Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-07-31
'LEOP[)L LOEB
ENTER GUILTY PIEk
COUNSEL FOR mURDERERs o.
FRANKS COY RESTS
INQUIRE INTO THEIR SARHI
Court 20 Hold hearing for Detsrnsln
Ing Mental Condition Of Two
Chicago Youths

Chicago plea of guilty" was
made In court Monday. July q. By
Clarence S. barrow. chief counsel foi
the two young men accused Of the
Franks boy murder. and affirmed By
them 'after they had been duly warned
by the court Of the consequences q
this plea"
The court ruled that the state should
be permitted, regardless Of the plea
of guilty BY the defense, to present
evidence. designed to prove the mental
responsibility OF the two youths, and
hearing on this point was started
Wednesday. the 2Srd
Nathan Leopold. Jr, and Richard
Loeb, confessed slayers Of 14-yenr-old
Robert Franks, are both minors, sons
Of mllllonalres Of standing, and Rradu-
ate students distinguished by their at
tainments. At the time Of the staying
Leopold was 20 and Loeb 10.
The RFandfathers of both Nathan
and Richard were among those who.
like Carl SchurE. came to this country
from Germany because OF the failure
Of the revolution in 1e4S. The Leo
pold family has been In Chicago since
1857 Albert Loeb, father OF Richard.
was born In Chicago In 1868. Nathan
Leopold. ST., whose fortune grew as
the city grew, was formerly engaged
In lake transportation and Is now
paper manufacturer, Albert Loeb. sea
Of small shoe merchant, taught eyen.
Ing school, practiced law and eventu-
ally became vice president OF the
Sears Roebuck mall order company Of
which Julius Walden Is president. His
brother, Jacob Loeb, was president o1
the Chicago board of education from
1916 until 1919. His wife, Richards
mother. who was Anna Bohne, has
been active in welfare work.
Both families worship at Sinai tenn
pie Of which the late Rabbi Emil g. /
Hlrsch was pastor. Like them. the |
family OF the boys victim, Robert |
Franks. Is Of Hebrew descent, although /
not holding the Jewish faith.
Robert failed to reach home after
school May 21.. The next day a letter
md messages by telephone called upon
lis father Jacob Franks, president Of
he. Rockford, Watch company, a neigh
1or OF Loeb and leopold. for $4,000 4
-ansom. The messages stated that the
10Y had been kidnapped but was safe.
rhe father virtually decided TO comply
With Instructions. but permitted his
awyer and relative to 70 TO the
n0rgue to see the body Of dead boy
hat had been found in q culvert. The
10y was Identified as Robert An
ufopsy showed that he had been slain
efore the letter demanding ransom
vas written.
Several witnesses were examined.
ut not until pair Of giasaeR, found
i the culyert, were traced through the
20 young Nathan. was
Ither be or Richard suspected.
The two b0ys were taken Into eus- I
Wy and were held I'm hotels and the !
Eate's attorneys office for three days. /
heir alertness and assurance DaffIed I
ieir examiners until Loeb learned 4
rat their attempted alIbl was refuted 7
= the testimony OF a chauffer that a i
sr the boys said they used was un- '
ergolne repairs at the time. Then 4
eopold began 20 confess and Leo 3
old, learning Of bis action, did ike 2
Use. /,
According to the confession. they
AIMED both Staying ann kidnapping, \
q extreme penalty for murder, death, p
ing the same In Illinois as the ex- +
emo peuHify Tor kldHHpfuE TOT ran- Z,
IN. even thoBgh the victim survives. :,
They are reported ny the state to n
I'VE said they did II for money and i
venture. 4,
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