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Kidnapped
Around 9:00 P.M. Charles Lindbergh Jr. was kidnapped from the nursery on the second floor of the Lindbergh home around Hopewell, New Jersery. The nanny, Betty Gow, reported the child missing around 10:00 P.M. -
Search of the premises
-Traces of mud were found on the floor of the nursery.
-Footprints, impossible to measure, were found under the nursery window.
-A randsom note demanding $50,000 was found on the window sill of the nursery( same window with footprints and ladder).
-A ladder had been used to reach the window which was in two sections indicating the ladder broke during the ascent or decent.
-No blood stains or fingerprints found at the scene. -
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Investigation
During this two year timespan, the police tasks force and the FBI were in full-swing to try to find the murderer of Charles Lindburgh Jr.
The case was brodcasted in newspapers and all over the world.
Because of this, many people claimed they had information about the murder and led the police on empty leads. -
Gaston B. Means
Gaston B. Means was a con man claimed that his friend was responsible for the Lindbergh kidnapping.
The next day he said he had contact with the friend. -
Second Randsom Note
A second ransom note was received by Colonel Lindbergh where the randsom demand increased to $70,000. -
Third Randsom Note
The third ransom note was received by Colonel Lindbergh's attorney, informing that an intermediary appointed by the Lindberghs would not be accepted and requesting a note in a newspaper.
Also Dr. John F. Condon, a retired school principal, published in the "Bronx Home News" an offer to act as go-between and to pay an additional $1,000 ransom. -
Fourth Randsom Note
The fourth ransom note was received by Dr. Condon, which said he would be acceptable as a go-between. -
Fifth and Sixth Randsom Notes
Dr. Condon received the fifth ransom note, delivered by Joseph Perrone, a taxicab driver, who received it from an unidentified stranger.
The message stated that another note would be found beneath a stone at a vacant stand, 100 feet from a subway station.
This note, the sixth, had Dr. Condon to meet an unidentified man "John" where they discussed payment of the randsom money.
"John" agreed to supply a token of the child's identity. -
Seventh Randsom Note
As a token of identity, a baby's sleeping suit and a seventh ransom note were received by Dr. Condon. -
Eighth Randsom Note
Received by Condon, the eighth ransom note insisted on complete compliance and advised that the kidnapping had been planned for a year. -
Thumb Gaurd
Betty Gow, the Lindbergh nurse, found the infant's thumb guard, worn at the time of the kidnapping, near the entrance to the estate. -
Ninth Randsom Note
The ninth ransom note was received by Condon, threatening to increase the demand to $100,000. -
Tenth Randsom Note
The tenth ransom note, received by Dr. Condon, instructed him to have the money ready the following night, to which Condon replied by an ad in the Press. -
Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteeth Randsom Notes
The eleventh ransom note was delivered to Condon by an unidentified taxi driver who said he received it from an unknown man.
As instructed in the eleventh note, Dr. Condon found the twelfth ransom note under a stone in front of a greenhouse at 3225 East Tremont Avenue, Bronx, New York.
The twelfth note led to "John" where Condon reduced the demand to $50,000 in exchange for a receipt and the thirteenth note, which contained instructions to where the kidnapped child could be found. -
Search for the Baby
The thirteenth randsom note said the child could be found on a boat named "Nellie" near Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. It was an unsuccessful search for the baby and the search was later repeated. -
Body of the Kidnapped Baby Found
The body of the kidnapped baby was accidentally found by William Allen.
It was partly buried, and badly decomposed, and was found about four and a half miles southeast of the Lindbergh home.
There was a hole in the skull, the head was crushed, and some of the body members were missing.
The Coroner's examination showed that the child had been dead for about two months and the cause of death was a blow on the head. -
FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York City became the coordinating agency for all governmental activity in the case. -
Reward
The New Jersey State Police announced offering a reward for information of the kidnapper or kidnappers. -
Violet Sharpe
Violet Sharpe was a waitress in Mrs. Lindbergh's mother's house and had been under investigation by the authorities.
She committed suicide by swallowing poison when she was about to be requestioned.
It was later found that she did not have any involvement in the case. -
Why it is important
Congress passed the Lindbergh Law making kidnapping across state lines a Federal felony if the victim is taken across state lines or if the mail service is used for ransom demands. -
Bruno Richard Hauptmann
Police arrested Bruno Richard Hauptmann, a German-born carpenter.
A search of Hauptmann's home yielded fourteen thousand dollars of the Lindbergh ransom.
The serial numbers of the ransom money were carefully recorded and followed.
He claimed to be holding it for a friend, Isidore Fisch, who had since died. -
Hauptmann Charged for Murder
Despite his pleas of innocence, Hauptmann was charged for murder on October 8, 1934 for the murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr. -
"Trial of the century"
The Trial of Hauputmann was at Flemington, New Jersey, and lasted five weeks.
The case against him was based on circumstantial evidence. Tool marks on the ladder matched tools owned by Hauptmann.
Wood in the ladder was found to match wood used as flooring in his attic.
Dr. Condon's telephone number and address were found scrawled on a door frame inside a closet.
Handwriting on the ransom notes matched samples of Hauptmann's handwriting. -
Verdict
On February 13, 1935, the jury returned a verdict.
Hauptmann was guilty of murder in the first degree.
He was sentenced to death.
The defense appealed. -
Electric Chair
Bruno Richard Hauptmann was put to death in the electric chair. -
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Doubts
Ever since his death, doubts about Hauptmann's guilt existed.
Questions were raised concerning issues ranging from witness tampering to the planting of evidence.
