CRIMES BY YOUTHS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1075, 23 July 1924, Page 5

CRIMES BY YOUTHS.

FORMAL PLEA OF GUILTY

QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY

NEW YORK, July 21. A message from Chicago states tliat a sensational scene followed the plea of guilty entered by Mr Clarence Darrow, counsel for the youths Leopold and Loeb, who are charged with murder and other crimes. The case is still commanding attention throughout tlucountry. The defence requested the Court, without a jury, to hear evidence pertaining to the youths’ so-called degree of responsibility. Hereupon the State Attorney, Mr Grower, interrupted, shouting angrily: “If the defence is trying to show that the accused were insane, how can they plead guilty?” The defence answered that the plea was merely formal. If held with a jury, the case would have an air of a circus, or a music-hall performance. “Let the Court sentence the youths as it sees fit,” he urged. “We are cognisant of the fact that the Court may sentence them to death.”

Cr Grower thereupon announced that he would summon every State witness to testify.

The Court will re-open on Wednesday to hear the evidence, which will probably occupy several weeks.—Aand N.Z. cable.