Hello everyone, I hope everyone’s having a wonderful summer! I have a couple treats today:
A post for my friend Reece’s birthday, about Richard Loeb’s brother Ernest and his season as the Captain of a terrible soccer team, which you can read here.
I’ve also added an Art page to collect works of art that have been inspired by Leopold/Loeb. These are specifically only works that have been exhibited, published in books or created by professional artists. I’m planning on making another page in the future which collects the art that has been published in newspapers.
I found a new poem from 1934 ‘Reformation’ about Leopold and Loeb teaching in prison, which has been added to the fiction page.
The Black Box Theatre in Moline, Illinois will be holding auditions for Thrill Me on July 17th. The musical will be staged from November 9-18, 2023.
And Elle, I’m working on the restaurant post, I promise, it’s just getting bigger than I anticipated!
Around Chicago in the early 1900s, Loebs were known in the sporting world primarily for their skill on the links. Allan Loeb was especially successful; winning several Chicago golf championships and travelling out of state to compete in National competitions during high school and well into adulthood. But the family branched out as well: also competing in tennis, horse racing, hockey, boating and swimming competitions. But it is on a sport that was somewhat unusual for the family that I want to focus on today, and examine Ernest Loeb’s season as Captain of his high school soccer team.
Ernest on the basketball team, second from right in the top row, 1914
Ernest followed behind the legacy his oldest brother Allan had left at University High, Allan who had been on the swim and tennis teams, and the star player on the varsity golf team. Ernest steered clear of everything Allan had touched, initially trying his hand at basketball, but the freshman stood a head shorter than most of his teammates. After a couple years he decided to switch strategies; in 1916 he instead joined the school’s soccer team.
Every year the team had a clear goal to shot for: winning the district championship against the other high schools in and around Chicago. With it would come the Peel Shield, an award donated by Peter J. Peel, the president of the United States Football Association. If they couldn’t quite get the Shield, both teams who played in the championship game, whether they won or lost, would receive Loeb medals, supplied by Ernest’s own father, Albert.
Ernest’s first year on the team was rocky. “From the standpoint of winning a lot of games the 1916 Soccer Season was not a success,” reported the school’s yearbook. Soccer was waning in popularity and the school’s biggest and best athletes went to the more glamorous football team. “With the exception of three veterans…the Soccer squad was made up of raw and rather light recruits. Coach Weiffenbach found himself in a difficult situation, but nevertheless he hammered away, trying to instill some idea of teamwork into the motley crowd.”
Despite being one of the smallest on the team, Ernest played all 18 games and his position was locked in as a halfback, in midfield. But the team itself was disorganized, its members caught up in “misplaced aggressiveness” and tending to give up once they were a few goals behind. After an arduous season they were unable to win a single game. But there was always next year.
Captain Ernest (holding the ball) and his team in 1917
On September 26th, 1917, the students reported for the first soccer practice of the new season and coach Weiffenbach “was agreeably surprised with the good showing.” This year the team was more experienced and enthusiastic. Ernest was made captain, he was a senior and had grown since his early days as the tiniest member of any team he tried out for. He was confident about his team’s chances, remarking to a reporter for the student paper The Daily Maroon a few days into the season: “We will undoubtedly win at least one game this year, which is more than was done last year; but, all kidding aside, I think we have a better team right now, with only a few days’ practice and with only a few men than we had last year. The chances are really hopeful for coming away up near the front.”
Despite this optimism, the article in the Daily Maroon was tinged with a bit of desperation as it called for more recruits. “The team needs you; the school needs you…Freshman and Sophomores-you will be excused from gym-you will have an extra study period-if you come out! So come on every one: you’re needed!!”
Eager to test his new team, the coach set up a practice game against Hyde Park High School for October 4th. Despite a “pretty exhibition of kicking” from Ernest, the team hadn’t yet figured out how to work together, and U. High lost zero to three. The next week they played another practice game which “made the fellows feel good even though they lost, for they played much better than they did against Hyde Park. The team is sure that when the line has a little more practice that they will be able to defeat any team in the league.” Optimistic for a team yet to score a single goal.
The day before the first game of the season, the team was bolstered by cheers and encouragement at an all school “mass meeting” (similar to a modern day pep rally). Coming in at the tail end of the meeting’s speeches, Ernest stood before his gathered classmates and promised “that the team would fight its hardest to win.”
Their first game was played against New Trier High School and some of the momentum from the mass meeting drained away as the team arrived extremely early, had to wait for the janitor to finish breakfast before he would open the locker rooms, and then had to wait an additional half hour for the New Trier team to show up. And perhaps that could be blamed for the team once again playing “pretty poorly.” Things weren’t helped when in the second half “Capt. Ernie Loeb was almost knocked out by the speeding soccer ball, which caught him in the jaw.” They lost 0-4. But it wasn’t a complete waste: they did get to swim in the New Trier pool afterward “which was greatly appreciated.”
