HAUPTMANN TO DIE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 121, 15 February 1935, Page 11

HAUPTMANN TO DIE

Verdict Returned After Eleven Hours JURORS UNANIMOUS Accused Found Murderer of Lindbergh Baby By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received February 14, 7 p.m.) Flemington, February 13. Bernard Hauptmann was convicted of murder of the Lindbergh baby, during its kidnapping, with death in the electric chair as the penalty. The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for more than 11 hours, and polled separately. All answered that he was gulltv of murder in the first degree. Judge Trenchard set t’he week com mencing March IS for the execution. The courtroom, which had been cleared of all spectators, leaving _ only officials, newspapermen, tlie prisoner and his wife, witnessed the strange spectacle of a breakdown of the iron will of Hauptmann. Although the prisoner stood up straight and listened to the verdict with firm countenance. he was unable to maintain the pose. When State police led him toward his cell he collapsed and had to be lifted to his cot. where he wept, moaned and muttered in German incoherently. His wife left t'he courtroom unassisted. Outside the mob cheered the jury wildly. After lunch on sandwiches the jury retired to ponder over Hauptmann’s fate. All during the morning they listened to the judge’s charge. He directed that the jury could return one of three verdicts: First, guilty as charged, which meant death in the electric chair; secondly, guilty with a recommendation to mercy, carrying life imprisonment; thirdly, acquittal of the charge. Judge Trenchard intimated that the ladder was built by the defendant, that Dr. Condon’s, testimony was reliable, that there was no testimony to bolster the defence’s contention that Fisch left the money with Hauptmann, and that Hauptmann wrote the ransom letters. After the jury had been out eight hours there was a rumour current that they had voted 10 to two for a verdict of guilty. Later the voting was stated to be 11 to one, but there was no way of determining the truth of this. Late in the day the jury sent out for a magnifying glass to examine ' tlie closet panel from Hauptmann’s home on which Dr. Condon’s address and telephone number were written. Mrs'.'Hauptmann. a daily attendant at tlie trial, waited in a boarding-house near the court for the tolling of the courthouse bell, which would signify that a verdict had been reached, whereas Hauptmann himself lay* in his cell, listless and showing little nervousness.