Leopold And Loeb: Life Plus 99 Years

Today In History with The Retrospectors

Chicagoans gathered around their radio sets on 10th September, 1924 - to hear Judge John R. Caverly sentence wealthy teenagers and lovers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb to life in prison for the brutal murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks.

The couple showed no remorse, exhibited a complete lack of empathy, and said they had committed their crime "because we damn well wanted to", but were nonetheless spared the death penalty following the passionate defense submitted by their attorney, the celebrated campaigner Clarence Darrow.

In this edition, The Retrospectors explore how classism intersected with blood-lust when it came to the public perception of the pair’s propsective punishment; explore how Nietzsche's concept of the Superman influenced their acts; and explain why their ill-conceived plan to extort ransom money failed so spectacularly…

Content Warning: Descriptions of Violence/Murder.

Further Reading:

• ‘Leopold and Loeb: 90 Years Later, Finding the Truth’ (CrimeReads, 2018): https://crimereads.com/leopold-and-loeb-90-years-later-finding-the-truth/

• ‘Leopold and Loeb's Criminal Minds’ (Smithsonian Magazine, 2008): https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/leopold-and-loebs-criminal-minds-996498/

• ‘Darrow’ (Atlantis Films, 1991): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQzN9mtvLvM

This episode first premiered in 2023, for members of 🌴CLUB RETROSPECTORS🌴 - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 100 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!

We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors

The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices