Evening star., 1924-09-11

cision of Judge John r. Caverly in
the case Of Nathan Leopold, jr., and
Richard Loeb Is reflected in a nation
wide survey of editorial opinion con-
Quoted by The Star.
The attitude of editors who dissent
in the opinion that life Imprisonment
was a just punishment for the mur-
derers of Bobby Franks is based upon
a conviction that neither Of the con-
fessed slayers will serve the entire
sentence imposed. The avenues of
return of the boys to society by
pardon or parole are all too acces-
sible to those of their class, 1T is
pointed out.
The note that the welfare of society
was made secondary to the interest
of the "wretched fiends" who commit
ted the murder runs strongly through
virtually all comment on the de-
cision.
Editors who support the decision,
a decided minority, declare the boys
escaped death to face a punishment
far more severe.
While there are wide differences
of opinion as to the wisdom of his
decision, there are many expressions
of admiration for Judge Caverly's
courage and sincerity.
Points to Big Lesson
In Caveriy's Decision.
CHICAGO DAILY NEWS" 1.-The
ground assigned by Judge Caverly for
his clemency will obviate much futile
controversy concerning the lessons
OF the new psychology, the new GRIM
inology and the need of new defini-
tlons of insanity and idiocy. But,
whether or not jurists and legislators
decide to revise the criminal code as
a result of the dramatic battle of
phychiatrists in this case, parents.
guardians, educators and ethical
teachers should earnestly ponder the
cardinal lessons taught by it,
There is no greater menace to So
c1ety than that which results from
the neglect of moral training. from
lndinerence to youthful delinquency
and from abandonment of proper dis
c1pline in the home and in the school.
The Loeb-Leopold case passes into
history, but it has a solemn lesson for
all parents and for all instructors of
youth
Says Later Pardon
Will Mock Justice.
THE BOSTON POST-"It is safe
to say that not one citizen in a hum
dred is surprised at the decision of
Judge Caverly. With this determina-
tion of the horrible case the Ameri-
remain satisfied. unless-it is perhaps
safe to say, until-efforts begin with
in few years to get the murderers
out of the penitentiary on the plea
that they have completely recovered
from their dangerous tendencies and
are fit to go back into society, as
Harry Thaw has gone back. Society
of the kind that respects the laws
OF God and man. fathers and mothers
who would safeguard the lives of
their children. will fervently pray
that the sentence passed upon the
slayers of an innocent boy will stand
Unless life Imprisonment of these
deliberate and cunning murders shall
mean what it says, law and justice
will have been made a mockery"
Fears Parole System
VIII Free Boys Later.
THE ST. LOUIS GLOBE DEMO-
CRAT-"It does seem that if ever
there was a crime justifying the ex-
treme penalty of the law it was that
one committed by Richard Loeb and
Nathan Leopold. jr. There would be
the verdict if life Imprisonment
meant prison for life. But in Amer
ican practice it is seldom that life
Imprisonment involves confinement
for more than 20 years and it is
highly improbable that these men will
be compelled to serve longer than
that. Such a punishment for such a
crime is inadequate. The prolonged 1
hearing obviously contributed moth
ing to the administration of justice
in this case. Therefore, it ought not
to establish a precedent to be re-
spected in criminal procedure"
Sees Exemption
OF Future Murders.
THE LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOUR
NAL-"Capital punishment might as
well be abolished wherever the ex-
ample set by Judge Caverly of Chi
cago is to be followed.
"If Leopold and Loeb should not be
hanged for their crimes, then no muir
derer should be put to death.
1.-The judges refusal to subject
these two fiends to the just penalty of
the law will intensity general con-
tempt for those whose duty 1T is to
enforce the law, and whose weakness
in refusing to do their. duty has done
so much to bring the law itself into
contempt.
LAS long as our judges and juries as
a rule are actuated by such tender
ness to murdererS as that of Judge
Caverly in this case murders will
multiply; we shall continue to lament
the disparity between the number of
murders on this side of the Atlantic
and the other, as we'll as the like dis
parity in the punishments of murder
ers, and as this tenderness continues
It will be useless to hope for the
eradication of all seeds Of mob law.
Judge Caverly, aware thai these
murderers may yet escape the life i'm
pyio IN fn uh
them, expresses the hope that the au-
thorities will not be as soft-hearted
in paroling them as he has been in
sentencing them. There are plenty Of
gamblers, however, who won bets
that these 'fiends would escape the
gallows, who are willing to wager
that they will yet escape life impris-
onment
"The outcome of the case is a VIC
tory for the accomplished criminal
lawyers who conducted the defense.
and victory for murder in a land
distressingly cursed with murder.
Demands Sentences
Mean Life in Prison.
THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEAL
ER.-"If when a judge pronounces a
life sentence it really meant life inn
prisonment there would be much less
inclination to criticize the courts S
decision in the Chicago murder case
1T is, of course, to be assumed
that Judge Caverly made his decision
with no other thought in mind than
to serve to the best of his ability
the interests of society, unmoved by
the wealth of the defendants.
'It was a tremendous responsibility
which their plea of guilty put upon
the court, II he erred the error was
his. None the less, this verdict
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