Ernest in his soccer gear
But the next game brought a change: it was the first time the team would be travelling out of state for a game, to Interlaken, Indiana and they would be without three of their teammates, including their Captain. Despite this, outside left Philip Ringer shocked everyone when he managed to score their first goal of the season. They still lost 1-4, but it was a start.
Approaching the next game the Maroon was confident: “Captain Loeb will be back at his old position of center halfback. He is a tower of strength on the defense; his long boots are sure to keep the ball in the enemy’s territory.” Yet when the team stepped out onto the field for their first home game of the season, they were greeted by rain which continued through the entire match. Slipping and falling all over the field didn’t help their coordination, and “several chances to score were offered,” but the team fumbled every opening. Even with Ernest’s “long boots,” in play, the team lost 0-1.
With so many losses the team had little chance of advancing much further in the league, and they had their final game in early November. Ernest was once again injured during play, but the team did manage to score another goal. They still lost 1-3. Ernest’s tenure as captain had lasted a little over a month in which his team had scored only two goals and had not managed a single win.
The yearbook paid tribute to this, acknowledging: “From the point of view of winning games and of being a good scoring combination, the soccer team did not enjoy a very successful season. From the standpoint of developing good sportsmanship and an indomitable ‘never say die’ spirit, the season was a triumph. Game after game was lost; U. High could very rarely, if ever, score; and yet each member of the squad appeared for practice every afternoon with a smile upon his face and with grim determination in his heart.”
To celebrate the end of the fall sports season, a dance was held in December for the school’s football and soccer teams. Much like the soccer season itself, everything at the dance seemed to go wrong. Fewer people attended than were anticipated, including some team members. There were too many refreshments and the Girls Club forgot to bring toothpicks to pick up the cakes and “awful things were resorted to. Some people actually used their fingers.”
To entertain the crowds, three athletes, including Ernest, came forward to participate in a contest. Aprons were placed on the laps of two girls, and the athletes had to try to put them on as fast as possible. The winner would be rewarded by getting first choice to ask one of the girls to dance, and second place would dance with the remaining girl. Captain Loeb was the slowest with his apron, and so “was made to dance around the gym with a doll, which had been given to him as a partner.” So ended Ernest’s soccer career and term as Captain; spinning around the high school gym with a doll as a dance partner.
Sources
University of Chicago High School Yearbooks Daily Maroon newspaper articles
Happy July, I hope everyone is keeping cool and safe!
Today I’ve posted 1924 Clothing Descriptions, where I gathered together every description I could find of people’s clothes from newspaper accounts of the events of 1924, to get an idea for the color/style, etc., and paired them with photos when possible.
The movie American Criminals has been doing a lot of filming lately, check the page here for casting updates and new photos.
A new Leopold Loeb song was released: Leopold & Loeb by Mickey Shorr & The RadioShacks on their album Crime, Punishment & Cults. Listen here.
A new little Leopold-Loeb adjacent book has been released: Leopold, Loeb, Menendez—and the Necessity of Hell by Richie Cooley. Its description is: “With the recent archaeological discovery of an ancient Hebrew text at Mt Ebal as a backdrop, this essay explores the concept of punishment via the famous cases of Richard Loeb, Nathan Leopold, and the Menendez brothers.” It can be read for free here.
I thought it would be interesting/helpful to gather together all of the descriptions of people’s clothing I could find, to bring the trial out of the black and white photography and inject some color into it (though there was still quite a bit of black, white and gray). I’ll start with general descriptions of outfits that I’ve summarized from gathering all this data, accompanied by photos which show them off and will give you an idea of what some of the more famous photos would have looked like in color.
Then I will share all my gathered descriptions from newspapers in exhaustive detail, in case anyone wants to peruse the often contradictory nitty gritty behind my summaries. The only descriptions I won’t be gathering are for the uniforms: the Judge was in a black robe, the policemen were in blue, etc., you don’t need to hear that over and over. I’m sure there are more descriptions that I’ve missed, and as I find more, I’ll add them in. To jump to that, click here.
General Summaries
In general, when they were in court, Leopold typically wore a dark gray suit, a white shirt and a dark tie. Loeb usually wore a dark blue suit with a white or blue shirt and a brightly colored bow tie. Clarence Darrow tended to wear a light gray suit during the beginning of the trial with a white or blue shirt and a white tie. He shifted to a brown suit at the end of the trial. He also wore brightly colored suspenders. Jacob Franks tended to wear brightly colored shirts and bow ties, often in purple, and had a black ribbon tied to the ends of his glasses.
May 21
Though I have no photos from this day, there are descriptions of what Leopold, Loeb and Bobby were wearing. Bobby had gone to school in a tan overcoat, tan cap, tan suit with short pants, tan shirt, tie, tan golf stockings with white and black checkered tops, tan golf shoes, a silk belt and a Harvard school pin which he wore on his pants.
Leopold wore a gray suit and gray cap with an overcoat. Loeb wore a dark green/gray suit with a green stripe and a tan overcoat.
