Evening star., 1946-09-06
Heirens Must Serve
Al Least 81 Years in
Multiple Sentences
BY the Assoeioted Press

CHICAGO, Sept. 6.-The bloody
and vicious crime career of William
Heirens was ended today as the
State prepared to have him begin
serving three consecutive life sem
tences.
The 17-year-old college student
escaped death in the electric chair
for his brutal crimes, but the life
sentences for three murders and an
assortment of other penalties rang
ing from one year to life for more
than a score of burglaries and as
saults indicated he will remain in
prison until he is nearly 80 years
old.
Heirens, under Illinois parole laws,
cannot be freed for at least 81 years,
probably So years. His incarcera-
ton for at least 81 years is assured
as under the State penal practice,
parole is not considered for a life
prisoner until g. minimum of 20
years has been served.
Feared Getting Chair.
In his Cook County Jail cell, after
he WAS sentenced. Heirens told re-
porters that las far as I'm con-
eerned the penalty Is okay. I had
felt for long time I was going to
get the chair. I didn't lose that con-
viction until heard judgment pro-
nounced. Then T was relieved"
The former University of Chi
cago sophomore, who had expressed
no remorse for his crimes, appeared
unmoved as he was summoned be-
fore Chief Justice Harold C. Ward
In Criminal Court for sentence late
yesterday.
Have you anything to say before
sentence is pronounced?" Judge
Ward asked the husky, black haired
youth.
Fidgeting nervously for moment,
Heirens inched closer to the judicial
bench and speaking in low tones,
said:
Il wish to express my deep hum
bleness. I'm sorry for the acts I
committed I'm still very bewildered
by some of this, but everything seems
to have worked out all right"
Series of Grimes Listed.
Judge Ward, eying the youth
sharply for a moment, picked up
several sheets of paper and began
reading:
THE sentence for the murder of
Suzanne Degnan is Imprisonment
for the rest of your natural life"
For the next minutes the chief
justice read off the sentences for
the crimes of which Heirens was
convicted-the ipstick Staying of
Frances Brown, 33-year -old former
WAVE, and the murder of Mrs. Jo-
sephine Ross, 43-year -old widow;
"a burglary charges and 2 assault
charges. Judge Ward made no
comment
AS deputy sheriffs handcuffed
Heirens and led him from the court,
his mother. Mrs. Margaret Heirens,
rushed from her seat in the crowded
courtroom, crying, Il want my Bill,
I want my Bill" She collapsed into
the arms of John Coghlan, chief de-
tense counsel Heirens' father.
George. rushed to his wife's aid.
Later in his cell at the county
Jail, where the youth early Wednes-
day had attempted to commit sui
eide by hanging, Heirens talked toI
reporters.
Talks to Reporters.
Heirens, who had said that he
was urged by an abnormal sexual
impulse to commit burglaries, told
them: Il believe that my lawyers
did right to plead me guilty. .
I realize that it is best for society
that am locked up. but I'm human
and l would like to be free
Psychiatrists had described him
legally sane, but emotionally insen-
sitive and unstable
Counsel for Heirens and States
Attorney William ]. Tuohy had
recommended that the youth be SEN
fenced to prison for the rest of his
life. Mr.. Tuohy said that without
Heirens' confessions of the three
killings it was doubtful that the
State could have secured more than
two minor convictions
Heirens was scheduled to have
been taken to the Illinois State
Penitentiary at Joliet late yester-
day.