The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-09-10
YOUTH SAVES FRANKS
BOY SLAYERS FROM
THE SCAFFOLD
By CARL w. HARRIS,
international News Service.


CRIMINAL COURT, CHICAGO, Sept. 10.-Nathan F.
Leopold r and Richard A. Loeb kdnapers and sIayers
of the fOurteenyear-oId Bobby Franks today
fenced by Judge R. Cavery to life imprisonment in
the State penitentay JOIietsaved from the gaOws
by youth.
II was the verdict which the defense had hoped for
and from which the State has appeal.
And the gay young defendants heard it with q smile,
smile they had from the time they first glanced
into the court crowded with newspaper men, ba.
lifts and photographers today
The brief decision which their Judge and jury-Judge
Caverlyhanded down traced the legal phases Of the
through all their details. He did review the
testimony, Diminishing that with the
cme of singular atrociy executed with every feature
of calIOwness and cruelty. He then cognizance
their plea of guilty and brought his wish that he had
had the counsel of others in fixing the penalty.
MOVED BY DEFENDANTS YOUTH.
ut would have been the path Of least resistance
impose the penalty of law" he said land the
court moved chiefly by the consideration of the of
the defendants boys of eighteen and nineteen years.
Age factor in the penalty for crimes he held is in
accordance with the progress of criminal law all the
world and with the dictates of enlightened humanity.
life imprisonment" the decision reads, "may not at
the strike the public imagination forciby "a
would be by hanging but to the offenders, particularly
of the type they the prolonged suffering of years
confinement well be the form of retributiOn
and expiration"
He then pronounced sentence, his words almost lost
in the confusion of the courtroom.
LISTEN WITH RAPT ATTENTION.
Throughout the reading the young sIayers listened
with rapt attention, but without exhibiting the slightest
concern If they feared their lives would be forfeited
they did not show it, and when the life imprisonment
verdict read they gave outward sign of relief
They were smiling when they entered the courtroom
end the smile still they hurried out
"Supermen," they proved themselves be to the end
Almost it pronounced, word of the
verdict spread to the thousands gathered in the
streets outside the criminal building but was
no demonstration.
The decision read and sentence pronounced while
the defendants seated They called to the
bar is customary in such cases, was the usual
formula"have anything to why should
not be pronounced against ou?"-gone through with
TAKES LESS THAN TEN MINUTES.
The entire procedure took less than minutes and
twenty minutes after the called the room
devoid of the crowd which, for the first time in the
history OF the has been permitted to stand during
the official session.
Today more than a of persons-bailiffs photo
graphers and newspaper clustered about the
bench, that it hardly possible for even the de-
PENDANTS the Judge He read rapidly and clearly
but his words almost lost in the shuttle in the
court
Immediately after the verdict pronounced States
Attorney Robert E. Grove issued this statement:
when the States attorney arrested the defendants,
solved what then mystery, by the thoroughness
of his preparation compelled the defendants plead
guilty, presented mountain Of evidence in the court,