May 29-June 1
Leopold and Loeb didn’t change clothes until they were in jail, so they wore the same outfits while they were being interrogated and gathering evidence with the police. I haven’t seen Leopold’s clothes described. Loeb wore a light gray suit with a powder blue shirt and baby blue tie. You can see in some photos that he was also wearing a wrist watch.
June 11
When Leopold and Loeb plead not guilty both were in dark blue suits. Loeb’s tie color was not stated, but as he wore a light blue tie on other days, it’s possible this is the same one. I haven’t seen Darrow’s clothes described, but he looks to have been wearing his customary white tie.
In Jail (General)
Generally Leopold and Loeb wore suits or, when the weather was warmer, dress shirts with black or gray pants while in jail. They switched between white, gray and blue shirts. They did not always wear ties, but often did. They often spoke to reporters when on the way to or back from the shower or the barber and were often in underclothes for this, wearing pants with a tank top style undershirt.
July 21
Leopold and Loeb plead guilty. Loeb in a dark blue suit and either a black or dark blue bow tie with polka dots on it. Newspapers disagreed if Leopold’s suit was dark blue or gray, but agreed that he wore a white shirt and dark/black tie.
July 23
For the first day of the hearing we have witnesses clothes described as well as those worn by the defendants.
Flora and Jacob Franks gave their testimony, Flora in a black dress with white piping, a black turban, white gloves and carrying a black purse. Jacob Franks wore either a brown or gray suit (newspapers disagreed) with a lavender shirt and purple bow tie.
On the Defense side: Clarence Darrow wore a light gray suit, bright blue shirt and a white tie. Leopold wore a gray suit with either a green or black tie and a white shirt. Loeb wore a dark blue suit with a powder blue shirt, a gray bowtie, tan oxford shoes and a tan handkerchief in his pocket.
July 26-July 30
Leopold and Loeb wore the same suits for most of the week, with Leopold appearing in a new serge blue suit in court on Saturday. In photos you can see that the new suit is lighter and has a more pronounced stripe than his gray one. He switched back to his gray suit on July 30th.
July 28
On Monday, Loeb came to court with his own wardrobe change, with a gray/brown Norfolk style suit with a purple stripe, large pockets, a belt and a wide pleat down the back. He wore this for only a short time, so I have not found great photos of it, switching back on either July 31 or August 1.
August 29/September 8th
Loeb showed off a pea green suit to reporters on August 29th after the hearing had ended, which he paired with his blue and gold University of Michigan pin. Sadly, there are no photos of this suit, but his pin can be seen in the following photo from September 8th. In the photo, incidentally, they were both in gray, and Loeb had on a bright bow tie.
September 10
On the day of their sentencing Leopold and Loeb were in their typical outfits: with Leopold in a gray suit and Loeb in a dark blue.
September 11
When transferring to Joliet Prison, Leopold wore his blue suit and Loeb a gray suit with a striped white and red golf sweater and a blue bow tie. Both wore gray fedoras.
Detailed Descriptions
Now for all the clothing descriptions I was able to find, in order by person (alphabetically by last name) and then date. Some of these contradict each other, it’s the nature of journalism back then. After each description there is a note on what newspaper I found it in. CDJ: Chicago Daily Journal, CDN: Chicago Daily News, CEA: Chicago Evening American, CEP: Chicago Evening Post, CT: Chicago Tribune
He is noticeably tanned and immaculately tailored (CT)
John Caverly
August 8
Caverly wore a new natty mauve colored shirt.
August 10
[Before court] Gray fedora (CT)
Clarence Darrow
June 11
Powder blue shirt (CT)
July 23
In a light gray suit which did not fit him snugly. His hair was dark and scanty, and his shirt bright blue. He wore a white collar and white tie. (New York Daily News)
Blue shirt, white string tie. (New York Evening Post)
July 30
Clad in his usual slack-fitting raiment, a loose and baggy suit of summer gray, with a blue shirt and white collar and tie. (CEP)
July 31
An old man in a baggy suit, a blue soft shirt and prominent blue suspenders. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
August 6
