Illinois v. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb
Leopold and Loeb • Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb met in the Spring of 1920 in Chicago, IL. • Met through mutual friend • November 1923 -> robbed Loeb’s former fraternity house • “Compact”
Their First Crime • Kidnapping Act -> Hamilton Buchman • Spread rumors of homosexuality two years prior to the idea • Breaking into fraternity house #2 -> Delta • It was Leopold’s decision but Loeb was too afraid • Failed attempt and fled after hearing noises around the house taking only a camera.
To Like Crime or Not To Like Crime? • Loeb disliked the risk involved in crime. • Leopold enjoyed crime. • YET Leopold caved in and wouldn’t go through with certain crimes for Loeb’s sake. • RESULTING in Leopold’s frustration and anger towards Loeb
The Perfect Crime: May 21 st, 1924 • Target -> Bobby Franks • Lured Franks into the car • Murdered him with several chisel blows to the head • Drove to a marshland area near the Indiana line, stripped him down, pour hydrochloric acid over his body, then stuffed the body in a culvert • Ransom note: Secure $10, 000 in old, unmarked bills and expect further instructions
The Perfect Crime? Almost! • Glasses were discovered with the body of Bobby Franks belonging to Leopold. • Glasses had a unusual hinge and could be traced to Leopold optometrist in Chicago • When asked in trial about the glasses, his reenactment was very impressive; made the questioning harder.
Their Alibis • Leopold -> he was picking up girls in his car with Loeb and driving out to Lincoln park • Loeb (interviewed separately) -> confirmed Leopold’s alibi • Prosecution lawyer: Robert Crowe * typewritten notes taken from a school mate matched the type from the ransom note * Leopold’s chauffeur was certain the car never left the garage that day
The Truth Comes Out… • Loeb confessed first, then Leopold • Confessions differed only on who actually killed Franks. • Later pleaded to admit to killing Franks • Defense lawyer: Clarence Darrow and Benjamin Bachrach.
Darrow • Wanted to change the plea from “not guilty” to “guilty. ” • ***The decision was made primarily to prevent the state from getting two opportunities to get a death sentence. *** • Darrow wanted to change the plea cause the judge, John R. Caverly, was a kind man and he didn’t want to face a jury. • Hoped psychiatrists would help the defense • Prosecution argued that psychiatric plea would only be useful if there was evidence of mental disease.
The Trial • Lasted one month • Over a hundred witnessed testified • August 22 nd, 1924 -> 12 hours spent reminding Judge Caverly of the defendant's youth and external influences that had led them to the crime. • Darrow attacked the death penalty, saying it “roots back to the beast of the jungle. ” • Darrow told Judge Caverly that life sentence was punishment enough
The Decision • Two weeks later Caverly made a decision that life in prison, not death, was the better punishment and doing no favors. • Moved to Joliet penitentiary • 1936 -> Loeb was slashed and killed with a razor in a showeroom fight with another inmate. • Leopold taught in the prison school, and worked for an x-ray technician. • In 1958, after 34 years of confinement, Leopold was released and escaped to Puerto Rico. • Died on August 30 th, 1971
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