Brilliant defense attorney noted for his role in the Scopes Monkey Trial and the Leopold-Loeb thrill killing case. TLS, one page, 7.25 x 10.5, personal letterhead, May 15, 1931. Very interesting letter to a friend concerning different philosophical outlooks. In full, “That was a very nice letter I received from you, and very interesting. I am glad you like Omar Khy yam [sic]. The Rubyat contains the whole philosophy of life for thinking men. Paine was, of course, one of the great nad [sic] brave men of the world. Still, Harry Elmer Barnes has recently in ‘Twilight of Christianity’ gone way beyond Paine and Voltaire and the rest of them. The main reason is that Mr. Barnes book shows how science and hostory [sic] have chopped the whole nonsense to pieces, and these were not known a hundred years ago. I am glad, too, that you do not believe in Free Will. It is an idiotic belief, and more cruel than the grave. Little good can come to man until he gets rid of this horrible dogma.” In fine condition, with two horizontal mailing folds, a light shade of toning and some minor wrinkling. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