Mr. Darrow has departed from his customary blue shirt and is wearing a tan one. For the veteran barrister, this is quite a change, and it is particularly noticeable after his change Tuesday from his traditional gray suit to one of dark brown. (CDJ)
August 13
Darrow came in with a haircut, shoe shine and new white shirt today-he always gets a haircut when the defense rests. (CEP)
August 22
All to see the man in the blue shirt and suspenders. (New York Evening Post)
August 25
He wore the usual white cotton tie. Over his striped shirt were old blue galluses. (New York Evening Post)
Ruby Darrow
July 30
Mrs. Darrow is present in blue dotted swiss. (CDN)
Samuel Ettelson
July 21
Has the waviest hair and the whitest collar in the room. (CT)
Flora Franks
July 23
She is dressed in black with white piping. (New York Daily News)
Black dress and turban with white trim, white gloves, black purse. (New York Evening Post)
Jacob Franks
General Courtroom (not day specific)
Mr. Franks wears a purple shirt and tie, carries a panama hat in his hand and is usually distinguished in the closely crowded courtroom by a broad and long black guard ribbon attached to nose glasses and wound round his ear. (Indianapolis Times)
Jacob Franks dresses somewhat like an elderly man about town or a broker-clubman. Wears a colored striped shirt with collar to match, loosely knotted bow tie. Eyeglasses with black cord strung across his shirt front. (CEP)
July 23
Dressed in dark gray. But his shirt and tie are of a brighter hue. (New York Daily News)
Mr. Franks wore a purple tie. A black cord hung from his pince-nez glasses. (CHE)
A slight man, slightly stooped, in a neat brown suit without vest and a blue bow tie. A black ribbon attached to his eyeglasses. (New York Evening Post)
July 30
Mr. Franks seems to pick out a lavender shirt and a purple bow tie for the important days of the trial. He wears them to-day and he wore them the opening day. (CDN)
Robert Franks
May 21
[Bobby’s stocking] Two large black strips around the top and three small white stripes lightly woven into the fabric, also near the top. It was light tan in color and of heavy material. (CDJ)
Following is the description of the clothing Robert wore when he left for school Wednesday morning:
Tan, lightweight overcoat of rough English material. Tan suit of rough English material, consisting of coat and knee trousers. The coat was belted and had patch pockets. Tan colored shirt. Four-in-hand necktie. Tan wool golf stockings, with black and white checkered tops. Tan golf shoes with rubber soles. Tan cap of rough material. The clothing was of fine texture and almost new. (CHE)
A belt buckle with J. B. M. or F. B. M. A silk belt. A school fraternity pin with H.L.C.-27 on it. Worn on his trousers. (Additional Statements)
Mrs. Edwin Gresham
July 30
Plaits her black and white foulard dress between her fingers. (CDN)
William Healy
August 4
In a light gray suit, he wore glasses with gold ear hooks. (New York Evening Post)
Nathan Leopold Jr.
Glasses
Plastic. Imitation tortoiseshell. Worn while reading in the fall-winter of 1923-1924.
General
Owns eight suits of clothes, wears 5 at home. Has 4 or 5 old suits that he uses for birding. (Additional Statements)
General Jail
[after being sent to Joliet] John Orgozeles…Leopold’s cellmate, was given two pairs of silk pajamas, a suit, four shirts, a sweater, six pairs of silk socks. (CT)
General Courtroom (not day specific)
Nathan Leopold, dressed usually in dark blue or black, sometimes in gray, always faultlessly attired, his black hair plastered in artistic style close to a long narrow head. (Indianapolis Times)
May 21
Wore a gray cap and gray suit. (Additional Statements)
June 8
His black hair was combed back in true collegiate style, and his natty blue suit showed signs of having been pressed between layers of mattresses on the bunk in his cell. (CT)
June 9
[In the bullpen] Their white shirts stand out among the blue and grey. (CDJ)
June 11
Both wore dark suits and their hair glistened like the man in the ads for the ‘stay-put’ preps rations for keeping the hair smooth. (CEA)
Dressed in natty blue suits and their hair slicked back in the best “patent leather” style. (CDJ)
June 12
[In jail] Nathan Leopold blossomed forth today in a blue work shirt (CEA)
July 18
[During reporter visit] he was in shirt sleeves. (St. Louis Post Dispatch)
July 21
[Before court] Nathan Leopold was dressed today in dark trousers and coat and a white shirt-his usual attire since he has been in jail. His clothes were neatly pressed. (Winnipeg Tribune)
Dark suits, white shirts, their costumes are the same-except that Nate has a black string tie, Dick a black bow tie.
