Nathan Leopold (1904–1971) made up one half of the notorious gay Jewish “thrill killing” couple whose trial for the kidnapping and murder of Chicago fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks was one of the most sensational news events of the 1920s. Despite an impassioned defense by the eminent Clarence Darrow, Leopold and his associate, Richard Loeb, were convicted, but, on the strength of Darrow’s argument, spared the electric chair. The duo earned everlasting infamy in the annals of American crime, and the case inspired at least three films, including Hitchcock’s Rope (1948) and the classic Orson Welles starrer Compulsion (1959). Leopold, sentenced to ninety-nine years, was paroled in the 1958. TLS, two pages, 8.5 x 11, February 11, 1964. Leopold writes from Puerto Rico to Douglas S. Middleton in Detroit. In part: “I think my wife and I will be in Michigan in early June, and, of course, I want to make every effort to get up to the Kirtland’s [i.e., Kirtland’s warbler, a songbird] country….” Leopold goes on to describe the location of a colony, and continues: “The second purpose of the letter is to see if I can lure you into acompanying me to the Kirtland site…. One further matter. Since 1923, I have owned a fine habitate group of Kirtland’s: male, female, and nestlings in the nest. So far as I know, this group is one of the only two in existence—the other being Wood’s group in the University of Michigan Museum. In 1925 I gave the group to the then Field Museum … as bailee at will. I learned only fairly recently that the group has never been exhibited but that it is stored, still in its original wrapping. Since this seems wasteful and since I have just now started a new collection of birds, I have just written the Chicago Museum of Natural History, requesting the return of the group. My collection will consist exclusively of Puerto Rican birds, and these, especially if there is anything of value, should, I think, remain here on the island. I intend to leave the collection to one of the local institutions in my will….” Staple holes, a hint of mild toning, and light handling wear, otherwise fine condition. R&R COA.
