The Lindbergh Baby The Lindbergh Baby KidnappingKidnapping

Research Question:Research Question:

Was Bruno Richard Was Bruno Richard Hauptmann Innocent or Hauptmann Innocent or

Guilty?Guilty?

Charles A. Charles A. LindberghLindbergh

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh: : (1902-1974) famous (1902-1974) famous aviator most well known aviator most well known for being the first solo for being the first solo non-stop flight across the non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean (Plane was Atlantic Ocean (Plane was “The Spirit of St. Louis”“The Spirit of St. Louis”

Nicknamed “Lucky Lindy” Nicknamed “Lucky Lindy” and “Lone Eagle”and “Lone Eagle”

Became an instant Became an instant celebrity and American celebrity and American herohero

Anne Morrow LindberghAnne Morrow Lindbergh Daughter of the Daughter of the

ambassador to Latin ambassador to Latin America, heir to America, heir to millionsmillions

Married Charles in Married Charles in 19291929

Learned to fly from Learned to fly from her husbandher husband

Became famous for Became famous for her poetry and her poetry and writing.writing.

Charles Lindbergh, Jr.Charles Lindbergh, Jr.

Kidnapped in Kidnapped in the evening the evening on March 1, on March 1, 1932 around 1932 around 9:00 pm9:00 pm

20 months 20 months old at the old at the time of time of kidnappingkidnapping

Betty GowBetty Gow: : the baby’s the baby’s nannynanny

She was the last person to She was the last person to see the baby alive.see the baby alive.

She discovered the baby’s She discovered the baby’s absence about 9:00 pmabsence about 9:00 pm

Violet Sharpe: the maid the Morrow’s estate. She claimed she was on a blind date the night of the kidnapping, but could not recall the names of her date, nor the couple they went with.

The People

?

Isidor Fische:

German immigrant who Hauptmann claimed had given him the money.

Fische had conned several people on investment scams

He died in Germany before he could be questioned

Dr. John Condon:

Volunteered to act as a go-between for the Lindberghs and the kidnappers

Went by the name “Jafsie” in the papers (JFC)

The People

Bruno Richard Hauptmann:

The defendant in the Lindbergh baby kidnapping

Richard Hauptmann was a German immigrant who worked as a carpenter. He had been arrested in Germany, and had entered the U.S. illegally at least once.

He was married with a son of his own at the time of the kidnapping.

He claimed to have received ransom money he was caught with from Isidor Fische

The Crime SceneThe Crime Scene

The parents and grandparents were the The parents and grandparents were the only ones who knew the family was only ones who knew the family was staying longerstaying longer

A ransom note asking for $50,000A ransom note asking for $50,000 Footprints and ladder prints were found Footprints and ladder prints were found

on the ground outside the second story on the ground outside the second story windowwindow

Remains of a homemade ladder and a Remains of a homemade ladder and a chisel were found nearbychisel were found nearby

No fingerprints were found.No fingerprints were found.

The Investigation BeginsThe Investigation Begins

Five days later Dr. Condon publishes an Five days later Dr. Condon publishes an open letter in the newspaper asking to open letter in the newspaper asking to act as a go-between for the kidnapper act as a go-between for the kidnapper and Lindberghsand Lindberghs

Condon met the kidnapper in a Condon met the kidnapper in a graveyard and handed over the ransom graveyard and handed over the ransom in gold certificates (the numbers on in gold certificates (the numbers on the certificates had been recorded)the certificates had been recorded)

Condon was given a note that stated Condon was given a note that stated the baby could be found on a boat the baby could be found on a boat nearbynearby

The Baby is FoundThe Baby is Found

On May 12 (over three months after On May 12 (over three months after the abduction) the badly the abduction) the badly decomposed body was found about 4 decomposed body was found about 4 ½ miles from the Lindbergh’s house½ miles from the Lindbergh’s house

The baby appeared to have died of a The baby appeared to have died of a skull fractureskull fracture

The remains were identified and The remains were identified and cremated the next day.cremated the next day.

