A nasty little bro-mance between twits: Leopold & Loeb

This was a tragedy.  It was (is) also a story of blood, arrogance, and stupidity that ended in the needless death of a 14 year old child.

Ever hear about these two wanna-bes? The two who murdered a child for nothing more than thrills in the mid-twenties? If you haven't, then I'm glad:  these idiots wanted to be immortalized in print forever as some kind of master criminals.  I suppose they thought no one would ever catch them. Ironic, isn't it, that these boys practically blazed a trail of evidence, that led (almost) to their front door.

Here are Leopold and Loeb:

Reading from left to right:  Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb.

Who were these two young bucks? The children of privilege, living in a suburb of Chicago in the early 1920s.  Both boys were bright--Nathan's IQ was practically off-the-charts.  But, therein lay their problem:  in their minds, intellect equaled superiority.  

The boys met at the University of Chicago, where both had been admitted as students prior to turning 18--as I said, bright.  Before the age of nineteen, Nathan had already graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and was planning to attend Harvard Law School.  

Loeb also had a stellar educational career, completing high school in two years, and entering university while still 'knee-hi to a bug's ear.' 

At some point, the two met at the University of Chicago, and it was (apparently) love at first sight.  What was it though, that drew these two together? Looks? Intuition? A propensity to sniff glue? What is it really, that draws predators to one another, and inexorably leads them to the weakest animal in the herd?

These two boys quickly discovered a mutual amorality, that apparently wasn't helped by the philosophy of Nietzsche.  Yes, we're all familiar with his concept of the super-man--a figure so superior, that it was not bound by either morals or ethics.  Indeed, a figure who (according to the 'philosophy') existed outside, or rather above societal laws.  

Sigh.  What a bonanza for these two aspiring sociopaths, and what a bloody tragedy for their victims.

Apparently, these dolts began with smaller crimes, like shoplifting, before graduating to arson.  The thrill must have been seductive as hell, because it wasn't long before the two starting lusting to commit murder---and get away with it.

This story is about the brutal slaying of 14 year old Bobby Franks---Loeb's neighbor, and second cousin (if you can believe it) .  But, as always, we remember the victims of meaningless crimes:

A good looking kid, who's only fault was being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Our dynamic duo "planned" their murder for months, they said later, nailing down the fine points so that they would never be caught. They later told police that everything had been meticulously noted, because after all, they were them (you know, two of the brightest minds on planet Mercury?).  The only thing left at random, was the victim--a child. They were 18 and 19 years old.

Key to their master plan, was to divert the attention of the police, by disguising the murder as a possible kidnapping.  They had elaborate plans for the delivery of the ransom (I won't bore you), and even stole a typewriter from their fraternity upon which they wrote the ransom note.  They kept the typewriter.

It was May 21st, 1924, that Leopold & Loeb were trolling for their quarry on the street outside Bobby Franks' school (the Harvard School for Boys).  Whether or not their target had been decided upon before hand is still a matter of argument between students of the crime.  Bobby appeared (he was 14), and under the pretext of giving Franks a ride, L & L got him into the back seat of their rented car (OK, they did use an assumed name when they rented the thing) but....

Once Franks was in the back seat, he was killed with the weapon of choice (which the killers purchased at a local store especially for the purpose), a chisel.  Then, L & L stuffed a rag into Franks' mouth, which ultimately was the cause of death.

It was a brutal death for Bobby Franks, but more outrage was to follow.  After the murder, L & L stopped for a dog and a root beer at a local stand, with the body still in the back of the car.  Onwards our duo traveled to Wolf Lake near Hammond, Indiana, the preordained dump site.  They put the boy's body in a culvert near the Pennsylvania RR track, and ostensibly to make identification difficult, L & L poured hydrochloric acid over the face and genitals (because of circumcision).  

As they returned to Chicago, news of Franks' disappearance had begun to circulate.  As part of their dastardly (horrific) plan, Leopold called Bobby's parents, identifying himself as one George Johnson.  He told them that he'd kidnapped their son.  Why tell them a name?

"George" warned Franks' parents that ransom instructions would follow. 

The Franks family soon received the ransom note, which had been addressed by hand, rather than typed:

  

Ummm, which train? What exactly was the name and location of the factory beyond the name "champion"?  I think it's a particularly nice touch that L & L cleverly signed it using the pseudonym.  More complex demands would follow.

Sigh.  What a goddamned tragedy.

What I find especially horrible, is L & L's behavior, after the murder. When they'd disposed of the body, L & L drove home, burned their bloody clothes, as well as the blanket used to cover and carry the Bobby's body.  They also tried to destroy the typewriter used for the ransom note. Finally, the car's seat was cleaned.

L & L's plan immediately went wrong, because their victim's body was soon found and reported to authorities.  You would think that L & L would lay low, quietly going about their lives, Dear Reader, right? They didn't.  The two murderers evidently liked talking about the case with friends, and occasionally with family.  Apparently, Loeb also talked to a couple of newspaper reporters, ostensibly 'helping' them to find a drugstore that was supposed to be used as part of the impossible directions for the ransom drop.  According to these reporters, interviewed later, Loeb said "If I were to murder anybody, it would be just such a cocky little son of a bitch as Bobby Franks."

I have to tell you about the prescription glasses found near the poor boys' body, by police.  After a few questions of local optometrists, the police quickly found that the hinge on the eyeglasses was quite distinctive, and only three pairs had been recently sold.  Authorities immediately ruled out two, zeroing in on Leopold--the last of the three.  When questioned as to how the glasses ended up near the victim, he explained that he often went bird watching in the area where the body had been found, and must've lost his glasses on his latest birding jaunt.

