[Darrow] The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Bible). Oxford University Press American Branch, 1899, Association Copy [Clarence Darrow]. Clear-Type Pocket Edition. Worn with discoloration, white paint drops at front board, cracked hinge, frayed edges, tanned block.

Darrow bookplate inside front board. Inscribed by Clarence Darrow to a client of his, Nathan Leopold, Jr., “To Nathan Leopold Jr. from a friend. ‘God help you.”

Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were wealthy University of Chicago students, who were charged with kidnapping and murdering a 14-year-old. They had believed they would be able to commit the “perfect crime” without punishment as a result of what they perceived to be their superior intellect. At the time, it was considered the “crime of the century”. The two defendants retained renowned criminal defense attorney Clarence Darrow. Darrow gave a 12-hour summation at the sentencing phase of their trial, which criticized capital punishment as being retributive, rather than transformative. This speech at the conclusion of the hearing is considered to be the finest of his career. Leopold and Loeb were sentenced to life in prison plus 99 years.

Clarence Darrow (April 18, 1857 – March 13, 1938), a prominent American lawyer, gained initial recognition in the late 19th century defending labor unions, and later achieved widespread notoriety in the 20th century for his involvement in landmark criminal trials such as Leopold and Loeb, Scopes “monkey” trial, and Ossian Sweet. Renowned for his wit and eloquence, he earned the moniker ‘sophisticated country lawyer,’ and was a nationally recognized attorney and a prominent advocate for civil liberties.