Evening star., 1924-07-24
BOY SLAyERS KEEN
FOR ALL PUBLICITY
Display Their Drama Gets in
Newspapers Chief Concern
of Leopold and Loeb.
Br Consolidated Press.

BY Consolidated Press.
CHICAGO. July 24-The same
mental turn that caused Nathan Leo
pold. jr., and Richard Loeb deliberate
ly, calculatingly, to slay Rober,
Franks without the s'ightes: ap-
parent qualm of. conscience reveals
itself touay the two youths sit III
the midst of the battle being made
for their lives. smiling and Gebonair
the least concerned, to all appear
ances, of those involved.
Villains in a notable murder drama
yet, as actors, these polished college
boys fail to play their role. They
sit arm to arm. nattily clad, bright
appearing. ready with a smile at all
times, evidently unconscious that
they can be the tiendish killers that
the district attorney paints them
Appearances of witnesses bring lit
tie consultations between the lads
usually ended by an understanding
smile.
They want most to know how
great a display their drama Is earn
ing in newspapers. Just as two
care-tree youths. obIivlous to the
jeCted to and of the penalty ahead
gloating in new thrill from be-
ing the center of great trial, they
are carried along to a hopeless tu-
ture
Darrow Quietly Alert.
But about the courtroom other
forces are at play Clarence Darrow
cautious, watchful, from 81 years eX-
perience as opponent to the State IL
its role of prosecutor, again defend
ing two under dogs" moves abou,
before the bar quickly noting points
that in the three weeks of evidence
presentation by the State will shape
his course in the fight to save the
lives of his clients.
When he addresses the court it is
Quietly-to tell that the hanging OF
two youths of such tender years, aft
er the mental irresponsibility the!
have shown. would be unprecedented
He is the general who will direct the
psychiatrists when on the stand they
seek to show mental incompetency il
the youths. Their testimony, aftel
weeks of building UP the case through
witnesses, will be the cruX of the
whole trial.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob Franks, parents
of 14-year-old Robert, are but tn,
first of "A witnesses who are being
called to tighten the circumstances OF
the crime about the youths, so tha,
one-man jury, may have all facts be
fore him when he imposes the pen.
atty.
LOeb's Parents Absent.
Back on the parents row just be
hind the killers sit Nathan Leopold
ST., millionaire lake shipper and man.
ufacturer. with his second son. Now
and then he glanceS at his young son
pampered and tutored to develop G
precociouS bent that made him one OF
the leading ornithologists of the
country at 10. He sees him today {
cynical-appearing killer-his train
ing and university education stand
ing him nothing. But neither Mr.
Leopold nor his elder son speak tC
Nathan. jr., in the courtroom.
Joseph Loeb, uncle of Richard and
former president of the Chicago
School Board, together with an older
brother of Richard, make up the
Loeb family represent alton. The par
ents. i'll. are at their summer home
at Charlevoix, Mich
If Richard Loeb and Nathan Leo
pold. jr., realize that but two fu-
lures face them-one ending on the
g1bbet, the other in drab prison life
assurance expressed early after theil
confession. that money could buy
than freedom in any event, may still
be held by them-or the thrill ir
again being the center of such wide.
spread attention may touch theil
vanity so deeply that it removes the
thought of what lies ahead.
Copyright. 1924