Loeb Turns "Teacher"
Millionaire's Son, in Prison Garb, Gives Negro Writing Lesson.
Leopold Still Hard and Reserved; Ignores Bullpen Ball Game.
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Source: Chicago Daily News, 3 June 1924, pg. 1.
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A polite, soft-spoken white boy, in the brown dungarees of a prisoner, leaned over a table in the county jail schoolroom to-day guiding the hand of an untutored young Negro through a writing lesson.
The white boy was Richard Loeb; the Negro was one of the hundred-odd minors who are to be table companions and playmates of Loeb and Nathan Leopold, Jr., in the jail. Loeb was giving the writing lesson as a way of breaking into the routine of jail life.
Leopold, prouder and more self-centered, didn't take the shock of their first day in jail so graciously. While Loeb sat in Miss Florence Scully's dreary little classroom, winning the teacher's favor with his politeness and consideration, Leopold sat by himself in the "bullpen," reading a paper while a game of indoor baseball went on.
Loeb Loses Street Clothes
For both boys the first day was a hard one. Loeb had to give up his natty clothes, for he had picked up vermin in some police cell room. Leopold, luckier, so far, kept his own clothes.
They slept in the crowded receiving ward within a few feet of the gallows chamber to which State's Attorney Crowe had sworn to send them for the murder of little Robert Franks. Tough lads from city areas far different from gracious Hyde Park were their roommates through the first night in jail and their companions in the depressing routine of the first long, long day.
The hardness of jail beds, the roughness of jail blankets, the horrible heaviness of jail air-- they learned about those things to-day, and from them seemed to get a fuller realization of their prospects.
"I feel creepy in here," Loeb admitted. Leopold, darkly sullen, had nothing to say, but he showed his distress.
Help "Police" Wardroom
They were out of their hard, lumpy cots at 6 a.m.-- an unholy hour by the standards they knew in their luxurious lives as the sons of millionaires. They didn't have to eat the Spartan jail breakfast-- food was delivered to them from the outside-- but with various "Rats" and "Spikes" and "Gips" they had to police up the wardroom and make the beds.
They found themselves the objects of rather scornful curiosity, but their fellow prisoners treated them as no better than themselves. They had to do their bit of the common work.
At 8:30, the wardroom clean and the air heavy with the odor of mop water, they were sent up for examination by the jail physician. From 8:30 to 11:30 the "regulars" have exercise in the "bullpen," but Loeb and Leopold, as new prisoners, had to go through a few formalities first.
The dinner hour was 11:30. Then at 1:30 came another "bullpen" period, lasting until 3:30. After that, its back to the cells again.
Both Paired With Robbers
The two killers were assigned to cells in the juveniles' section of the jail to-day. Warden Westbrook assigned cell 717 to Loeb, with Edward Donker, a youngster charged with three robberies, as bunkmate. Leopold's assignment was cell 604. His elected buddy is Thomas Doherty, 17, an alleged robber.
The slayers were transferred to the jail at 5:30 o'clock last evening in accordance with the order of Judge Caverly which released them from the custody of the police, denied them bond, and ordered them to the sheriff's care.
Lilies are Sent to Leopold
A mysterious "Jane" sent large boxes of white lillies to Nathan Leopold, Jr., and Richard Loeb this afternoon and with them notes of ambiguous wording.
"I think these are most appropriate in view of the outlook," read the note from "Jane" to Loeb.
"Will send you a sheaf of these when the trial is over. Jane." the card in Leopold's box read.
The flowers were delivered to Sheriff Hoffman's office in the county building and brought by an office boy tothe Criminal court building. Since jail rules forbid prisoners having flowers, the sheriff impounded them.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 6 June 1997
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