Both defendants were dressed in blue. (CEP)
Leopold, Jr., hair slicked back, was neatly dressed in a gray suit, tan shoes, white shirt, and a dark four-in-hand tie. (CDJ)
He was faultlessly clad. There were just a few wrinkles in the trousers of his gray suit, but the county jail explained that. His hair was in perfect array. He was smoothly shaven. (CHE)
July 23
[In jail] Said Leopold to the reporters: “Say; you fellows had a hard time describing our clothes the last time we were in court. No two of you agreed. Now, I don’t want you to make any mistakes this time. Remember-this is an important day. Now look at me. What am I wearing? If I walked away this minute not one of you could tell accurately, so I am going to help you out. Dick’s hat is soft Fedora-it’s dull gray. Mine is slate gray.” (New York American)
[In jail] “I hear that you fellows had a hard time describing our clothes the other day. Now I don’t want you to make mistakes this time. Remember, this is an important day. Now look at me. What am I wearing? If I walked away this minute not one of you could tell-accurately. So I’m going to help you out. Dick’s hat is a soft fedora. It’s dull gray. Mine is slate gray.” He paused, then laughed again. “Did you get all that straight?” (CDN)
He wore a gray suit, sharply creased (New York Evening Post)
Leopold Jr., was attired in a quiet gray suit, with a dark green tie. Leopold Jr.’s shirt was white. His handkerchief was of white linen. (CDJ)
Leopold was in a mixed gray tweed with a much more “sporty” and careless style than Loeb’s dark suit. He wore a plain white shirt with the collar buttoned down, and a dead black four-in-hand tie. There were no frills attached to “Babe.” (CDN)
July 24
Leopold is in a neat gray suit, black string tie (CT)
Leopold Jr.’s tie was a dark green four-in-hand, but not the same he wore Wednesday. Leopold’s ties are invariably dark green, gray or blue four-in-hands, and his shirts are always white. (CDJ)
Leopold wore the same gray suit with a herringbone stripe, blue tie, and white soft shirt. (New York Evening Post)
They were again immaculate in dress, brilliantined hair, blue and gray suits, white shirts. (New York World)
July 26
Leopold has a new blue serge suit. (CEP)
Leopold has switched his gray suit for a blue serge. (CHE)
Leopold changed his gray suit to a dark blue one. (CDN)
July 28
Nathan Jr. had exchanged his gray worsted for a dark-blue serge. (CEP)
Leopold wore his usual dark four-in-hand [tie]. (Oakland Tribune)
July 29
Leopold [wears] a longer type of cravat, the “four-in-hand” style. Leopold wears blue serge. (CHE)
July 30
Nathan has changed to his gray suit again (CT) *
August 4
Loeb and Leopold were brought in, wearing the same clothes as Saturday. These had been pressed freshly. (New York Evening Post)
August 5
[in jail] Nathan Leopold Jr. went to the barber shop early today. He left for the tonsorial parlors in white athletic shirt and trousers, the kind they wear in track meets. It fit him very tightly and “Babe” displayed surprisingly large biceps and a good sized forearm. (CEA)
August 7
[pre court, bull pen] Leopold wore no coat and wore a cap with the peak turned to the back. (Chicago Daily Worker)
August 12
[in jail] Nathan, he too, in his underwear and trousers. (CEA)
August 18
[in jail] Leopold was minus a shirt, delaying his bath a bit for guests…His shirt and necktie he had thrust through the bars and was standing with arms crossed.
August 26
[in jail] They had been standing shirtless with shoes opened for ten minutes. (CEA)
August 29
[in jail] His sack gray suit, the same one he had worn in court. (CHE)
“Babe” wears the same suit he wore in court. (CDJ)
August 30
[in jail] Nathan appeared in an old blue work shirt and dark trousers. (Belvidere Daily Republican)
[in jail] Babe has discarded his white shirt for a blue denim (CDJ)
[in jail] Leopold was wearing blue workingman’s shirt. Both were open at the collars (CEA)
September 1
[in jail] The boys wore the suits which they had worn during the greater part of the trial, and each had on a white sport shirt. (CEP)
September 8
[in jail] Leopold was wearing the same suit he wore during the trial. (CDJ)
[in jail] His dark blue suit, the one he has worn since the beginning of the trial, showed a recent crease. (CHE)
September 9
[in jail] somber cravat (CEA)
[in jail] navy suit (CHE)
September 10
[in jail] “I have some brand-new tan shoes for the occasion.” Leopold laughingly admitted. “And my gray suit has been pressed.” (CHE)
[in jail, pre court] Leopold laid out his blue suit, the one he had worn throughout the hearing, and his somber tie. (Akron Beacon Journal)
Babe in a dark gray suit, in dark cravat, polka dotted. (CEA)
Leopold in gray (CHE)
Leopold was wearing a dark blue suit and powder blue tie. His clothes immaculately pressed. (Akron Beacon Journal)
September 11
Leopold removed his blue suit. He bought it a week before the two went out and murdered Bobby Franks. He tossed it on the floor alongside those of Loeb. (CT)
Heavy thick blue trousers and a short coat of the same material and heavy “blunt toed” shoes…will be the type of clothing the killers will wear the rest of their lives. (CT)
September 12
In their blue denim prison garb of rough coats and trousers and square-toed shoes. (CEA)
Nathan Leopold Sr.
July 21
The little man, with the large eyes and the large glasses, the neatly parted mustache and the alert walk.
Johnny Levinson
July 28
His white sport shirt is open at the collar, and you see that his neck is tanned too. He wears a blue Norfolk suit, with golf stockings. (CHE)
Richard Loeb
General Jail
The gray trousers he has on in jail here he tells me were taken from a country club. (Trial Transcripts)
“What about those gray trousers that Dr. Healy told about? Did you actually steal those?”
“Sure.”
“Why did you take them? You had several pairs at that time, didn’t you?”
“Oh, yes, I had plenty of them, but I wanted these. I didn’t need them, but I just wanted them.”
“Where did you steal them, and how did you do it?”
