGO, June SJ-A battle Of
A1ienists which may suFpass that
Gfnsred by the Thaw murder trial
and give vogue 10 phrases similar
10 tho almost-forgoeten 'brain-
storms" and ''dementia americana
was fore-shadowed today in prepa-
rations for the defense Of Nathan
Leopold and Richard Loeb. held
for the confessed Staying Of Robert
Franks.
That insanity would enter into
the defense structure was limited
BY Benjamin Bachrach Of defense
counsel.
u canpot see how a sane per-
son ever could commit such a
crime" he stated, but hurried to
add: This does not mean we will
make an insanity plea"
Meantime, the State, which al
ready has had the youths examined
by alienists, was making further
moves to anticipate similar tactics
Of the defense. To the aiienist
staff which the State already had
brought together, including Doctors
William A. Krohn, Hugh +. Patrick
and Archibald Church, was added
Doctor H. Douglas Singer.
Only One Defense, Belief.
States Attorney Grove has as
Sembled what he terms '"the per.
feet murder case" and against It.,
in his belief, there can be but one
defense that the cunningly schemed
and carefully executed Staying of
Robert Franks was planned by a
mind, or minds, In which reason
had been unseated.
Unlike many other famous
murder trials Of the past this one
1s likely to be sensational in the
very assembling the evidence at the
proceedings against the youths. AL
though recognizing and needing the
public cry for vengeance and an.
nounc1ng here and there various
developments in the work Of solv.
ing the crime Mr.. Grove has. with
held from the gaze Of newspaper
reporters the alleged confession
typed by stenographers. This docu-
ment, according to public belief, has
revealed to the States attorneys
stray bits Of evidence which they
may be able to bring into the trial
as bombs Of testimony 70 offset any
tactics Of defense counsel.
Statements from either side are
now for the purpose of testing the
public mind, the drift Of thought in
opposite plans, the temper Of at.
toFneyS, judges, police, etc.-the
preliminary that always has its
play in any important criminal
case. That is admitted by Clarence
barrow, nationally known attorney
and chief counsel for the two
youths. in declaring.
Defense In No Hurry
I'VE do not want to hurry. It
would be like trying the case at a
town meeting. We must wait until
this mob hysteria subsidies. We
would not have a ghost of chance
now In trying to select an Impair
tial jury"
The million.dollar struggle OF ven.
geance versus life for two youths
ls already on. The scenes are
slowly shifting as alienists are
modified, legal presidents busted
off, attorneys consulted and future
plans laid. The supreme court of
the State Of Illinois already has
been marshalled into part Of the
scheme. barrow Will fight to keep
the reputed confession from the
court. He contends no confession
made to States attorney could be
made to stand up in the supreme
court. There would be no chance,
he said, to prove It was not OBJ.
tanned under duress.
The reaction of the public re.
Elected itself in the county Jail
where prisoners. ranging the scale
from common Migrants to men who
have committed or are suspected OF
having committed greater crimes
turned their heads from Loeb and
Leopold-the men who say they
took the life of child Ito get a
kick out Of It,"