Leopold And Loeb Essay Research Paper Social

Leopold And Loeb Essay, Research Paper

Social reaction to school massacres and inexplicable acts of violence among the teenage population in the late twentieth century flooded television news programs and media broadcasting almost on a monthly basis. Many Americans questioned why such seemingly healthy and established children would want to harm themselves and others around them. Several psychological and moral issues arise from this question. Despite legal efforts to differentiate between adult and adolescent crimes, many argue that children who commit such heinous mass murders should be tried as adults and put to death for their inexcusable and fatal acts of violence. In 1924, the murder trial of two Chicago teenagers sparked an equal amount of public outcry. For no apparent reason except for pleasure and curiosity, Nathan F. Leopold Jr., age nineteen, and long-time friend, Richard A. Loeb, age eighteen, brutally murdered fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks by beating him to death with a chisel. In the state of Illinois at that time, there were two crimes punishable by death.murder and kidnapping for ransom. Leopold and Loeb committed both of these offenses, but, despite the law, Leopold and Loeb were sentenced to life in prison. The principal reason why Leopold and Loeb were not executed was primarily due to the fact that they had a very influential defense attorney, Clarence Darrow, who was able to convince the judge that capital punishment was morally wrong.

Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb first met at the University of Chicago. Leopold was fifteen years old and Loeb was one year younger. The relationship between the two was unusual. They argued often. At one point in their relationship they each threatened to kill one another. Despite their quarrels and hostile bickering, they somehow never lost their friendship. In time, Nathan and Richard involved themselves with petty crimes such as throwing stones through car and house windows and turning in false reports to the police. Eventually the boys had more serious intentions.

Leopold and Loeb began planning their .perfect crime. in 1923, nearly a year before the kidnapping and homicide of Bobby Franks.

.It was to be the perfect crime . . .The victim would have to come from a family wealthy enough to pay a sizable ransom without flinching. They [Leopold and Loeb] were not even averse to considering the kidnapping and murder of one of their own fathers, but rejected the idea for the practical reason that they would be under too close a scrutiny. For the same reason, they rejected making Loeb.s younger brother the victim.(Grant 173).

After trying to contemplate a worthy victim for many hours, the boys decided that they would just randomly choose someone who happened to be in the wrong place at the right time. Driving along the street in a rented car (even though they each had a car of their own), Leopold (in the drivers seat) and Loeb (in the back seat) spotted Bobby Franks, a distant cousin of Loeb, walking home from school. The two boys pulled over beside Bobby and asked him if he wanted a ride home. .Bobby willingly got into the back seat of the car with Richard. Loeb suddenly pushed him onto the floor and with a terrific force brought a chisel down on his head. Blood spurted all over the back seat. Three more times Loeb smashed the chisel into the boy.s head, until there was no doubt he was dead.(Aymar 359). The boys drove the body to Hammond, Indiana with the wrapped body in the back seat. At a deserted spot along the Pennsylvania railroad tracks, Leopold and Loeb poured hydrochloric acid over Bobby.s face, penis, and a scar to make identification difficult. Next, they stuffed the body into a waterlogged culvert and fled home to Chicago.

Before the murder, Leopold and Loeb had prepared the ransom note in advance. In the note (which was later sent to the Franks. residence by special delivery), the boys asked for ten thousand dollars. They were very specific in their demands and clearly stated the details of delivery. However, things did not go as smoothly as Nathan and Richard anticipated. The day before the father of Bobby Franks could deliver the money, his son.s body was found in the culvert. Eventually, the police made a thorough investigation of the evidence. They recovered the chisel used in the murder, the typewriter used to write the ransom note, a pair of unique eye glasses dropped at the site, and had conflicting alibis of both Nathan and Richard. The eyeglasses, which had a special hinge on them, had been sold to only three individuals. One was a lawyer who was out of town at the time of the murder. Another was a woman who had worn her own pair to the police station when asked to come in to be questioned. The third pair was sold to none other than Nathan Leopold, Jr. Furthermore, the details, times, and circumstances of the crime did not match up with the alibis of Nathan and Richard. .When the two were confronted with this incriminating evidence, Loeb broke down and confessed. After that, Leopold had no other choice but to confess as well.(David 29-30). On June 6, 1924, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were indicted by a grand jury for the kidnapping and murder of Bobby Franks.

.As Leopold and Loeb.s trial approached, citizens cried out for the death penalty. Frightened for his son.s life, Richard.s father, Jacob Loeb, visited the nation.s most famous defense attorne