The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-07-31
BY DIR. MEYER SOLOMON
Neurologist of the Chicago Health Dept
Written for the United Press

y.
Neurologist of the Chicago Health Dept.
Written for the United Press
The defense in the Leopold-Loeb-
Franks trial has definitely failed to
put forward the plea of insanity rs
the excuse for the crime of the two
boys. Nevertheless mitigation of the
sentence is asked on the grounds of
the youth of the accused lads, their
degree of responsibility and their
mental makeup.
Therefore, although not pleading in
sanity, the attorneys for the two de-
PENDANTS are claiming that Leopold
and Loeb are of such unusual and abb
normal mental makeup that they
should be given special consideration
lin other words that they belong to
the group of what has been called "the
semi-insane and semi-responsible."
Graset French author, has written
a book on the subject, and in this
book he refers to make men of genius
who had such pronounced peculiarities,
or abnormalities in mental makeup
that he felt justified in classifying
them as semi-insane and semi-respon-
sible.
Details Regular Traits.
The terms "moral insanity" and
"mioral imbecility" have been used by
many to refer to the group whose in
tellects are normal and we'll develop
ed, but who are controlled by per-
verse state Of their feelings, as re-
suit of which they are controlled by
strong, vicious or criminal propen-
stiles with many Of the characteristics
to be mentioned below.
At the present time the terms psy-
chopath, psychopathic, inferiority,
constitutional psychopathic inferiority,
constitutional psychopath, and psyche
pathic personality are most frequent
w used to describe such persons.
Some of the traits or chacteristics
of such persons are mentioned here.
Their behavior shows pronounced
defects in volition and inhibitation
marked egotism, impulsiveness, poor
judgment, non-conformity to ethical
and social standards, and inability to
adjust to or profit by experience.
Many Become Outcasts.
AS a result of these characteristic
defects certain other behavior traits
are the natural offshoots. For exam
pie, the defect in voliticn results in
difficulty in concentration and appli-
cation to one course of action suffi-
GENTLY long to succeed - hence so
many of them become hoboes, beggars,
loafers and industrial misfits.
Poor control or inhibition leads to
crimes of passion or sensual excuses
and so we have many becoming al
coholics, drug addicts, prostitutes and
sexual perverts.
Fundamentally they show an impov-
erishment of emotional life and it is
this which is responsible for their in
ability to adapt to the demands Of hui
man society.
1t should be realized that such per-
sons may exhibit grotesque exaggera-
tions or magnifications, in unre-
strained degree of traits present in
any of us in minor degree. AS re-
suit we have megalomaniac tendencies
with exaggerated ego of such pro-
nounced degree that they imagine
themselves supermen.
Love for Extremes.
This later tendency is called the
Goldman or Jehovah. They may act
out in real life their wild, uncritical
and unrestrained thinking. They thus
become players or actors on the stage
of life unable to distinguish between
unreality and reality. Phantasy and
childish thinking run amuck. They
live in worlds Of theiE own morbid
construction. Love for extreme de-
grees Of unusual forms Of sensation,
excitement and adventure may domin-
ate their lives. Their uncritical mag
nation along these lines may lead to
actual putting into execution Of their
ideas. dreams of wish fulfilling, phant-
asies, so that they may become not on
Nv potential but actual menaces and
sources of danger to the community