Evening star., 1924-09-11

Impressed by the fact that the
prisoners are still minors, the good
judge, whose sincerity 10 not doubted,
yielded to the plea OF mercy. while at
the same time enjoining those charged
with the responsibility OF enforcing
the life sentences to turn a dear ear
to any appeal for a modification of
the verdict, which, he says. If ad-
hered to, will satisfy the ends of jus
tice and safeguard the interests of
society
"Perhaps SO, but it remains to be
seen that the quality of mercy which
moves this good Judge will not SO ex-
pand as to overleap the bounds to
which the court urges strict adher-
ence.
IF the public thought that a life
sentence meant life service, in this or
any other similar instance, there
, would be a lessening of the demand
for capital punishment. But. unfor-
tunately, experience has taught that
life sentence is one thing and life
service another"
Regrets Decision,
Bows to Courts Action.
NEW ORLEANS ITEM Tho Item
has persisted in the view that Judge
John r. Caverly OF Chicago would in
flict a sentence OF death on Leopold
and Loeb in the notorious Chicago
kidnapping and murder case, which
has attracted the attention Of the
world. on behalf OF society. We re-
gret that the judge has handed down
verdict of life imprisonment. Ours
must be government of the law ad
ministered by judges or q govern
ment subject to the whims and pas
sions Of the mob. and all Of us must
align ourselves either with or against
constituted authority. so we bow our
heads and submit to a verdict which
we believe does society a terrible in
Justice, asking only for mercy upon
or sinned in the conclusions reached"
ConEratuiates Court
On Decision In Case.
THE COLUMBIA RECORD-"Score
one for common sense enforcement of
law. as distinguished from the frenzy
of mob sentiment, two rich idle and
erratic boys. Is and 10 years old, and
known as Nathan f. Leopold, jr., and
Richard Loeb convicted of gross
murder by their own admissions, have
been legally shut out from a busy
world for all time.
They could have been killed by law,
possibly. but murder by law is no less
murder than when it is administered
by an individual. In our opinion, they
will pay the penalty of their out
rageous violation Of law much more
drastically under the sentence to
prison than they would have paid it
upon the gallows or in the electric
chair. Society is protected and Judge
John r. Caverly is TO be congratu-
lated upon his Interpretation of the
statutes and the sentiments of the
public"
Declares Decision
Meets Laws Demand.
BIRMINGHAM AGE HERALD
while public sentiment may suffer
some disappointment at the verdict
in the Leopold-Loeb case, yet care
full reading of the judges opinion
shows that he kept entirely within
the law of Illinois in his decision
although it has been suggested that
the testimony Of the alienists was in
fuential in detracting from what
might otherwise have been the death
penalty, yet Justice Caverly himself
explicitly stated that the testimony
may be deserving of legislative but
not of judicial consideration and that
his decision was not affected
thereby.
The court rests it's opinion on the
precedent that withholds the death
penalty from minors in Illinois and
that metes out life Imprisonment in
cases where the plea of guilty is
entered"
Admires Courage
In Caverly Decision.
CHARLESTON GAZETTE-"What-
ever the merits of the case Justice
Caverly did a courageous thing in
giving the Franks boys slayers life
Imprisonment. He bases his verdict
on the precedent that no minor who
pleaded guilty has ever been hanged
in Illinois. We are of the opinion
that many things in connection with
this case will never be known to the
public. 1t was a loathSome affair
all around and If the two slayers are
kept in confinement for the rest of
their lives perhaps this is as good a
settlement of the affair as any. JUS
tice Caverly had all the evidence in
the case before him and doubtless
had information Of which the public
| is ignorant"
Believes Caveriy
Met Duty to Society.
THE ELIZABETH DAILY JOURNAL