Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-23
EAsY LESSONS EROM HARD GASES

EASY LESSONS FROM HARD CASES
tn HE Chicago lawyer who sought to
tenuate the crime of Leopold and Loeb,
and thereby reduce the penalty for the
horrible murder committed by these young
monsters, left nothing unsaid or undOne to
save them from the galows.
Much that he said in his appeal to the
judge who presided in the case was worse
than worthess-Well calculated to incite
other hardened youths to commit similar
crimes
But some things said by him are worthy of
the most careful consideration by both par
ents and publishers, and by all who are con-
cerned for good morals and social order.
Among other things, he remarked, Loeb
was child Of wealth and opportunity. Now
courts over and over have considered the
chance of the child Of the streets, and have
done it rightfulIy. But wealth has its mis-
fortunes in too much opportunity given to
the child, and [ ask Your Honor to consider
the rich as we'll the poor"
All this is undoubtedly true. 1t does not
follow from it that Loeb should not be pun
ished to the full extent Of the law for a crime
utterly without excuse or eXtenuation but it
does convey a much needed lesson to both
rich and poor
Great wealth is a perilous possession to
both the parents who have it and the children
who are INDUCED by it.
1t brings to parents distractions, If nothing
worse, which cause them to neglect parental
duties and to live in sef-indulgent manner
that is a hurtful example to their offspring
Fathers, who in the years of struggle pos
sessed little Of worldly goods erected and
maintained their family affairs, spent many
happy hours in the company Of their children
and attended the worship Of their churches
with delight and regularity, have been known
to live quite differently after acquiring
wealth. Then social functions and worldly
diversions displaced family worship; home
life, with its sweet comprehensive, gave way
to money-makfng in the day and pleasure
seeking in the night; and church services
were rarely attended and still less enjoyed.
In short paganism prevailed where Chris
tianity was previously influential.
What followed in such cases with the chill
dren? They were INDUCED excessively until
self-will supplanted all self-denial in their
liVes-and that meant self-destruction.
The attorney in this repulsive case in Chi
cago uncovered just such conditions in the
life of Loeb. He said: Here was a boy
placed early in life in the hands. of gov
erness. He was fed on facts as a plant is
forced in dollhouse. He had no chance for
play except through lying and cheating. He
read detective stories, on the sly. Every
story he read was story Of crime.
Where were his parents during all these
| impressionable years? What were they do
ing? They were enjoying their wealth, as
enjoyment is understood by such people.
Now they are suffering the agonies Of sorrow
and shame brought to them by a son whom
they neglected. in order that they might
"enjoy Themselves" Thus wealth has cursed
the parents as well as ruined the child.
The attorney spoke most truly when he
said eve have grown to think it misfor-
tune not to have money. But the terrible
misfortune in this terrible case is that they
had it. That destroyed their lives and
brought us here. Wealth unlimited is ter
ribe misfortune in every step of life"
Another loss which wealth brought to both
parents and son in this case was that of los
ing the wholesome associations of plain good
people who were the friends of their early
years, and Of contracting relations Of friend
ship with the giddy and goddess sons and
dangers which beset the opulent arises from
the flocking to thom of flatterers who fawn
on them for what they can get out of them
Wise are the words of the Hebrew psaImist:
"Be thou not afraid when one is made rich,
when the glory of his house is increased: for
when he dieth he shall carry nothing away;
his glory shall not descend after him Though
while he lived he blessed his soul; and men
will praise thee, when thou doest we'll to thy
self" (Psalms xlix:16-18.) And that syco-
phanttc praise of the prosperous miseads
them. 1t causes both themselves and their
children to conceive a deIusve sense of self
Importance which leads them to a sef-cen-
tered type of life which is ruinous.
When these two young scapegraces entered