The Omaha morning bee., 1924-08-17
By GEORGE II. HOLMES,
International News Service Staff
('orrezpoudeut

international News Service Staff
Correspondent.
Criminal Court. Chicago, Aug. t.
A ripping. slashing attack on the tes-
timony Of DIR. II. Douglas Singer. one
of the states alienists, who pro-
nounced Richard Loeb and Nathan
Leopold mentally sound. just from
observing them in court and studying
their histories, was made In Judge
r. Caverly's court today by
the defense lawyers, who are trying
to save the young collegians from
the gallows.
Darrow Grills.
Clarence Darrow, chief of the de.
Tense counsel, put DR.. Singer through
the grilling. He brought out that DIR.
Singer had come to this country from
England only 20 years ago, and in
the time he has held many public
positions, including that of state
alienist" in Illinois. Darrow said this
was a political appointment, but DIR.
Singer denied 1t.
Just before Darrow started his sar-
donio questioning of the tall alienist
he asked leave to put into the record
OF the Loeb-Leopold case a certified
copy of all the penalties imposed for
first degree murder in Cook county
In the last 10 years where there were
pleas of guilt entered. together with
tn ages of the murderers.
This move was in preparation for
Darrow's closing address, when he
will contend that never in the history
of Cook county have boys Of 10 been
hanged for murder after pleading
guilty and throwing themselves on
the mercy OF the court.
Darrow savagely attacked DIR.
Singer for trying to examine Loeb
and Leopold in the states attorneys
Office after their lawyer had forbid
den them to talk to anybody. He
accused the ailenists In company with
the states attorneys Office of "vio-
lating the constitutional rights Of
these two boys"
Denies Purpose.
DR.. Singer denied that he had any
uously to Darrow's questioning along
this line.
Darrow speedily brought out that
DR.. Singer had been unable to extract
any information from the boys at the
time he had seen them, because they
answered all questions with II refuse
to answer on the advice of counsel"
-. tx,r a
they were mentally normal?" asked
Darrow, his voice rising.
"That and other things" returned
DR.. Singer.
Answer my question, yes or no."
shouted Darrow.
II can't answer II that way" re-
piled DIR. Singer.
Grove again broke in with an OBJ
lection, and he and Darrow wrangled
angrily.
Finally, after a long exchange OF
sarcastic remarks, Singer. said he
could not tell just from looking at
the boys whether or not they were
actually mentally diseased or not, but
he was confident that his observation,
coupled with his knowledge and study
of their histories. was sufficient To
enable him to state that they have
no mental disease.
Never Asked Question.
~You never asked them question,
did you, in your whole life, and they
never spoke a word to you in their
whole lives, did they?" cried Oar
row.
II never asked them any,
"I never expressed a positive opln.
ion until long after this trial be
gam" the alienist defended himself.
you have been in court every day
since this trial began, haven't you
and you have heard all these alienists
testify?" rasped Darrow.
Yes"
"And You have heard no evidence
here OF any mental disease from any
one OF these witnesses?'
None that indicated mental dis
Ease to me, excluding, of course, the
|opinion evidence" J
Darrow asked Singer to define a
snormar mind" and the alIenist said
he could not do 1t, as he didn't deal
in those general terms.
yet you say these boys have nor
NAL minds" said the attorney.
"I said their minds were within the
range OF normality," replied Singer.
Objection Overruied.
Darrow then produced small red
book written by DIR. Hart. Cam
bridge authority. on the subject oi
mental diseases.
Groves objection was overrnled
taptly by Judge cayerly.
What Is the mind said Dsrrow
after reading several excerpts from
| the book.
THE mind" replied the slienist
represents what we really call the