“You see, it was like this: I was out at a country club and I saw those trousers in a locker out there. I didn’t even know whether they would fit me or not, but I liked the looks of them. So I just opened the locker—broke into it-and took them. That was the Tuesday before I was arrested—May 29, I guess. What time? Oh, I should say about 5 o’clock in the afternoon. They were pretty good pants, weren’t they?” He laughed a little, then continued:
“I got a kick out of one thing, though. After I was put in here, I told the folks that I wanted them to send me an odd pair of pants. They sent me the stolen ones thinking they were mine. I had a good laugh out of it.” (CDJ)
“I was arrested on Thursday, May 29,” said Dickie, by way of introduction to the story. “It was the Tuesday before that I pinched the pants. I had been out on the links playing golf. It was about 5 p.m. when I wended my weary way to the clubhouse. I had just returned from the showers and gazing through the screen of a locker I noticed a pair of gorgeous gray trousers. The thought struck me immediately, ‘Now, if I stole those pants the fellow would have a dickens of a time getting home.’ So I pinched them. It was easy. With a little steel instrument I knocked off the lock. I then grabbed them and zowie, I went home chuckling to myself.”
“But,” interpolated the reporter, “how did they get into the jail?”
Dickie roared with laughter. “The work of the gods of fate,” he said. “Well, when I was grabbed by the cops I needed clothes, so I told my folks and gee whiskers, long and white ones, the first pair of pants that came for me was the pair I copped. Rich, eh, walking around the county jail in some one else’s pants?” (CEA)
[after being sent to Joliet] John Kapustha, Loeb’s [cell mate]…was left a pair of silk pajamas, six shirts, four ties, eight pairs of silk socks, several pieces of underwear, one dozen handkerchiefs. (CT)
May 21
Dark green or gray suit with greenish stripes running through. This included a vest. Tan overcoat from A. Starr Best & Company, size 36. It was labelled A. Star Best, Chicago. Worn sometimes while in the car, taken off when it was hot and put on when it was cold. It was not worn when disposing of the body. (Additional Statements)
June 1
He wore a sport suit, youthful in cut and a soft shirt that set off the still childish contour of his neck and throat. (CDN)
The gray suit with the belt in back, the one he wore when he heard his indictment read (CDN)
June 2
Loeb, in light gray suit and top coat, with a baby blue tie. (CT)
Loeb had clothes removed, his grey sport suit, powder blue shirt, silk underwear and socks traded for khaki pants and a faded gray shirt. Leopold kept his clothes. (CEA)
June 3
In the brown dungarees of the prisoner (CDN)
June 5
Richard Loeb today fastidiously togged himself in silks and natty homespuns, as if ready for a morning scroll or cross-country hike. He exhibited his finery to the 200 or more criminals in the bull pen of Cook county jail.
It was with relief that he climbed into a smartly cut English suit, with silk shirt, silk socks and a silk tie. The change of clothing was brought to the jail by relatives late Wednesday and turned over to him by Warden Westbrook.
When taken to jail he was stripped of his clothing because it was found to be infested. Since then he has been wearing jail khaki. (CDJ)
June 7
There he is in the light suit and blue shirt. (CT)
Loeb was given a suit of jail khaki to wear while his suit was being fumigated.
June 8
Loeb, heretofore immaculate and wearing a powder blue shirt, yesterday wore one of gray flannel. He had just finished his week’s wash, as he put it, and was stringing twine across his cell while his mate was hanging Loeb’s underclothes and sox, just out of the suds, on the improvised line. (NYA)
His expensive blue shirt was open at the neck and his light gray trousers were in need of a “press” (CT)
June 9
[In the bullpen] Their white shirts stand out among the blue and grey. (CDJ)
June 11
Dick wore a brand new suit (CT)
Both wore dark suits and their hair glistened like the man in the ads for the ‘stay-put’ preps rations for keeping the hair smooth. (CEA)
Loeb wore a new blue suit. Leopold was in the same clothes he has been wearing since he was arrested. (Belvidere Daily Republican)
Dressed in natty blue suits and their hair slicked back in the best “patent leather” style. (CDJ)
The suit of dark blue, fresh in its newness, fell over the frame of young Loeb in the lines best approved by the dictators on “what men shall wear.” His hair, parted firmly on the left side, glistened in approved “sheik” fashion. (CDJ)
July 18
[During reporter visit] in a college gray tweed suit. In the prevailing youthful style, his coat was tightly buttoned up the front with four buttons. He had on a blue bow tie and his dark hair was smoothly groomed. (St. Louis Post Dispatch)
July 21
[Before court] Loeb wore gray trousers, white shirt and gray cap titled jauntily over one ear. (Winnipeg Tribune)
[Before court] Loeb was coatless, wearing a dapper bow tie and a white shirt. (Akron Beacon Journal)
Dark suits, white shirts, their costumes are the same-except that Nate has a black string tie, Dick a black bow tie. (CT)
Both defendants were dressed in blue. (CEP)