Yeah, Leopold was brought in for questioning real quick.  It was May 29th.  Loeb soon followed.  At first, both boys said that they had been joy riding around the countryside, in Leopold's car, trolling for girls.  Both boys said the girls they 'picked up' wouldn't have sex with them, and they were quickly dumped off.  They gave no last name for each girl.  It was a real bummer that when interviewed, Leopold's chauffeur said he'd been working on the same car at the supposed time the boys said they were using it.  Furthermore, his wife confirmed that the car in question was in garage at the time of the murder.

When the little monsters were brought in for interrogation, they quickly turned on one another.  First, Leopold said that Loeb was in the back seat, and was responsible for the actual murder of Frank.  During his questioning,  Loeb said the exact opposite:  He was driving, and Leopold had done the deed.

 

Both confessions apparently contained details only the murderer would know.  Additionally, both assholes said that they'd been "thrill seeking."  Both dickheads maintained that their motivation had been to commit the perfect crime.  Sigh

L & L were quickly tried.  They were blessed with their attorney, Clarence Darrow.  He was probably the best known lawyer of the time.  Darrow was the defense attorney in the Scopes Monkey Trial, remember that one, Dear Reader?  

The trial didn't last for months.  The prosecution wanted the rope, the defense pled guilty.  Guilty? Yeah, and it was a smart move, in light of the shadow of capital punishment.  Darrow was an opponent of execution.  So, he argued that L & L were emotionally underdeveloped, and therefore incapable of adult emotions like empathy.  Not precisely an insanity defense, bur close.  What caused their condition? Darrow stipulated that it was mainly the fault of parents who were distant, leaving the raising of these boys in the hands of nannies.  An abuse defense, if you will  What Darrow was shooting for, was life in prison.

Today, we would probably label them as sociopaths, but it's difficult to classify their behavior by modern standards.  Frankly, I'm not sure that psychiatrists understand sociopathy in a clinical sense--so how can we understand the actions of L & L?

We can't.  

The prosecution portrayed L & L as ruthless, amoral murderers, who didn't deserve an ounce of compassion.. A life for a life was the only answer to the murder of this child.

When it came to the final statements, the prosecutor reiterated his case, clearly believing it was a slam dunk.

But, he underestimated Clarence Darrow.

Darrow's statement lasted for almost three days.  His argument depended upon the abuse, as well as the philosophy of Frederick Nietzsche --both contributing factors in L & L's early development.

Nietzsche?

Yeah.  It was Nietzsche's concept of the superman that apparently served as a justification for L & L taking a life.  This was one of Darrow's key arguments.

Again, one has to sigh, Dear Reader.

There were other causes that Darrow presented, including an expert that testified about the diseased endocrine system of the defendants.

Alrighty then.

But, Darrow closed his summation brilliantly.

    You may hang these boys; you may hang them, by the neck until they are dead. But in doing it you will turn your face toward the past. In doing it you are making it harder for every other boy who in ignorance and darkness must grope his way through the mazes which only childhood knows. In doing it you will make it harder for unborn children. You may save them and make it easier for every child that some time may stand where these boys stand. You will make it easier for every human being with an aspiration and a vision and a hope and a fate. I am pleading for the future; I am pleading for a time when hatred and cruelty will not control the hearts of men. When we can learn by, reason and judgment and understanding and faith that all life is worth saving, and that mercy is the highest attribute of man.

It was later said, that the judge had tears in his eyes while listening to Darrow's close.  

And then the trial was over, and there was nothing left, but for the judge to retire and compose his decision.  

It is not for the court to say that he will not, in any case, enforce capital punishment as an alternative, but the court believes it is within his province to decline to impose the sentence of death on persons who are not of full age.

This determination appears to be in accordance with the progress of criminal law all over the world and with the dictates of enlightened humanity. More than that, it seems to be in accordance with the precedents hitherto observed in this State. The records of Illinois show only two cases of minors who were put to death by legal process...to which number the court does not feel inclined to make an addition.

Life imprisonment, at the moment, strikes the public imagination as forcibly as would death by hanging, but to the offenders, particularly of the type they are, the prolonged suffering of years of confinement may well be the severest form of retribution and expiation.

In other words, L & L were too young, and life in prison was sufficient punishment for the little monsters.

And, so, L & L were shipped off to prison, ostensibly for the rest of their lives.  Was this a fit sentence for such a senseless crime? I'll leave it to your wisdom, Dear Reader.  Some justice was meted out to Loeb though --in 1936 he approached a fellow prisoner, James Day, apparently for sex.   Day refused, and according to his later testimony, he attacked Loeb with a straight razor.  Loeb had nearly fifty severe wounds, and later died in the prison hospital.

Leopold survived, in time becoming a model prisoner.  He reorganized the prison library, and had a hand in revamping the educational  program for the prison population.  

He served thirty-three years in prison, and was finally released in 1958.  He ended up in Puerto Rico, where he eventually earned a master's degree.  Later he taught classes at the same university.  He also married Gertrude Feldman, a florist and fellow resident on the island.  Later, he would publish a book on birdlife of the area:  Checklist of Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Leopold died of a diabetes coronary in 1971.  He was 66 years old.

So, was there at least some justice? Can a monster ever truly make up for its' actions?  Frankly, Dear Reader, it's beyond my ken.

I'll leave it with you, alright?  Until next week, same bat time, same bat channel.

Here's a good documentary on the case:

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4olvls

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