MURDER BY BOYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1924, Page 11

MURDER BY BOYS.

THE CHICAGO CASE. IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE. AMAZING COURT SCENES. Chicago, Sept. 10. The two youthful sons of American millionaires, Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold, found guilty of the murder of Robert Franks, a 14-year-old schoolboy, have been sentenced to life imprisonment. The chief of detectives, Mr. Hughes, with two picked rifle squads, assembled before Judge Oaverly’s residence to maintain order in the street prior to escorting him to the Courthouse. The police had been deluged with threats to blow up the Courthouse if Leopold and Loeb were not sentenced to death. Scores of anonymous letters were received by the judge from an army of excited cranks. The boys occupied their last evening before being sentenced in giving newspaper interviews, and enjoying to the full the interest connected with them. Leopold was in particularly gay spirits. Loeb plastered his hair with an additional coat of brilliantine, and strutted about the gaol as if .he was in a ballroom floor. Judge Caverley sentenced the young murderers to 99 years’ imprisonment, which is the American Court’s way of defining imprisonment for the term of a prisoner’s natural life. STEEL RING ROUND THE COURT. A circle of steel ringed the criminal building when Judge Caverley, a little old man, arrived. A battery of dozens of cameras were trained on the Bench and the prisoners as the Judge started to read’ his decision.

After referring to the great interest the case had aroused throughout the entire world, the Judge said it was somewhat different to ordinary cases in which there were pleas of guilty, because no understanding was reached with the District Attorney before the p.’eas were entered. The countenance of Mr. Clarence Darrow, counsel for the two youths, became livid as the Judge declared that there were no mitigating circumstances. The murder had been carefully planned, he said, over a long period, and was a callous act. Then the Judge began toi indicate that the youth of the prisoners must, however, be the controlling factor in the decision, and Mr. Darrow's anxious face once more was wreathed in smiles. The Judge continued that no minor had even been sentenced to death m tu? 'State of Illinois on a plea of guilty. It was a complete victory for the defence, which had concentrated on one point—that of avoiding the gallows. AOOUSEDS’ MENTAL CONDITION. “I believe that if the boys had been in quite* normal minds they would not have committed the murder,” said the Judge, who called attention to the fact that they were only 18 and 19 years of age, adding that the determination not to execute persons except those of full legal age appeared to be in accordance with the progress of criminal law all over the world, and with the dictates of humanity. “Life imprisonment may not strike the public imagination as forcibly as hanging,” he said, “but to this type of offender prolonged suffering and years of confinement may easily be Jie more severe form of retribution.” The Judge advised the parole officials never to consider their case favourably. They ought to remain in prison *ll their lives, said Judge Caverly. The following is an extract from a letter written to a friend by Leopold while he was in prison awaiting trial:— "You may be interested to know that in the event that I am sentenced to death upon the gallows (as appears quite likely) I shall take steps to attempt. to pierce the veil,’ although 1 personally am convinced that no after life exists. I at- least will be .prepared for the exigency in case I be mistaken.”