Loeb, with a dark suit and darker shoes, displayed a blue bow tie with white polka dots above his white shirt front (CDJ)
He wore a dark suit and his polka-dot tie was a little bit out of order. His hair was combed in water and strands here and there showed a trifling defection. (CHE)
Dickie has discarded the gray suit with the belt in back, the one he wore when he heard his indictment read, for a suit of dark blue. He wears a black bow tie that makes him look more than ever like somebody’s younger brother in a scrape. (CDN)
July 23
[In jail] Said Leopold to the reporters: “Say; you fellows had a hard time describing our clothes the last time we were in court. No two of you agreed. Now, I don’t want you to make any mistakes this time. Remember-this is an important day. Now look at me. What am I wearing? If I walked away this minute not one of you could tell accurately, so I am going to help you out. Dick’s hat is soft Fedora-it’s dull gray. Mine is slate gray.” (New York American)
[In jail] “I hear that you fellows had a hard time describing our clothes the other day. Now I don’t want you to make mistakes this time. Remember, this is an important day. Now look at me. What am I wearing? If I walked away this minute not one of you could tell-accurately. So I’m going to help you out. Dick’s hat is a soft fedora. It’s dull gray. Mine is slate gray.” He paused, then laughed again. “Did you get all that straight?” (CDN)
He had a dark blue suit and bow tie (New York Evening Post)
Loeb’s suit was black, and he wore a gray bow tie. Loeb wearing a light blue shirt. Loeb’s handkerchief was light brown silk. (CDJ)
Loeb wore a black worsted suit, a powder-blue shirt, a gray tie with a touch of rose in it, tan oxfords and a handkerchief, rimmed in tan, jauntily peeking from his pocket. (CDN)
[After court] Loeb exhibited a new wide belt he is wearing and when chided by the newspaper men quickly retorted: “If you were well dressed, you would have one too.” (Los Angeles Times)
July 24
Loeb in a suit of dark blue stuff with a bow tie (CT)
He literally tore his light blue shirt from his shoulders (CT)
Loeb changed his gray bow tie of Wednesday for one of black, blue and yellow. (CDJ)
Loeb wore an oxford gray suit and bow tie. (New York Evening Post)
They were again immaculate in dress, brilliantined hair, blue and gray suits, white shirts. (New York World)
July 28
Loeb is wearing a mixed gray coat, with a perpendicular pleat down the back. (CHE)
“Dickie” today wore a light brownish gray suit with a purple stripe in place of the blue he had worn last week. (CEP)
Fort he first time since the trial opened, Loeb appeared wearing a four-in-hand tie in place of his usual precise bow. (Oakland Tribune)
“Dickie the Darling” has on a new suit. It is a brown color, Norfolk style. (CDJ)
July 29
Loeb wears a small bow tie. Loeb wears a short coat with large pockets sewed to the outside, belt running around the waist, a wide pleat down the back. (CHE)
July 30
Dickie is still in his dark suit (CT) *
August 4
Loeb and Leopold were brought in, wearing the same clothes as Saturday. These had been pressed freshly. (New York Evening Post)
August 5
[in jail] Dickie, in the whitest undershirt you ever saw (CEA)
August 7
[pre court, bull pen] Loeb was dressed in his usual jail attire with a sleeveless undershirt. (Chicago Daily Worker)
August 12
[in jail] Dickie had just come up from the jail showers. He stood minus his outer shirt on the sixth floor tier. (CEA)
August 19
[in jail] Dick came up from the showers minus his shirt, wearing very white undergarments with a v-neck. (CEA)
August 23
Continuous use has robbed the oxford gray suit he has been wearing to court of its original tailored smartness. His black brogues badly need polishing. (CHE)
August 26
[in jail] They had been standing shirtless with shoes opened for ten minutes. (CEA)
August 29
[in jail] He fairly enchanted the eye in his new pea-green tweeds, tailored along the latest collegian lines. And the gold button with the letter “M” in blue enamel in his coat lapel, the student emblem of the University of Michigan, completed his collegiate ensemble. With the new suit he wore a white polo shirt and a brilliant bow tie. “My parents took pity on me and sent me this suit,” he explained in response to queries about his appearance. “I guess they read how my wardrobe had dwindled down to one suit.” (CHE)
Loeb appeared arrayed in a new tweed suit, pea-green in color, of the latest college style. And in the lapel was a student emblem of the University of Michigan, a gold button with the blue initial “M.” “My parents evidently read of my being inconvenienced for court appearance by having only one suit available for wear in court,” said Richard. “They took pity on me and sent me this suit last night.” With the new suit he wore a white Oxford shirt and brilliant-hues bow tie. (CEA)
Dick, the more fastidious of the two, has a new [suit]…“The family noticed in The Journal the other day that I had only one decent suit in jail, so they took pity on me and sent me this one,” Dick says as he exhibits a natty suit of collegiate cut to the reporters. Then he points to a button in the lapel of his coat. “You see, I am still loyal to the University of Michigan,” he explained to those reporters not familiar with the emblem that it is a “Michigan union” button, indicating membership in “the greatest student organization in the world.” (CDJ)
