McLeod Gets Five Year Jail Term; Other Thief Given Lighter Penalty

Superior Court yesterday sentenced two dorm thieves to a total of eight years and a day in State prisons.

Joseph W. Duane, who masterminded 65 breaks in the Houses last spring, drew three years in the House of Correction. His part-time accomplice. James L. McLeod, was given five years and a day at the Massachusetts Reformatory.

Duane confessed to four indictments, while McLeod was found guilty only of parts of two. Yet Duane got the lesser sentence--presumably because he pleaded guilty when he was captured, and testified for the State.

Will Steal Again

Edward M. Viola, Assistant District Attorney, told the jury Monday that "Duane is a thief. When he gets out of jail he'll start stealing again. There's no doubt about this." Duane has already been convicted of 11 crimes since 1940.

Yet Viola also insisted that "there's no deal where Duane is getting a break" by testifying for him.

"No one in this whole world con be lenient with Mr. Duane except the judge in this court," he said. "Certainly, you don't think I got together with the judge and we agreed to be lenient."