Friday Flashback: The Crime of the Century?
By Karl Klockars in Miscellaneous on May 22, 2009 8:35PM
Loeb & Leopold before entering Joliet Prison.
Franks was marked for death when Leopold & Loeb's intended victim didn't show. Loeb knew Franks, and lured him into a rented car where he was attacked with a chisel and killed. In their attempts to commit the "perfect crime," they made a number of mistakes, including leaving a tremendous amount of evidence including the bloody vehicle, clothes left on the side of a road, haphazardly throwing the murder weapon out a window, leaving a distinctive pair of eyeglasses behind, and poorly hiding the body in Wolf Lake.
The two were questioned and their stories quickly collapsed. They were put on trial in July of the same year, when they were 19 & 18 years old, respectively. The press called the crime a "thrill killing" and quickly became the "crime of the century." Clarence Darrow was hired to defend the two and rather than pursue an insanity defense, as was expected, put in for two "guilty" pleas in order to spare the two from a jury trial and hanging. Darrow's closing argument, called "A Plea For Mercy," is considered one of the famed barrister's finest arguments.
Both Leopold and Loeb were sentenced to "life plus 99 years," and sent to Joliet Prison. Loeb was killed in the showers in 1936. Leopold was paroled in 1958, moved to Puerto Rico, wrote a book, and died in 1971. At the time, society was shocked that two young, rich boys could kill for entertainment. Of course, these days, there's no shortage of horrific crimes that keep us shaking our heads. The more things change...
Photo from Leopoldandloeb.com