CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- About two dozen people gathered Friday at a bridge in Jackson Park named for famed Chicago attorney Clarence Darrow – as admirers have done for decades since his death in 1938.
Darrow died on March 13 of that year, and his ashes were scattered at the lagoon. A tradition began of laying flowers at the spot to celebrate the labor-rights advocate and death-penalty opponent. Darrow defended 1920s-era thrill-killers Leopold and Loeb and convinced a court to spare them from execution.
Nina Helstein recalls first going to the ceremony several years ago with her late father, president of a labor union.
"In those days there were a lot of people," Helstein said.
She said the ideals Darrow stands for should be celebrated today.





