The Robbins Eagle

Boys Sentenced for Robbery

The People of the State of Illinois against Marvin Neeley and Anthony Robinson came to an end today (November 27) in the Criminal Court in Judge Landesman's court room.

These boys were charged in their indictments with three felonies: robbery, attempted robbery and murder.

The charges grew out of the robbery-murder of Mr. Easter N. Brown of 13839 Albany avenue and the attempted armed robbery of Mr. Leo Cole of 13835 Spaulding.

The robbery-murder of Mr. Brown was committed on February 17, 1962. On a motion by defense attorney, Euclid Taylor the judge dismissed the charge of murder and found them guilty of robbery, and set their sentence at 4 to 14 years in the penitentiary.

On the charge of attempted robbery, upon their plea of guilty the judge passed a sentence of from 1 to 10 years.

Thus ended the trial of Robinson and Neeley, two teenaged boys (17 and 18 years of age, respectively). To us, who are laymen in the field of law, this was a strange decision, but in the eyes of the law as interpreted by Judge Landesman there was not sufficient evidence to convict of murder, because of a time element, approximately one hour, when someone else could have entered the home of Mr. Brown and stated that Mr. Brown killed him.

The Protocol of the Coroner's came to his death by strangulation.

I hope that these young men will profit by their mistakes and realize that an act of God and strong backing of a mother and father's love and not anything on their part caused them to be the recipients of this judicial mercy.

I sincerely hope and pray that Judge Landesman's decision will be justified by the conduct of these boys when they are returned to society.

May their thanks be reflected in a life of good and useful citizenship.

CHIEF STOUT.