Nevertheless the authorities, perhaps embarrassed by publicity sensationalizing alleged decadent behavior in the prison, ruled that Day had been defending himself.[1][2] According to one account, newsman Ed Lahey wrote this lead for the Chicago Daily News: "Richard Loeb, despite his erudition, today ended his sentence with a proposition."[51][52] Some papers appeared to praise Day, who was later tried and acquitted of Loeb's murder.