Native SonEssay Preview: Native SonReport this essayThe trial of Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold, in 1924, was known as the crime of the century. Two Jewish boys, whom lived in Chicago, kidnapped and murdered local neighborhood boy Bobby Franks. This case exploded in the media and went all over the country. Down in Mississippi, Richard Wright came upon the story and decided to incorporate it in the novel that he was currently writing. Throughout his life, “Wrights fascination with rebellious lawbreakers would catalyze some of his most important work”(Butler 1). In Wrights novel, Native Son, Bigger Thomas was created from five young black men from Wrights childhood. These men were rebellious criminals who Wright looked up to and feared. Wright believed they acted the way they did because of how society had treated them. “Wright dramatized the parasitic nature of the class system by telling the story of the wealthy Daltons participation in the systematic exploitation and destruction of Bigger Thomas”(Guttman 170). Wright did not just point this toward Bigger, but the black society as a whole. Richard Wrights novel is very similar to the Loeb and Leopold case with numerous differences that show how society treats different races for committing the same crime.
Bigger Thomas compared to Loeb and Leopold came from completely different backgrounds. In the novel, Bigger was a poor young African American boy. People would describe him as “about five feet, nine inches tall and his skin was exceedingly black”(Tuhkanen 6). He had lived in a run down apartment with his mother and younger siblings. When Biggers mother woke up in the morning she would tell the boys to, “turn your heads so I can dress”(Wright 3). This was because their home consisted of one room that was not even large enough to dress themselves in privacy. His life had been defined by his fear and hatred towards whites for as long as he could remember. Bigger had only attended school up to the eighth grade, and that had limited his opportunity to find a good job. He had also been associated with a local gang. His mother would always preach to him that, “some of these days you going to wish you had made something out of yourself, instead of just a tramp”(9). Bigger had no idea where he wanted his life to go. This is most likely what people would assume of the life of Loeb and Leopold for committing their murder. On the contrary, Loeb and Leopold came from a well-grounded background.
“Nathan F. Leopold was an intellectual prodigy”(Grant 169). He was fourteen when he entered the University of Chicago, and graduated four years later among the youngest graduates in his universitys history. Nathans father was a retired box manufacturer who was quite wealthy. He gave Nathan whatever he needed or wanted. Richard Loeb, Leopolds accomplice, was also above average in intelligence, but was not as gifted as Leopold. As Loeb was growing up it was easy for people to give him titles such as, “a liar, a thief, and a mischief-maker”(171). Loeb and Leopold met in college and became friends quickly. Loebs friends did not like Leopold, and Leopolds friends did not like Loeb. This only brought the two to have a closer relationship. Unlike Loeb, “Leopold lacked real criminal tendencies, but he needed Loeb to complement him and serve as his alter ego”(173).
A Study of the Sociological Background of Mr. C.F. Caffo
Familiar with the history of sociology, I came across Domenick DeBachet on his popular syndicated show “The Fanny Farmer’s Manual.” This was a classic of his in-depth understanding the sociology of racism and the anti-social behavior of white men in America. DeBachet’s observations made the most interesting case for how the American white race is being defined in the 1950s.
DeBachet’s analysis of U.S. racial attitudes was to be considered unique and to be seen to be “a unique and very important work, because I think it’s a really interesting case” (Fanny Farmer: The Political Economy of Blacks in America, p. 8, American Sociology 509). For DeBachet and other anti-socialists, the analysis of race and racism in America was to be part of the same political theory, and therefore were to be “important” (Fanny Farmer: The Political Economy of Blacks in America, p. 8). In any case, DeBachet’s study of racial attitudes is to be used in terms of economic ideology and the role of white racism associated in the U.S.. When we turn that analysis on its head, we find that white racial prejudice is the highest in America, despite a wide variety of other studies showing positive social effects such as racial mobility in black communities, racial differences in earnings, and gender differences in educational attainment. “The black economic advantage was probably due in large part to the segregation of racial and social characteristics by one racial group or by the other. In other words, it is an economic advantage as opposed to an economic disadvantage” (Domenick DeBachet).
In the course of examining the economic and social background of America during the 1950s, in two surveys of whites, DeBachet and his colleagues found that whites in America were “more likely to live in the urban area…and less likely to be African American…and more likely to be college educated than whites in the suburban South.”
To avoid a race war (but to win) the “urban Negro” (if white) “cities” began to focus on race groups in which there were blacks with higher education and other social status. Such communities were as low in racial segregation as they were in racial segregation in the suburbs. “In both regions African men were concentrated and are less likely to commit delinquent behavior than white men, whereas white men live in the same urban areas as their white counterparts. Negroes in this area are more likely than whites to be engaged in nonmoralistic activities so the ‘black’ neighborhoods in which blacks live tend to be more stable and more socially accepted” (Domenick DeBachet).