The Gold CertificatesThe Gold Certificates

Many businesses were given a list of Many businesses were given a list of the gold certificate numbersthe gold certificate numbers

A gas station attendant was paid A gas station attendant was paid with a gold certificate and when he with a gold certificate and when he gave the billl to the bank, it was gave the billl to the bank, it was determined it was one of the ransom determined it was one of the ransom billsbills

He notified police and they traced He notified police and they traced the bill to Richard Hauptmannthe bill to Richard Hauptmann

The InvestigationThe Investigation

The investigators The investigators determined that determined that Hauptmann fit the Hauptmann fit the description Condon description Condon and the gas and the gas attendant gaveattendant gave

He had a $20 He had a $20 ransom bill on himransom bill on him

There were several bills found around his There were several bills found around his homehome

The EvidenceThe Evidence

In addition to the In addition to the gold certificates on gold certificates on him at the time of him at the time of the arrest, there the arrest, there was more than was more than $14,000 in a can in $14,000 in a can in behind shellac and behind shellac and other materials.other materials.

Several businesses testified that Several businesses testified that Hauptmann paid with marked ransom Hauptmann paid with marked ransom bills.bills.

The EvidenceThe Evidence

Hauptmann’s handwriting as Hauptmann’s handwriting as believed to be a match to several of believed to be a match to several of the ransom notesthe ransom notes

“Dear Sir! Have 50,000$ redy 2500$ in 20$ bills 1 5000$ in 10$ bills and 10000$ in 5$ bills. After 2-4 days we will inform you were to deliver the Mony. We warn you for making anyding public or for the polise the child is in gut care. Indication for all letters are signature and 3 holes”

The EvidenceThe Evidence The ladder used in the The ladder used in the

kidnapping was homemadekidnapping was homemade Hauptmann had been Hauptmann had been

arrested in Germany for a arrested in Germany for a second story robbery second story robbery involving a ladderinvolving a ladder

The wood on “rail 16” of The wood on “rail 16” of the ladder closely matched the ladder closely matched wood found in his atticwood found in his attic

Square nail holes in the Square nail holes in the ladder matched nails used ladder matched nails used in the atticin the attic

The TrialThe Trial

Several “eyewitnesses” testified at Several “eyewitnesses” testified at the trialthe trial

Handwriting experts testifiedHandwriting experts testified

Unanswered Questions/DoubtsUnanswered Questions/Doubts

No one saw Haptmann climbing tto No one saw Haptmann climbing tto the 2the 2ndnd story window story window

No one saw him with the babyNo one saw him with the baby Many of the eyewitnesses were in Many of the eyewitnesses were in

the dark, at impossible angles, the dark, at impossible angles, orunsure of Hauptmann’s identifyorunsure of Hauptmann’s identify

Unanswered Questions/ DoubtsUnanswered Questions/ Doubts

The footprints outside the window The footprints outside the window were not photographed or measuredwere not photographed or measured

Early FBI reports stated that the Early FBI reports stated that the kidnapping was probably done by at kidnapping was probably done by at least two peopleleast two people

Violet Sharpe committed suicide Violet Sharpe committed suicide before she could be re-questioned before she could be re-questioned about her shaky testimonyabout her shaky testimony

Unanswered Questions/DoubtsUnanswered Questions/Doubts

Hauptmann offered a chance to have Hauptmann offered a chance to have his sentence changed from the death his sentence changed from the death penalty to life in prison if he would penalty to life in prison if he would admit his guilt and explain how he admit his guilt and explain how he committed the crime, and name any committed the crime, and name any accomplices he may have had. accomplices he may have had.

He refused. He refused.

His ExecutionHis Execution

Hauptmann was put to death on April Hauptmann was put to death on April 3, 1936.3, 1936.

His wife maintained his innocence His wife maintained his innocence until her death.until her death.

ResourcesResources

www.charleslindbergh.comwww.charleslindbergh.com http://www.nj.com/lindbergh/hunterdhttp://www.nj.com/lindbergh/hunterd

on/index.ssf?/lindbergh/stories/crime.on/index.ssf?/lindbergh/stories/crime.htmlhtml

http://www.fbi.gov/libref/historic/famhttp://www.fbi.gov/libref/historic/famcases/lindber/lindbernew.htmcases/lindber/lindbernew.htm

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/Hauptmann/projects/FTrials/Hauptmann/Hauptmann.htmHauptmann.htm