The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-09-12
PRISON ROUTINE
BEGUN BY BOY
SLAYERS
Leopold and Loeb Narrowly
Escape Train Crash on
Way to Penitentiary
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Continued from First Page.)
fifty foot space in the administra.
ton building that represented to
them the trap door, open and ready
to shut for them the blue sky OF
freedom.
The last thrill before the prison
walls OF Joliet closed about them,
perhaps for ever, probably the only
thrill that Loeb and Leopold ex.
rerienced since the killing of Little
Bobby Franks was realized last
night by the youthful slayers when
their own lives were almost snuffed
out in the mad race for the peni.
tentiary.
Only quick work on the part of
newspaper men and deputy sheriffs
accompanying the murderers and
the keen eye Of an engineer saved
the two "supermen" and their
guards, including Captain Wesley
Westbrook from being ground to
death under the wheels Of a speed
ing train.
Stall On Track.
The accident which almost cost
the lives of five persons besides
the Slayers occurred just west of
Argo.
Darkness had completely hid the
road ahead. On through the night
sped seven cars.
Forty, forty five and fifty miles
an hour they dashed over the rib
bon-like stretch of cement before
them. To the right were car tracks
the electric line to Joliet. Some
distance down the track an express
train was beating over the rails
at breakneck speed.
The deafening roar Of the motor
made all still without.
Suddenly the curtained car-the
one with the slayers-veered, slip.
ped from the cement, left the rails
and landed dead in the center of
the track,
Down the track thousand feet
was the binding headlight of a
train coming closer at every second.
Train Grinds To Stop.
| Newspaper men and deputy
sheriffs ran down the road. It had
to be stopped.
Arms and hats were waved fran.
tically, searchlights were turned
down the track. and shot was
There was a grinding of steel on
steel. Quick as a flash 1t was over.
Less than so feet from the stalled
car bearing the slayers, the train
had come to a stop.
1t was the last thrill for the
youths who had murdered "in the
spirit of adventure"
my God" Leopold gulped; I'VE
are driving too fast" Ia.
Loeb in No Hurry.
Babe, theN Unconditional, soon
caught himself. His fear turned TO
levity. Whats the hurry, we've
got at least fifty years"
The two slayers sat in the rear
seat OF the second car. putting
cigarettes, motionless. Between
them sat Hans Thompson, assist
ant warden Of the county jail.
Across his lap was a chain, one
end Of which was attached to
Leopold's wrist. the other to Loeb's.
Babe looked up.
Tough towns, Summit and
Argo," he noted as they passed
through. "If there's going to be
trouble anywhere we ought to get
it here" and faint smile broke
his stolid, expressionless face.
The words gave Dick courage.
Gee, I remember this country"
and stroking his chin as though it
were a beard he looked into the
future and made a prediction:
Sees In Retrospect.
NOW fifty years ago." he began,
with a farmer-like drawl-I went
through this town."
Was he foreseeing his release
from prison already?
Then came the last tap. The
moon had come out and its silver
light left a blue tinge on the black
OF night. The great walls of the
penitentiary doomed up.
There they are"
Leopold had spoken his last
words before going within them
Loeb sat there in silence. There
they were-thOse great massive
barricades.
Richard Loeb and Nathan Leo
pold, jr., passed within those walls
FOR the rest of their natural lives
and ninety-nine years"