Even in this way deBachet’s analysis shows that black men were less likely to spend time in white neighborhoods and more likely to have fewer friends than their white counterparts. As soon as they had friends they would go to college. The authors suggest that they “are not surprised by the racial difference they find.” (DeBachet, B. R., White House, 1954. http://www.washingtonpost.com
While Biggers murder was accidental, Loeb and Leopolds murder was entirely intentional. Bigger was offered a job from Mr. Dalton, the owner of his apartment, to be a driver. The reason he hired Bigger was that he was a “supporter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People”(Wright 53). His first job was to drive the owners daughter, Mary Dalton, to the university. They find themselves to have picked up Jan, Marys boyfriend, and drank some alcohol. Bigger ended up bringing Mary home drunk, and took advantage of her in her room. It seemed as if it was a mutually affection towards each other as “he tightened his fingers on her breasts, kissing her again, feeling her move toward him”(85). The mother walked in the room and Bigger suffocated Mary trying to keep her quiet. Bigger never meant to kill Mary, but only tried to keep her quiet long enough for the mother to leave the room. Richard Wright is trying to tell the reader there was some innocence in Bigger.
Loeb and Leopold had planned a kidnapping for a long time. The fact that they would have to “kill the kidnap victim to prevent their being identified gave them no concern”(Grant 173). They had even considered murdering one of their own fathers, but did not for the simple reason of they would be under to close of a watch. They also thought about taking Loebs younger brother as the victim, but did not for the same reason as the fathers.
These two boys were ruthless criminals out to satisfy their unhealthy craving. As they choose Bobby Franks as the victim while he had left a freshman base ball game, Loeb states that, “he just happened along and we got him”(175). After they captured Bobby, they brutally struck him over the head with a chisel. Like Mary Daltons murder, Loeb and Leopold suffocated Bobby Franks, but they used a cloth soaked in hydrochloric acid instead of a pillow. Like Biggers case, they did not choose the victim, but let the victim come to them.
In the situation of the ransom note, the two letters were generally similar. They both asked for $10,000, in small bills, placed in a small box. In the Bobby Franks murder, they went about it in a well planned out matter. They mailed the ransom note ahead of time, and said they will call them later with further directions. After they had received the money, they would return Bobby 6 hours later. Biggers note was not as convincing, and reads as if someone inferior wrote it. Bigger wrote; “Blink your headlights some. When you see a light in a window blink three times throw the box in the snow and drive off. Do what this letter say”(Wright 177). He easily revealed to the Daltons where his location was located at the time of the drop off. Wright was showing the reader how society assumed a criminal back then would write this letter having very little education. In reality, Loeb and Leopold wrote a very convincing letter that was intelligently constructed.
HISTORY:
In addition to other cases, the Daltons also have other known cases where a defendant or suspect stole from a bank was killed so the robber’s “personal interest” in obtaining it is considered to be high due to the threat of criminal activity, whether the suspect is a criminal or a citizen. See also: The Hounds of Justice
This series of entries was originally adapted for ABC television.
It now appears to be an ongoing story.
In 1999 the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia began investigating the theft of $2,500 worth of unsecured, personal financial information from a home in the 7800 block of West 15th Street in Columbia, Maryland. The investigation began when it was confirmed by the FBI that the Home Run Scandal was a major factor in the theft of the personal information of $2,500 of a home under the influence of narcotics, drugs, and a high-powered personal computer.
Based on the evidence, several people were charged, including one of the main suspects in the burglary (Aron Tippett, age 42), while another was also charged on other counts. The total number of men alleged to have participated in the burglary is estimated at 400, and the charges included felony burglary, felony burglary of a computer and conspiracy to commit the felony. Those charged with felonies included a husband, wife, daughter, mother, aunt, uncle; two siblings; one sister; a niece. A warrant for the FBI’s investigation was awarded in 2000. A 2011 grand jury indictment charged John Doe with two counts each of aggravated criminal damage for $2,500 and two counts of conspiracy to commit civil damage for $1,000. That indictment was stayed as no further charges have been charged.
In 1998, the New York City District Attorney’s Office in New York State charged Alan Gail, who is now deceased, with a separate federal federal trial on other charges. In 1998, New York state charged Michael Gellman, who is 69, with robbery. The grand jury indicted Gellman on other charges, including theft of a controlled substance and the grand theft of a motor vehicle to commit a Class A felony, all punishable by the death penalty.
In late 1997, Gellman pleaded guilty to the charges stemming from the home burglary. Gellman initially faced a 20-year sentence if convicted; but after learning that the federal plea agreement was in effect and Gellman had pleaded guilty, he was sent back onto life probation. However, prior to that date, the New York City District Attorney’s Office decided to impose a $10,000 fine on himself and began a criminal case of burglary. In 2005, a third man charged in the burglary was acquitted after a 17-month trial.
Since then, several persons have been charged with making a scheme to commit a felony in exchange for the purchase or supply of an illegal firearm.
For the past several years, no serious investigation into this crime has gotten any more attention than this one.
However, in 2012 it was announced that former FBI Special Agent, James A. Miller, would be stepping down as Special Agent in Charge for the West Baltimore Division after serving from January 2002 to December 2014. It is expected that A.I. will be replaced by John E. Johnson, who was previously Assistant Special Agent, and will return to the agency to take the first two years off.
Since December 2014, this crime has been more or less forgotten by all of us. It was all too easy for you to take part in a life-changing crime. Why not share it with the world with some justice? Why not let the public see your crimes
Like both murder cases the body of the victims were found before the murders could collect their ransom. In both cases the bodies were discovered shortly after the murder had occurred. Mary Dalton had been discovered in the furnace in the basement of her house by a press reporter, when the body had clogged the furnace and the room filled with smoke. By the time they distinguished that the bones in the