MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21399, 15 February 1935, Page 11

MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE

HAUPTMANN VERDICT END OF LINDBERGH BABY CASE (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION BY El fCVBIC TELIOSA.PH—COPTBIGHT.I (Received February 14, 7.30 p.m.) FLEMINGTON February 13. Bruno Richard Hauptmann was convicted of the murder of the Lindbergh baby while he was kidnapping it. He will be electrocuted. The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for more than 11 hours, and voting separately, all decided that Hauptmann was guilty of murder in the first degree. Judge Trenchard set the week beginning March 18 for the execution. The jury had retired after lunch. During the morning they listened to the judge's charge. Judge Trenchard directed that the jury could return one of three verdicts —first, guilty as charged, which would mean death in the electric chair; second, guilty with a recommendation of mercy, carrying life imprisonment; and third, acquittaL The judge said that the ladder was built by accused, that Dr. Condon's evidence was reliable, that there was no evidence to support the contention of the defence that Fisch left the money with Hauptmann, and that Hauptmann wrote the ransom letters. Late in the day the jury sent out for a magnifying glass to examine a panel from Hauptmann's home on which Dr. Condon's address and telephone number were written. Mrs Hauptmann, who has been a daily attendant at the trial, waited in a boarding-house near the court for the tolling of the court-house bell which would mean that the verdict had been reached. Hauptmann himself lies in his cell listless, showing little nervousness. Before the jury returned the courtroom had been cleared, and only officials, reporters, and the prisoner's wife saw the strange spectacle of the breakdown of Hauptmann's iron will. Although he stood up straight and listened to the verdict with an unmoved face, he was unable to maintain his pose when State police led him towards his cell. He collapsed and had to be lifted into his cot where he wept, moaned and muttered incoherently in German. His wife left the courtroom unassisted. Outside, the mob cheered the jury wildly.