The Washington times., 1924-09-10

mouth. He died soon after, presuIn.
ably from suffocation.
Then. they drove toward Gary,
Ind. Their afternoons labors had
given them an appetite, so they
stopped along the way to buy
sandwiches, covering the body with
a robe, meanwhile.
After removing Bobby's clothing,
the murderers poured acid on the
face to hinder Identification. after
which they carried Bobby's body,
in the robe, to the tracks, whe re
it was crammed into the culvert.
Then they mailed letters to the
elder Franks, instructing him how
to deposit the 10000 they de.
manded for his sons safe return.
Leopold confessed that they had no
intention of returning Robert to
his parents. He said the murder
was not a slip in their plans at all.
They had intended from the first
to murder their victim and try to
collect the ransom afterward.
During this amazing confession
the authorities assumed that-be-
cause of Leopold's obvious supe-
rior intellect and lack of emo
ton, and because of "Dickie's''
weakness, as exhibited by his
fainting when proved a kilIer-it
was Leopold who planned the muir.
der and made the seemingly weaker
boy his tool.
At first this assumption ap-
peared to give Richard Loeb re-
lief; but, when it was emphasized
to him that both were equally
guilty, he exhibited his chagrin at
being pictured a weakling easily
led. 1t was with satisfaction that
ne received later developments
showing conclusively that 1t was
he who had the greater develop
ment of criminal inclinations and
that Leopold had entered into it 10
crafty his within.
Once the boys had confessed.
public interest turned toward the
struggle to be made TO save them
from the gallows. The coming
trial was heralded as a battle Of
millions against the State. This
leu the parents of Leopold and
Loeb to issue a statement denying
tnat staggering sums would be EN-.
ployed to thwart justice. Parents
OF both insisted they wished jus
tice done.
Search for Counsel.
search for counsel to defend
them was made among the most
brilliant lawyers in the republic.
Ii finally was decided that Clar.
ence barrow, Of Chicago, noted
philosopher and criminal LAWYER
should head the defense counsel
harrow said little, and for weeks
the nation waited for the surprise
II was confident he would spring
Wnen the case came to trial.
MS move was a surprise. In
courtroom packed with hunanitv
ana mobs fighting outside with !
VAIN hope to enter, barrow strobe
up TO Judge Caverly, looped his
thumos into his suSpenders NOV
famous from coast to COAST, rocked
en- his heels and announced that
the slayers' plea ! Of not guilty
would be withdrawn and one OF
guilty substituted.
With that barrow threw the
boys fate upon the mercy of the
court. 1t left the courtroom breath.
less.
Instantly all sorts of questions
were involved. An insane man can
not plead guilty. II the question of
sanity were raised. a trial by jury
would be necessary. barrow an
nounced that the defense intended
to call a number of alienists from
all parts of the county to testify
that the boys we're abnormal, and
thus let the court decide whether
or not there were any mitigating
circumstances that should entitle
them to a life sentence rather than
hanging.
Objections By Grove.
States Attorney Grove objected
vigorously. He insisted the alien
lists be not permitted to testify
since there was no question Of
sanity involved. The court thought
otherwise, and one -alienist after
another was called.
Up to this time the Leopold and
Loeb boys had astonished the ma
ton with their cold-blooded crime,
but their behavior once the trial
got under way showed the actual
crime into the background and
astonlshed the country still more.
They enjoyed their CrlaL LulInensS-
ly. 1t flattered their ego 10 be
stared at and to be considered the
center of attraction. They glggied
again and again, and the frequency
with which their heads came to-
gether and they smiled Indicated
that they were exchanging remarks
to the consummate amusement of
each other.
1t stirred no remorse whatever
within them when Mrs. Jacob
Franks, in tears and so weak that
shS had to be supported, took the
stand to tell about the disappear
ance of her little boy. True, Leo
pold and Loeb looked a bit uncom-
Portable, but of sorrow there was
no trace in their faces.
HOrdes Of Witnesses.
Mony Y,araona of different walks