The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-25

uets WHICH WAS SpIe6O lOI INC
murderer of young Robert
Franks, Detective Sergeant
William Gr0te testified that
the defendant told him on May
81, a few hours after the con-
fessiOn to the crime.
Chicago, July 25.-The weaving
of flimsy threads of circumstantial
evidence into the finely meshed
web which holds Nathan Leopold
Jr. and Richard Loeb guilty of the
kidnapping and Staying of Robert
Franks was recounted today by
witnesses who helped bring the
wealthy young college students ito
the mercy of the court"
Police officers, newspaper re-
porters and friend of one of the
boys were called by the state in
the hearing before Judge John r.
Caverly to tell of the first hint Of
suspicion against the pair and of
the development of the chain of
accusative evidence which led
eventually to the confession and
guilty pleas.
Howard Mayer, a Chicago news
paper reporter, and student at the
University of Chicago with the two
defendants, told Of Loeb's effort
two days after the murder of young
Franks to give him SCOOP" by
suggesting the probable course Of
the kidnapers in collecting the ran
som money from Jacob Franks,
father of the slain boy.
Pleads Against Name Use
For Gods sake, don't use my
name in the story" Loeb exclaimed
to another reporter to whom he
had given "hot tip" Loeb's cue
to him on May %, Mayer testified,
suggested that he 60 to the drug
store to which the ransom letter
written to the elder Franks direct
ed the parent to call for ga Mr..
Johnson" who would give him in
struction for the depositing Of the
ransom money.
"Whoever committed that crime
should be strung up" Loeb told
Alvin Goldstein, reporter for the
Chicago Daily News on the day
young Franks body was found, the
latter testified.
Hugh Byrne, police officer, told
of the finding on May % in the
vicinity of the culvert which yield
ed young Franks body, of tan
wooden seek identified Monday by
the lads mother as that of her
son. =
Two friends of Leopold earlier
described birding expeditions" in
the vicinity of the culvert with
Leopold and other students of or
anthology, which was Leopold's
hobby. Another officer told, Of the
defendant leading searching
squad to Hesville, Indiana, where
| shoes, belt buckle and clasp pin.
| all previously identified by the par
ents as the belongings of Robert,
were found.
Goldstein in his testimony added
! the information that on the way
back to the drug store Loeb was
asked if he knew young Franks and
replied: ayes, and he is just the
kind of a cocky little pup would
pick TO kldnap.
Offered Car
James Mulroy, the second report
er for the Daily News, told how
Loeb had introduced the subject of
the Franks case and offered to get
Mayer and his car for the trip to
the drug store.
"Dick and Howard went into the
store," said Mulroy. calvin and ]
were arguing over some theory in
the case and Leopold came out rum
ming saying: For Gods sake don't
use my name ~
| ION the way back | asked Loeb
| whether Franks was the kind of q
boy who would struggle against
kidnapers and scare them into kill
ing him."
Mulroy repeated the remark quo
ted by Goldstein. Leopold, Loeb and
attorneys conferred with heads
punched at this stage of the pro-
ceedings. They whispered earnest
| ly for sometime. Then Leopold's
father Joined them.
Case Moves Fast
Fourteen state witnesses were
examined at the morning session
bringing the total of 81 called in
two days and half of court pro.
cedure.
They moved SO rapidly through
the witness stand that luncheon
recess came half an hour ahead al
scheduled time to permit the statl
to prepare additional witnesses 4ol
the afternoon session.
Loeb and Leopold fingered il
court a few minutes, exchanging
assurances with relatives. Leopold
spoke briefly with his aged father.
Leopold, his arms sacross hi
brothers shoulders while the lat
ter clasped the defendants waiat
whispered for several minutes,
y n = = a q ".