August 30
[in jail] Richard wore a white shirt and dark trousers (Belvidere Daily Republican)
[in jail] Dick, although he still wears his white shirt, has discarded his tie. (CDJ)
[in jail] Dickie wore a white oxford sport shirt, open at the neck. (CEP)
[in jail] Loeb wore his favorite white oxford shirt. Both were open at the collars (CEA)
September 1
[in jail] The boys wore the suits which they had worn during the greater part of the trial, and each had on a white sport shirt. (CEP)
September 8
[in jail] They consented to have their photographs taken. Loeb, however, delayed this ceremony a few minutes to dress. When the interviewers assembled he was wearing a light coat and trousers and a dark vest. The contrast did not please him, so he changed coats. (CDJ)
[in jail] Loeb was as fastidious as ever; a gala colored tie livening up his sombre gray sack suit. (CHE)
September 9
[in jail] He was wearing a snappy gray coat, light colored tweed trousers and a sky blue tie. (Oakland Tribune)
[in jail] Dick came up from jail barber in his snappy gray coat and colored tweed trousers, his sky blue tie shone. Loeb bewailed that he couldn’t have his good luck ring in court tomorrow. “I’m really quite superstitious about that ring. I feel that it always has guarded me from evil. It was given to me by a girl and I used to wear it constantly. One night I went out with her and didn’t have the ring on. That very night we had an automobile accident. I couldn’t make arrangements to get the ring down here at the jail, however.” (CEA)
[in jail] His request that he be permitted to wear a “good luck” ring he owns. “A girl gave it to me and it used to be, that whenever I wore it, I always had a good time and good luck.” But jail regulations do not tolerate bejeweled prisoners, so he will go into the courtroom to hear his fate without the ring. (CHE)
September 10
[in jail] His request that he be permitted to wear a “good luck” ring he owns. “A girl gave it to me and it used to be, that whenever I wore it, I always had a good time and good luck.”
Loeb announced that he would wear the green tweed suit, cut along the most approved collegian lines, that his family sent him just after the conclusion of his courtroom day. One of his innumerable, gaily colored bow ties-just which one he has not yet decided-will complete his costume. (CHE)
[in jail, pre court] “Dick” attempted to crease his trousers-the trousers he has worn throughout the long hearing-by running the crease between his thumb and forefinger. He rubbed off his shoes with a rag. Loeb’s blue bow tie was the only outstanding note of color about their clothing. (Akron Beacon Journal)
He is dressed the same as he was during the tedious days of the trial. Blue suit, tie to match, tied fastidiously. (CEA)
Loeb in a dark suit (CHE)
Loeb also was wearing clothes benefitting the college campus. (Akron Beacon Journal)
September 11
[in jail, pre transfer] Dick, coatless, the dash of his white sport sweater with the red coloring and his bright blue bowtie. (CDN)
His fancy fedora hat was crushed by an accidental blow from one of the rifles. (CT)
The natty gray flannels and fancy golf sweater of Loeb were cast to the floor as he took them off for the last time. (CT)
Heavy thick blue trousers and a short coat of the same material and heavy “blunt toed” shoes…will be the type of clothing the killers will wear the rest of their lives. (CT)
September 12
In their blue denim prison garb of rough coats and trousers and square-toed shoes. (CEA)
Susan Lurie
June 2
She wore a black dress, dawn hosiery, black high heeled slippers. (CT)
Tony Minke
June 24
He had on his Sunday best, dark blue suit and a blue shirt, a handkerchief in his breast pocket. (New York Evening Post)
Lorraine Nathan
August 7
Dressed in black, trimmed with white, a small black hat, white stockings and slippers. (CEP)
In a black satin dress, trimmed with dark cut-glass buttons, which matched her eyes…The dress had the cape effect so popular this season. The cape reaching to the hips, was of the most highly shimmering satin. Down the front from neck to hem, was a narrow strip of white satin, the two fronts being held together with the buttons described. The cape was also trimmed with narrow pipings of white, and with this costume was worn a black satin hat…After taking the oath, she adjusted her short skirts and crossed her patent leather-slippered feet. Her white silk stockings were noticeable in contrast to the rest of her attire. (CDJ)
Mrs. Nathan
August 7
Mrs. Nathan in a tan cloth suit with a hat to match with a white tailored overblouse. (CDJ)
Mrs. Nathan, trim but tense in a tan talileur. (CEA)
Rosalind Nathan
August 7
Miss Rosalind wore a cloth straight frock of palish green material, trimmed with white satin, her hat round black felt. (CDJ)
Andy Russo
June 24
A black haired young man in a blue suit, he carried a stiff straw hat. (New York Evening Post)
Elizabeth Sattler
June 24
A plain, but not unattractive girl in a red skirt and gray crepe waist, a straw hat pulled down to shield her eyes. (New York Evening Post)
Mrs. Joseph Savage
July 30
Fingering the pearls that are accentuated by her black costume. (CDN)
The Lives and Legends of Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold 