Evening star., 1924-07-23
BOY SLAYERS CALM
ASSTATE DEMANDS
THEY DIE BY MOOSE
Whisper Together While
Grove Tells Court Details
of CoId-BIooded Killing.
EFFORT TO STIR HATE
CHARGED BY DARROW
Father of Franks Chews Gum
Calmly-Leopold, ST., Shows
Signs Of Worry.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, July 23.-The kidnap-
ping of 14-year-old Robert Franks
by Nathan Leopold, jr.. and Richard
Loeb was a strictly Commercial
proposition" the abductors wrote in
Sheir first letter to the father of
their victim.
The letter was read today in the
opening of the hearing before Chief
Justice Caverly to determine the
penalty the two college youths shall
pay for the death of young Franks,
to which for the second time they af-
firmed today their lawyers plea of
guilty.
Story OF Plot,
States Attorney Robert E. Grove
In an opening statement recited the
story of the boys planning of the
little fellows murder" from what
he said was the inception of the plot
in the minds of the two brilliant sons
OF prominent families here last fall
Every detail of the planning foreseen
by the young conspirators was re-
viewed by the prosecutor. He told
OF the perfection of the details for
their plot on May 21 and of the care
ful deliberation afterward on the
question of who should be their VIC
TIM The sons of numerous wealthy
FAMILIES were considered before young
franks was agreed upon. The de-
fendants were styled cold calculating
murderers"
Both Slayers Calm.
Astening to the State recital Of
the details of the boys death with
apparent equanimity of spirit. the
Two defendants sat calmly in their
chairs behind their counsel Fre-
Quently one would whisper to the
other.
Leopold frequently sat virtually
motionless, for periods Of 10 to Is
minutes during the recital.
Loeb, however, frequently adjusted
his stylish bow tie, moistened his lips
with his tongue and picked at specks
on his sleeves. Jacob Franks, father
of the slain boy. sat quietly beside
his attorney-chewing gum with ap-
parent determination, but wholly
~ltiouI SQl" dI u SliO" Oh 1SSunK.
Nathan Leopold, ST.. father of one
of the 19-year- old intellectuals, whose
fate Is at stake. sat within q few
feet of his son, and next to another
son. His brow was creased and deep
lines of grief bore evidence of a
parents bowed spirit and heavy
heart.
"Of course we are going to insist
on the death penalty at every ap-
piopriate opportunity" Mr.. Grove
told newspaper men during a brief
recess.
Has Private Evidence.
At one point the States attorney
alluded to evidence he would ask to
present to the court in private"
THE nature of the evidence" he
said, las will be seen, and doubtless
appreciated by the court, is such that
1t would be improper to reveal it in
open court"
Coming to a recital of the first
show of weakness by Loeb during his
first questioning by States Attorney
Grove, the prosecutor raised his voice
and paced nervously before the bench
He told of Loeb's excited cry for
glass of water after he was told that
his companion had revealed their Sc
cret.
MY God" the youth cried. He
then offered to tell the whole story.
The same strategy applied later to
Leopold. Mr.. Grove said, produced a
Like reaction.
Each Accused Other.
Each accused the other of being
the actual murderer, and sought to
save his own neck" the prosecutor
shouted.
I'm the name Of the people of the
State of Illinois and of the parent
hood and childhood of the State, we
demand the death penalty for both of
these cold -bfooded and vicious mur-
derers," said Mr.. Grove, in conclud-
ing his statement.
Clarence Darrow, 67-year-old vet
eran of the Chicago bar, the chief de-
fense counsel. Immediately attacked
the Grove statement.
ITO describe the crime as the most
atrocious and the most everything
else IN nlSIOIy,. DdIio odAo, 10 ~
draw upon the imagination of the
States attorney"
Grove objected to the tenor of
Darrow's remarks and demanded a
ruling from the court on whether 1t
was time for statements or for con-
cluding arguments"
Darrow responded that Grove had
sought to stir up feelings and pas
sion" in his talk.
The court ruled that Darrow should
confne himself to objections and an
opening statement.
Edwin M. Gresham. an uncle of the
Franks boy was the first witness
called by the State. He told of identi-
tying the body of his nephew.
Jacob Franks, wealthy father of
the slain boy, was the next witness,
Mr.. Grove then said Mrs. Franks would
follow.
The defendants sat apparently un-
moved through the States attorneys
Grafton and left the room almost
tauatfly when court adjourned for
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