The Lindbergh Case
- 2. THE CRIME Who was the victim? What happened to him? Twenty month year old baby Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr. was kidnapped from his nursery in Hopewell, New Jersey on the night of March 1st, 1932, at approximately 9:00 pm. On May 12th, 1932, the baby’s body was found dead 45 feet from a highway that was about 5 miles from the Lindberg estate. It was eventually determined that he been dead for around 2 months before his body was found and that the cause of death was a blow to the head.
- 3. 1. MARCH 1ST, 1932: BETTY GOW, THE CHILD’S NURSE, NOTICED AND REPORTED TO THE LINDBERG’S THAT THE BABY WAS GONE. A SEARCH OF THE HOUSE WAS DONE IN WHICH A RANSOM NOTE WAS FOUND, DEMANDING $50,000. 2. A SECOND RANSOM NOTE WAS FOUND, DEMANDING $70,000. 3. A THIRD RANSOM NOTE WAS FOUND. 4. DR. CONDON OFFERED, AND WAS ACCEPTED, TO BE A “GO-BETWEEN” AND SAID HE WOULD PAY AN EXTRA $1,000 AND PUBLISHED “IN THE BRONX HOME NEWS”. 5. A FOURTH RANSOM NOTE WAS RECEIVED. 6. MARCH 10TH, 1932: DR. CONDON BEGAN NEGOTIATING WITH NEWSPAPERS BY THE CODE NAME “JAFSIE”. 7. MARCH 12TH, 1932: CONDON RECEIVED A FIFTH RANSOM NOTE FROM JOSEPH PERRONE, A TAXICAB DRIVER, AND IT GAVE A CLUE TO ANOTHER NOTE. 8. CONDON FOUND THE SIXTH RANSOM NOTE. 9. CONDON MET “JOHN”, AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN, AT A CEMETERY TO DISCUSS PAYMENT OF THE RANSOM 10. MARCH 16TH: CONDON RECEIVED THE SEVENTH RANSOM NOTE, WHICH CAME WITH A "TOKEN OF IDENTITY" OF THE BABY, WHICH WAS A BABY'S SLEEPING SUIT MAJOR EVENTS TOOK PLACE BETWEEN THE KIDNAPPING AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE BABY'S BODY
- 4. 11. MARCH 21ST: CONDON RECEIVED THE EIGHTH RANSOM NOTE WHICH TOLD THAT THE KIDNAPPING HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR OVER A YEAR 12. MARCH 29TH: BETTY GOW FOUND THE LOST CHILD'S THUMB GUARD WHICH HE HAD BEEN WEARING THE NIGHT OF THE KIDNAPPING, OUTSIDE OF THE ESTATE 13. MARCH 30TH, THE NINTH RANSOM NOTE WAS RECEIVED BY DR. CONDON IN WHICH THE RANSOM WAS THREATENED TO BE RAISED TO $100,000 AND IT PROHIBITED THE NEWSPAPER COLUMN'S HELP 14. APRIL 1ST: DR. CONDON RECEIVED THE TENTH RANSOM NOTE WHICH STATED HE WAS TO HAVE THE RANSOM MONEY READY BY THE FOLLOWING DAY 15. APRIL 2ND: CONDON RECEIVED THE ELEVENTH RANSOM NOTE FROM A TAXICAB DRIVER WHICH GAVE A CLUE TO THE TWELFTH RANSOM NOTE 16. DR. CONDON FOUND THE TWELFTH RANSOM NOTE WHICH INSTRUCTED HIM TO AGAIN MEET "JOHN" 17. DR. CONDON MET "JOHN" AND GAVE HIM $50,000 AND IN RETURN RECEIVED THE THIRTEENTH RANSOM NOTE WHICH STATED THAT THE BABY COULD BE FOUND ON A BOAT BY MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MASSACHUSETTS, NAMED "NELLIE" 18. TWO SEARCHES WERE COMPLETED WITH NOTHING FOUND 19. MAY 12TH, 1932: THE BODY OF THE KIDNAPED BABY WAS FOUND (ACCIDENTLY) ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MILES (SOUTHEAST) OF THE LINDBERGH HOME, 45 FEET FROM A HIGHWAY, BY WILLIAM ALLEN
- 5. WHAT AGENCIES INVESTIGATED THE CRIME? * THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE: ASSUMED CHARGE OF THE INVESTIGATION AS SOON AS NOTIFIED BY THE HOPEWELL POLICE * THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE * THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT MOVED ALL THE CASE WORK TO BE CENTRALIZED HERE * THE FBI WHAT TECHNIQUES DID THEY USE IN THE INVESTIGATION? * THEY TRACKED THE GOLD NOTES THAT WERE USED TO PAY THE RANSOM: THIS WAS A FAIRLY NEW AND UNHEARD OF TECHNIQUE AT THE TIME * ARRESTED HAUPTMANN AWAY FROM HIS HOUSE SO THAT THEY COULD CATCH HIM WITH A GOLD NOTE IN IS POSSESSION: THIS TECHNIQUE MADE EVEN MORE EVIDENCE THAT WOULD BE USED AGAINST HAUPTMANN THE INVESTIGATION
- 6. THE INVESTIGATION (CONTINUED) What evidence was there to work with? • The first ransom note found on the nursery windowsill the night of the kidnapping • Traces of mud found on the nursery floor • The ladder that had been used to enter and leave the nursery: one section was split and broken, which meant the ladder had broke in the ascent or descent • A total of thirteen ransom notes • A chisel found in the nursery • A thumb guard belonging to the baby that Betty Gow found many days after the kidnapping
