Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-08-07
YOUNG WOMAN
TEST|F|ES FOR
BOY MURDERER
State Attorney Shouts Perjury
While Miss Nathan Is
on the Stand
COURT DENIES A PLEA
OF the Defense for Shortening
Hearing Under Way to
Fix Punishment

CHICAGO, Aug. tBy The Asso-
ciated Press s)-Introduction of lay
witnesses by the defense in seeking
mitigation of punishment for Nathan
r. Leopold, Jr. and Richard Loeb.
confessed murderers of Bobby
Franks, whom they had kidnapped.
brought from Robert E. Grove.
states attorney the shouted charge
that one of them had Committed
deliberate perjury"
Miss Nathan, the first girl witness
to appear for the defendants, made a
pretty. though somewhat nervous,
picture on the stand. She testified
In a cool, but somewhat catchy voice,
and her conclusions as to Loeb's con-
duct, so closely paralleled that of
three famous mental experts who
had preceded her that the states
attorney ironically started his cross
examination by addressing her as
doctor"
On the witness stand she avoided
Loeb's glances, but when she passed
him as she left the court room, she
clutched his arm whispered in his
ear, and still was talking when a
bailiff jerked Loeb away from her
grasp.
Miss Nathan Will resume the stand
for further cross examination this
afternoon.
The prosecution today refused to
accept proposal by the defense for
shortening hearing before Judge
John r. Caverly, to fix punishment
for Nathan f. Leopold. Jr.. and Rich
ard Loeb, confessed kidnapers-slay-
ers of Robert Franks.
Our answer was a blanket no."
said Robert E. Grove, states attor-
ney, who indicated that the de-
fense's idea was to dispense with lay
witnesses provided the state would
accept a blanket statement of what
their testimony would be. and
would also dispense with calling
further lay witnesses.
After a thirty minute recess, in
which the states attorney and his
three assistants considered the pro-
posal. the hearing was resumed with
Max Schrayer, student of the Un.ver-
sity of Michigan, as the defense's 8
first lay witness.
Schrayer identified himself as
twenty-one years old and a Chicago
jobber of household goods since
S dd ucillOH lIOIll lnt university OIL
Michigan, where he was a fraternity
brother of Loeb.
Schrayer's first answers to ques-
tioning by Mr.. Darrow met repeated
objections by Mr.. Grove, who insist
ed the witness was drawing conclu-
sions.
Schrayer said he had observed
Loeb to be very nervous, to which
the state objected and was sustain
ed. Mr.. Darrow asked the question
in other phrases and brought this
reply:
II observed he had a twitching of
the mouth, was nervous in his ges-
lures with his hands, dragged his
ankle and on special occasions drank
a great deal. He tainted several
times at Michigan. He smoked a
great deal and showed nervousness
in doing it."
Repeated efforts on the part OF
Mr.. Darrow to have the witness give
his observations as TO the RESPONSE
bility of Loeb brought as many OBJ
jections from Mr.. Grove.
Loeb was known as a reader of
dime novels and detective stories,
the witness continued replying to n
question by Mr.. Darrow as to Loeb's
reading. Mr.. Grove again objected
and was scustained
Mr.. Darrow asked If Schrayer had
noticed anything peculiar about
Loeb's laughter. The witness said
he seemed to laugh at a great many
things not humorous and Mr.. Grove
asked the question and answer be
stricken out.
"If this witness had listened to
the testimony of these alienists. /
could see why anybody would get
great laugh" Mr.. Grove declared. To
which Mr.. Darrow retorted:
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