UMKC School of Law

A Purposeless, Motiveless Act


What is this case?

This is a senseless, useless, purposeless, motiveless act of two boys. Now, let me see if I can prove it. There was not a particle of hate, there was not a grain of malice, there was no opportunity to be cruel except as death is cruel,--and death is cruel.

There was absolutely no purpose in it all, no reason in it all, and no motive in it all.