CALMLY TO DEATH

Evening Post, Issue 82, 6 April 1936, Page 9

CALMLY TO DEATH

BRUNO HATJPTMANN

PUBLIC OPINION AROUSED

EXTREME TORTURE OF THE PRISONER

TRENTON (N.J.), AprH *.

Bruno Hauptmann, who was executed tonight for the murder of the Lindbergh baby, walked calmly and quickly to the electric chair,- and his last words were a firm declaration of his innocence of kidnapping or killing the child. The current was turned on at 8.40 and turned off 2 minutes 15 seconds later. After a thorough examination by several physicians Hauptmann was officially pronounced dead at 8.47.

Almost to the last minute his fata was in doubt. Throughout the day the defence appealed to various authorities for a stay of execution, and it was not until thirty minutes before the scheduled hour of death that Governor Hoffman officially announced that there would be no reprieve.

The uncertainty which has characterised the entire proceedings since Governor Hoffman's first reprieve has greatly aroused public opinion, which has widely condemned the extreme torture to which the prisoner has been subjected. Leading articles in the American Press, stigmatising it as "Jersey justice," declared it was enough to drive Hauptmann insane, adding that in this event it might be merciful to save his life since the State law prohibits the execution of insane persons.

A group of distinguished citizens of New Jersey, headed by the president of Piinceton University, prior to the execution issued a public appeal to the Legislature to investigate whether any public official connected with the case is open to impeachment proceedings or removal from office.

While the Grand Jury has as yet taken no action regarding the alleged Wendel confession, it is now alleged that the confession was obtained from him after he was kidnapped in NewYork and taken to New Jersey, falsely imprisoned, and beaten.

Detectives employed by the Governor of New Jersey, Mr. H. G. Hoffman, submitted to the Pardons Board a few days ago an alleged confession-of Paul Wendel, disbarred attorney, who has been convicted several times of perjury and other felonies, that he murdered the child. The Attorney-Gen-eral, Mr. Wilentz, and other State officials said that they gave little credence to the confession, as Wendel had been several times committed to insane asylums for observation, but they subjected him to long questioning, during which he repudiated the entire confession, saying it was forced from him through prolonged torture. Meanwhile, however, it developed that Wendel had previously been taken before a Magistrate and formally charged with murder.