The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-08-28
PLEADS TO COURT
ONLY FOR MERCY
Declares Crime of Loeb and
Leopold Could Only Be
Result of Bad Mind.
ASKS LIFE TERM

Chicago. Ill.-Clarence S. Darrow to-
day again matched his eloquence, logic
and philosophy in an appeal to Judge
John r. Caverly for mercy towards
Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold, Jr.
Before the packed court room, in
stiffness so tense that it was pune
tured by the muffled clicks Of silent
typewriters and the telegraph instru-
ments, the grizzled veteran of the par
talked to the gray haired judge, plead
ing for mercy for two diseased minds,
picturing the situation of youths con-
demned to a life time of living in a
cell and denouncing the barbarity Of
hanging in general and in this case
in particular.
There was fierce denunciation, too,
of the testimony given by state alien
lists, particularly DR.. William o. Krohn.
"The crime was so aimless that the
defendants did not even have a definite
victim in mind" Mr. Darrow said, and
he pictured Loeb trailing first one boy
and then another "bent on killing,
but not knowing where he would go
or whom he would get"
Castigates State Expert.
And l get picture too of DR.. Krohn
going in and out of courts for sixteen
years." Mr.. barrow said. "Slaying his
victims without regard to their age or
sex or circumstances. But he had
motive. 1t was cash." and the last
word exploded as it rang in the tense
atmosphere.
| Mr.. barrow was not sburdened with
a vest today. He therefore had free
access to his suspenders and frequent
! ly rested his gesticulating hands by
hoking the thumbs into his trouser
supporters.
Early in his address Mr.. barrow re-
peated his point of yesterday that the
crime was senseless, without object or
motive, that could be understood un-\
less it was explained on the defense
thesis Of mental sickness.
"The states attorney says these
boys planned the crime and give that
as a reason for hanging them,' he said.
"But maniacs plan,l IDIOTS plan animals
plan, and any mind that functions at
all may plan.
"The crime was shocking, yes.
All deaths are shocking because we
love to live.
"The law can vindicaet without kill
ing any one else. Would it be such a
glorious triumph of justice to place
these boys on scaffold, their feet
tied, black caps on their heads and
some one waiting to release the
spring."
He denounced the death appeal
made by Joseph Savage, assistant
states attorney, said justice was blind
term, added:
But Mr.. Savage is young and you
and know that with age comes wis
dom and with wisdom goes marcy"
Mr.. barrow asked the judge to dis
regard Unframed public opinion" and
to decide the penalty on the basis Of
his own conscience, judgment and
courage.
Police Control Crowd.
Complete police control of the sit
uation from the out doors Of the build
ing to the last door Of the court room
itself prevented repetition Of the riot
Gus actions of the disappointed which
marked the start of Mr.. Darrow's
appeal.
No one came into the building who
was not deemed worthy Of a place
in court and as consequence the
accredited attendants reached their
places without difficulty for the first
time in several days.
Mr.. barrow said he could not finish
his plea in the short session today
II want to call the attention Of this
- Of Aba "a "a, %
these boys in this terrible and weird
homicide, to show conclusively that
there could be no other reason than
a diseased mind for their conduct"
Mr.. barrow began.
"They were not moyed by hatred,
not moved by spite, not moved by the
need for money. They were moved
only by the vague menal wanderings
of children"
Outlines the Staying.
"They see Franks boy on the street.
Dick and Nathan call to him to get
into the car. Five o'clock in the af-
ternoon on thickly settled street, the
houses of their friends and compan-
ions known to every one in the neigh
borhood. There were automobiles on
the street. They took him into the
car for nothing.
They drive on popular streets, where
everybody might see, and where they
were known by every ONE.
II say again that this act cannot
be explained by any other thing than
a diseased mind.
"They bring the boy back, in fact
they pull him over into the back seat,
gag him and soon the car starts on
it's way.
"If every death vehicle went over
the route or the same kind of route
driven by sane people, l have never
heard of it, And l fancy no one else
ever heard of it.
"This car was driven for thirty
miles, first down streets as thickly
populated and travelled as any in the
city. They took the regular path out
of the city to the south, with Leopold
driving Loeb in the back seat with
the dead body beneath him. Anything
could have happened to bring their
L