- 7. THE INVESTIGATION (CONTINUED) What evidence led to the arrest of the suspect, Hauptmann? • The gold notes: A gold note was found at a bank with a license plate number written on it by a gas station attendant, John Lyons, who had passed the bill to the bank. This made him traceable and he described writing the number down because he thought it weird to see a gold note because they were rarely used any more. He was able to give a description of the man, which matched descriptions of "John" by Dr. Condon. • A pair of shoes was found in his house that was also paid for by the gold notes from the ransom money. • Joseph Perrone identified him to be the man that gave him the ransom note to give to Dr. Condon. • $13,000 of ransom certificates were found in his garage. • Dr. Condon identified him to be the man that he had paid the ransom money to. • Owned a dodge sedan which had been described to be seen around the Lindbergh home on the day of the kidnapping in the beginning of the investigation. • His handwriting matched that of the writing in the ransom notes. • A chisel was missing from a tool set he owned, and it matched the one at the crime scene. • Dr. Condon's address and phone number were written in a closet in Hauptmann's house. • Hauptmann had not worked a day after the ransom was paid, but yet he suddenly could spend money lavishly.
- 8. KEY FIGURES Members of the Lindbergh family: • Anne Morrow Lindbergh: the daughter of a multimillionaire banker and ambassador to Mexico; mother of Charles Lindbergh • Colonel Lindbergh/ Charles A Lindbergh: a pilot who was the first person to fly by themselves across the Atlantic Ocean which brought him much fame; father of Charles Lindbergh • Mrs. Dwight Morrow: Mrs. Lindbergh's mother; grandmother of Charles Lindbergh Household employees of the Lindbergh family: • Betty Gow: the child's nurse who was the one that noticed that Charles Lindbergh was gone and reported it to his parents • Violet Sharpe: Mrs. Morrow's waitress who committed suicide when asked to be questioned Main investigators: • Dudley Shoenfeld: investigated all of the physical evidence • Colonel H. Norman Schwarzkopf: the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police • FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
- 9. KEY FIGURES (CONTINUED) Dr. Condon: • The man that offered and became the "go-between" for the Lindbergh's • He received many of the ransom notes • He met with "John" twice “Cemetery John”: • The man who Dr. Condon met with to give the ransom money too • Was later identified to be Bruno Richard Hauptmann, despite many accusations and descriptions that did not match him 100% (most descriptions did match though) Bruno Richard Hauptmann: • A German carpenter who had lived in the US for about 11 years • Had a criminal record for robbery, went to jail, and then fled Germany to come to the US • He was deported twice before he successfully entered the US, still as an illegal alien • Claimed that he was not guilty and claimed that a fur dealer by the name of Isidor Fisch had left the money found at his house in defense
- 10. WHERE WAS THE TRIAL HELD? FLEMINGTON, NEW JERSEY IN 1935 WHO WERE THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE? * PROSECUTOR: DAVID WILENTZ: BELIEVED THAT THE EVIDENCE WITH THE MONEY WAS ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING PIECES OF EVIDENCE * DEFENSE: EDWARD REILLY: A FLAMBOYANT ATTORNEY WHO WENT SO FAR AS TO ACCUSE THE POLICE AS PLANTING THE EVIDENCE TO MAKE IT LOOK AS THOUGH HIS CLIENT HAD COMMITTED THE CRIME WHO WERE THE KEY WITNESSES AND WHAT DID THEY SAY? * DR. CONDON: EXPLAINED THE MAN THAT HE MET, "JOHN", IDENTIFIED JOHN TO BE HAUPTMANN * JOSEPH PERRONE: HAD GIVEN A DESCRIPTION, WHICH MATCHED HAUPTMANN * BETTY GOW: IDENTIFIED THE SHIRT FOUND ON THE BABY'S BODY TO BE ONE THAT SHE HAD MADE FOR HIM; STATED THAT SHE DID NOT KNOW ANY OF THE GANG MEMBERS THAT SHE WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT * AMANDUS HOCHMUTH: LIVED ON THE ROAD OF THE LINDBERGH ESTATE; TOLD OF HOW HE HAD SEEN A MAN IN A GREEN CAR WITH A LADDER IN IT PASS HIS HOUSE ON THE MORNING OF THE KIDNAPPING; HE IDENTIFIED THE MAN HE SAW TO BE HAUPTMANN THE TRIAL
