The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-02
Dream F Fancies Are Blamed
 For Chicago Youths Crime
Alienist Unfolds Life History Of Two Confessed
 Slayers of Franks Boy


 Yes, in a measure, but these were more than the ordinary air castles of children" Dr. White replied. These were unusual phantasies, recognized of a peculiar type by all who have studied mental conditions. Horror and death sometimes were in them. They as- sumed the following forms
 That he was in jail. He constantly saw himself confined behind the bars. He would see people peer at him through the bars, often naked girls. Sometimes he would dig a hole in the ground and fall into it. He thought of himself as great criminal. He con sidered himself the master criminal mind of the centuries, directing a band of uper-criminals.
 Thought Himself Sick
 "At times Dickie thought of him. self as sick in bed, with the under world coming to him for direction and advice. He played the part of detec- tive and actually shadowed people in the streets for hours at a time, to find out what they were doing and where they were going.
 Why, this boy even went through the streets, streets crowded with real
 
 master criminals, like himself, and he made motions with his hands to them which he said we're secret signals un- derstood only by the criminal hordes. He enjoyed this game, very much.
 And it is significant that after he got in jail, he was in the same situa- tion in reality that he had been in fancy. He said he was living out the lo.l G. He still had phantasies in jail. As a child he used to take his teddy bear to bed with him and tell him of his imag- mary exploits. He always would start his conversations with you know that" In his cell this boy has started conver- sationS with dream people and still he uses this expression. It recurs in his ordinary speech.
 Tt seems that the planning of hon1i- eide was in the minds of the two boys and for months was almost a daily subject of discussion"
 Then Dr. White took up the abdue- tion and staying of the Franks boy, who, only day or two before he had been lured into an automobile by the killers, had played tennis with Loeb.
 The object of this slime was to commit a perfect crime" the alienist said. They wanted to see a crime ac- comp1ished that had been thoroughly and, completely planned in all detail. They wanted crime that would be an intellectual feat, one that could not be solved, one that would be a matter of concern to the community. These boys did not need money and money was their least thought. At the time the crime was committed, Loeb had several hundred dollars in the bank. He told men that one time he fired a bullet through his shirt and then went to see young lady whom he told about a wholly. imaginary encounter with the police. Two pictures of Dickie as child, one as cowboy.
 Reads Warning
 At this point the defense intA)duced a letter written to Loeb by tlSs gov erness who had brought him up. The letter in effect begged him to beware of dangerous girls and tempermental sagaries.
 At one time I asked Dickie how he felt about his past life, whether he believed he haAagotten all there was out of life. He said: I believe I've gotten all there was Out of life
 'I finally asked him how he felt he had been getting on the past two years and he yeplied that he did not be- lieve he was on a par mentally with what he had been. He said it was not as easy for him to accomplish things
 "As a result of these interviews as it had been some time before. what were your findings?" Bachrach asked.
 There are very significant find ings," the physician replied. One is the rapid progressive growth of an anti-social tendency. He wanted to escape the censure of his governess. The other has reference to the facts of his life. Phantasies are normal char acteristics of child life, but the phan- tasies of Diekie were unusual. We don't accomplish anything we haven't imagined.
 "On the emotional side the boy has remained a child. The thing he did grew from the dream world into actual, real life. Dickie plays the part of the master criminal in real life,. so far as the power is within him.