Evening star., 1949-09-23
Nathan Leopold Given
Chance Of Freedom
Under Parole in 50
BY the AsSoeiotsd Press

BY the Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Sept. 23.-
Nathan Leopold, Chicago thrill
slayer Of young Bobby Franks in
1924. now has a chance for parole
In 1853.
Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson of Illi-
nois has cut the 44-year-old muir
derer's prison sentence from 80 to
IS years.
This makes Leopold. scion of a
wealthy Chicago family, eligible
to apply for parole in January,
1858, instead of in September,
'1957--a difference of 42s years.
Aided Nations Experiment.
Communication was unanimously
recommended by the State Par
don Board. It is Leopold's reward
for good conduct in prison and
for voluntarily risking his life in
wartime prison experiments seek
ing q cure for malaria. Some
other so-called guinea pig" pris-
sners got similar rewards.
Leopold had asked that his
sentence be cut to IS years. That
would have made him i'm
mediately eligible for parole, after
Is years behind bars.
He and Richard Dickie) Loeb
were convited of murder Septem-
ber 10. 1924. in the kidnap killing
of Bobby Frank, l4-year-old son
Of a millionaire neighbor.
Loeb Killed in Prison.
Loeb was killed in prison in
1896. He was knitted by another
prisoner who later was acquitted
of murder charge. The prisoner
said Loeb made an indecent pro-
posal to him.
The sensational killing of the
Franfs boy shocked the Nation.
The lads nude body. the head
crushed by a steel bar, was found
in a culvert after his family got
demands for $4,000 ransom.
Leopold and Loeb, both then
l9-year- students at the Uni
versity of Chicago, later con-
fessed. They said they had
planned a perfect crime"
The trial judge called it "atro-
cious," and urged that they never
be paroled.
Glasses Led to Arrest.
Finding of Leopold's glasses
near the body led to their arrest.
They told police they wanted to
experience the thrill" of killing,
and wanted money - although
their families were wealthy.
At their murder trial they were
defended by the late Clarence
Darrow. famous criminal lawyer.
They pleaded guilty during a 81
day trial. But prosecutors failed
to send them to the gallows.
Both defendants were sentenced
to concurrent life and 99-year
terms which left them eligible for
parole in 1857 and freedom in
1875.
The Governor. terming his de-
cision "most difficult" said yes
terday that the Pardon Board
urged communication. but did not
say how much.
The governor decided to lop
Of IA years, but said his action
has no bearing on whether any
parole application would be
granted.
Studied Higher Mathematics.
Under the IS year sentence,
Leopold could be freed June II,
1868. If not paroled eearlier. II
paroled. he would be under super
vision for five years.
In prison Leopold studied higher
mathematics and said he had
helped from Scientist Albert
Einstein.
College professors who urged
the pardon board to commute
Leopold's sentence said he told
them:
The only thing that makes
sense is that should dedicate my
life to continue repayment of the
debt that I owe society,""
One professor said Leopolds
"phenominal brain could be put
to work in the field of cancer re-
search"
But John s. Boyle. present Cook
County (Chicago) states attorney,
told the board that society owes
Leopold nothing"
Leopold told the board the
malaria experiments had injured
his heart and kidneys. He pleaded:
Il feel that in Is years I have
matured considerably. At 10
was wild, irresponsible kid. I
am not kid any more"