- 11. WHAT ROLE IN THE CASE DID FORENSICS PLAY? ○ A BOARD CUT FROM THE FLOOR OF HAUPTMANN'S HOME MATCHED THE WOOD OF THAT USED TO MAKE THE LADDER THAT WAS USED IN THE KIDNAPPING ○ HANDWRITING ANALYSIS WHICH MATCHED HAUPTMANN'S HANDWRITING TO THAT ON THE RANSOM NOTES ○ THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DIRECT EVIDENCE FOUND SUCH AS DNA OR FINGERPRINTS. HOW DID THE MEDIA HANDLE THE STORY? ○ THE MEDIA ATTACKED THIS CASE, MAKING IT A COMPLETE FRENZY AND CAUSING MORE SHOCK THAN A PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATION ○ AROUND 16,000 CARS CAME TO THE COURT HOUSE IN THE FIRST WEEKEND OF TRIAL ○ ONE SUNDAY, AROUND 5,000 PEOPLE SQUISHED TOGETHER INTO THE COURTHOUSE - THIS WAS MORE THAN THE ENTIRE FLEMINGTON POPULATION ○ REPORTERS SNEAKED A CAMERA AND A MICROPHONE INTO THE TRIAL AND MADE NEWSREELS WITHOUT BEING AUTHORIZED - THIS CAUSED FOR NEW RULES FOR BANNING PHOTOGRAPHY AND RADIO BROADCASTING IN THE COURT ROOM ○ THE CASE WENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND INTO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, LIKE EUROPE ○ 50,000 WORDS ON THE CRIME WERE WRITTEN BY HEARST'S INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE, JUST ON THE DAY OF THE KIDNAPPING. ○ A REPORTER AND CAMERAMAN WENT SO FAR AS TO SNEAK INTO WHERE THE BODY OF THE VICTIM WAS TO TAKE PICTURES OF IT WHICH THEY THEN COPIED AND SOLD ○ IT ATTRACTED OVER 100 REPORTERS FROM BOTH AMERICA AND EUROPE AND 35 RADIO/TELEGRAPH OPERATORS. WHAT WAS THEE VERDICT? ○ THAT RICHARD HAUPTMANN WAS GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND WOULD BE SENTENCED TO DEATH THE TRIAL (CONTINUED)
- 12. WHAT HAPPENED TO HAUPTMANN AFTER THE TRIAL ENDED? HE WAS ELECTROCUTED TO DEATH ON APRIL 3RD, 1936. HOW LONG WAS THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE VERDICT AND HAUPTMANN'S EXECUTION? ○ VERDICT: REACHED ON FEBRUARY 13TH, 1935 ○ EXECUTION: APRIL 3RD, 1936 ○ IT TOOK OVER A YEAR FOR THE EXECUTION TO OCCUR BECAUSE: * HAUPTMANN HAD MADE AN APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH WAS LATER DENIED ON DECEMBER 9TH, 1935. * ON JANUARY 17TH, 1936, HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE EXECUTED BUT THE GOVERNOR OF NJ GRANTED HIM A 30 DAY REPRIEVE. * HAUPTMANN WAS EVENTUALLY RESCHEDULED TO BE EXECUTED THE WEEK OF MARCH 30TH, 1936. * HAUPTMANN PETITIONED FOR CLEMENCY, BUT THAT WAS DENIED ON MARCH 30TH, 1936. THE AFTERMATH
- 13. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LINDBERGH'S AFTER THE TRIAL ENDED? ○ THEY ENDURED STRESS FROM PEOPLE TRYING TO PROVE THAT HAUPTMANN WAS INNOCENT: A FEW PEOPLE CLAIMED TO BE THE LINDBERGH BABY ALL GROWN UP, POSSIBLY TO SEEK THE LINDBERGH INHERITANCE ○ MR. LINDBERGH WAS SOMETIMES ACCUSED OF MURDERING, OR AT LEAST HAVING TO DO WITH SOMETHING IN THE MURDER OF HIS SON THE AFTERMATH (CONTINUED)
- 14. MY TAKE I do believe that many of the alternate theories are definitely persuading, however I still believe that the jury reached the correct verdict with the evidence that there was. The main thing, to me at least, that is very persuading, was that there was no direct evidence linking Hauptmann to committing the crime, only circumstantial. There were no fingerprints, DNA, or exact evidence that put Hauptmann at the crime scene and committing the crime. However, the circumstantial evidence found is extremely key to the case and definitely goes against the sake of Hauptmann. It would be quite hard for all of the evidence found to be linked to Hauptmann, if he didn't commit the crime.