This is a powerpoint presentation on the Lindbergh case and the Hauptmann trial.

1. THE LINDBERGH
KIDNAPPING
MADDY HAGER

2. VICTIMS
In the year 1932, an intruder entered the Lindbergh
mansion and abducted Charles and Anne
Lindbergh’s two year old son, Charles Jr.
Charles and Anne Lindbergh were aviators (pilots)
and they were known nationwide and were very
famous.

3. WHAT BEGAN THE GREAT MANHUNT
On the night of March 1st, 1932, Charles Jr. was taken
from the nursery on the second floor of the Lindbergh
mansion around 8:00 pm.
Muddy footprints were found on the
floor as well as a ransom note, left on
the radiator in the nursery room.

4. THE RANSOM NOTE
The ransom note was opened and inside was a
handwritten letter, saying:
“Have 50,000$ redy 2500$
In 20$ bills 15,000$ in 10$
Bills and 1000$ in 5$ bills.
After 2-2 days we will inform you were to
deliver the Mony. We warn you for making
anyding public or for notify the polise the
child is in gute care. Indication for all
letters are singnature and 3 Holes.”

5. TOOLS POSSIBLY USED BY CULPRIT
Outside of the mansion, a three piece ladder (which
was homemade) was found. It appeared
broken, showing that it either broke when the culprit
was ascending or descending the house.
There was also a chisel that was found
lying around the house and footprints
that were located both inside the house
and near the location of the car the
person must’ve been driving.

6. FIRST SUSPECT & DAYS THAT
FOLLOWED
Violet Smith was immediately a suspect due to the
fact that she worked inside the mansion and took
care of the baby sometimes.
The days that followed, Charles
Lindbergh told the police that he
was willing to negotiate with the kidnapper without
any interference, and that no arrests were to be
made until then.

7. COMMUNICATION & NEGOTIATION
On March 5th, the Lindbergh’s began talking to their
child’s kidnapper. They only began talking over
handwritten letters.
The first letter than arrived to the Lindbergh’s said:
“Don’t by afraid about the baby two ladys keeping
care of it day and night.” The note had also warned
them to keep the police out of the “cace” (case).

8. COMMUNICATION & NEGOTIATION (CONT)
The kidnapper notified them that the next note to
come was going to tell them where to deliver the
money.
Al Capone (famous gangster) heard about the
kidnapping and offered $10,000 to find out
information leading to where the child might be and
how to get the child back to the parents.

9. COMMUNICATION & NEGOTIATION (CONT)
70 year old, Dr. John Condon joined the other people,
sending $1000 of his own money to the kidnapper. He
also told the kidnapper that he would meet with him
in private and give him additional money for any
information- and he wouldn’t utter the person’s name
to anyone, not even the police.

10. POSSIBLY A NEW SUSPECT?
Dr. Condon eventually met up with
the kidnapper, not bringing any
money however. He wasn’t going to
until he saw the baby. There was a
shadowy figure behind the kidnapper, telling him that
it was too dangerous to give any information to Dr.
Condon. The shadowy figure then began to run, only
getting chased down by Dr. Condon, who then found
out this man called himself, “John”.

11. TOKENS
“John” told Dr. Condon that the baby was not dead
and that he would send him a token from the
baby, the sleeping clothes.
A few days later, Dr. Condon received
the sleeping clothes, the same ones worn
the night of the kidnapping. There was also
a note from John in the box, stating that
the ransom money needed to be ready by
that Saturday.

12. RANSOM MONEY
Charles joined Condon, who met back up with
John, giving him the $50,000.
John gave Condon an envelope that told where he
might find the Lindbergh baby; It said, “A boat called
Nelly.”
The following day Charles Lindbergh flew
over, searching for the boat, trying to find his missing
son.

13. ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERED..
On May 12th, 1932 a truck driver was driving and
stopped on the side of the road to “relieve” himself.
As the truck driver (William Allen) was doing so, he
looked down and saw a head peeking out of the
ground;
it was Charles Lindbergh Jr.

14. HOW FORENSICS CAME INTO PLAY
This investigation was a particularly special and different
one because of the use of forensics.
The investigators searched the entire nursery, not finding
a single fingerprint (one forensic test example), only the
muddy footprints.
The investigators also matched Condon’s description of
“John” and went out interviewing people asking if
they’d seen a man similar to him.

15. HOW FORENSICS CAME INTO PLAY (CONT)
The investigators also took the information on the kind
of car the suspect had driven and went to the car
dealership, eventually getting the license plate tags
matching it up to a man named Richard Hauptmann.

16. THE ARREST
On September 16th, 1934 the police followed
Hauptmann from his apartment. He soon noticed
what was going on and tried to escape, running red
lights and blowing by other drivers at high speed.
Hauptmann eventually had to stop the car and was
then put in handcuffs and arrested.

17. HOW MEDIA WAS INVOLVED
During Hauptmann’s arrest the investigators went into
his apartment finding $15,000 dollars of the ransom
money and the address and phone number of Dr.
Condon. The media got ahold of the
information, sharing it on CBS Radio for all to hear.
There were also air times that
discussed what was going on during all
the Hauptmann trials and meet ups.

18. THE HAUPTMANN TRIAL
Edward J. Reilly was Hauptmann’s defense
attorney, trying to help him win the case.
Hauptmann’s wife Anna was called to the stand
to say whether or not she knew anything about
what had happened.
Author Koehler was one of the lead
forensic scientists for the case and he went
ahead and told the judge and jury that there
were no fingerprints of Hauptmann’s found on
the ladder, the ransom notes, or anyplace inside
the nursery.

19. THE VERDICT
The outcome of the trial was a bad one. Richard
Hauptmann was convicted to life in prison and
actually died in prison, being put on death row and
sent right to his death on the electric chair.

20. ALTERNATE THEORIES?
Many people actually believed that Violet Smith was
the kidnapper, since she was living in the mansion with
the Lindbergh family.
Dr. John Condon was suspicious to the police,
who claimed his behavior was “not right”.
Condon also never showed the sleep clothes to the
authorities, making it seem all the more
mysterious, considering there could’ve been hair fibers
on the outfit which could’ve ended up possibly
helped to find the child.

21. ALTERNATE THEORIES? (CONT)
People also believed it was all an organized
crime, meaning that Charles Lindbergh planned on
having his child kidnapped (whether for more fame or
maybe he just didn’t want a kid anymore). Charles
kept a lot of information from the police and often led
them in very different directions, using his power as a
rich person against the case.

22. MY INPUT
After researching this case I must say it’s VERY difficult
to understand the first few times you read. There’s a
lot that went on during this case and it’s very very
complicated. I truly don’t know whether or not
Hauptmann really deserved to be put on death
row, because the alternate theories (especially the
one about Charles) is so convincing. I almost
immediately believed that Charles was doing this for
the fame. It did seem a tad drastic that Hauptmann
was put on death row, although this was back in the
30s when they weren’t too aware of which
consequences were considered proper for a situation
or verdict.