Footnote to a Murder Trial

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 208, 4 September 1935, Page 8

Footnote to a Murder Trial

Bnmo Richard Hauptmann, exmachine gunner in the German Army, ex-carpenter, ex-gambler, ex-thief, is now an ex-human being, wrote the New York correspondent of the “Sunday Express,” recently, “He is broken. His front of confidence and bravery has collapsed. Iron that it seemed would never melt has turned to putty. “The man who four months ago smiled when he was sentenced to death for kidnapping and murderi-g the Lindbergh baby is to-day half demented, Suspense dragged out crver endless mon.u,, uop. » »- despair, and then returning to hope again, resignation to death on tae electric chair, and then wild, exultant confidence in successful appeals have taken their toll of this enigmatic carpenter. “I have followed Bruno Richard Hanutmann ’s amazing life from the day last September when detectives hauled him to a police station in the Bronx, confronted him with the Lindbergh ransom notes found in his home, and charged him with murder. When he appeared at the famous New York line-up the following morning he smiled. He was insolent in his defia-.se, maddening in his repeated denials. “I saw him again in the Bronx when the State of New Jersey brought extradition proceedings against him to take him across the river to Flemington, in New Jersey, to try him for his life. He snarled when Attorney-Gen-eral Wilentz pointed to him as a murderer,' but on top of his snarl came a contemptuous smile. All through the weary weeks of his Flemingtcn trial Hauptmann puzzled us aIL “Evidence, damning evidence, was piled up against him every day. He just smiled and chatted with hi? wife as he might about the sale of some furniture. There came the n b't <n February when twelve of his peers fouao film o uiit. o. me er*~i. c. tfie century, and he was sentenced to death in the electric chair. “He was white with anger at first, then he smiled that quizzical smile f Mb again. Next day 1 saw aim in his ceil in Flemington. He was neatly dressed, his hair carefully combed. He wore a clean shirt for the occasion. He talked to me for an hour, and while he talked it seemed as though he were discussing the plight of one of his Meads. “I'll be declared inrot-eat befo-e tb 'T l '’ ’> v r - m “f*>- a stupid mistake.” T -saw him when the/ took hua across the h- New ,;ei> ser to f real on -Pt-te- Prison PI nee tikes long months hare passed. In, Heath Bow he has zaid good-bye one

by one to half-a-dozen criminals who have paid the price. “He sat and wrote chapters of his life’s story, letters to his mother even songs ibout tho countryside he loves so much. When his appeal drew'near he made suggestions to his lawyers. !Te went over every detail of his tria He longed for the day to come. Then he learned he was not to be allowed to attend the hearing. From that moment .he drooped. He was no longer careful about his appearance. Weeks passed, and ho did not make his customary demand for the barber. He gave up his daily dozen in his narrow cell to keep himself fit. He didn’t speak to his guards or his neighbour. “His strange, cruel eyes san' deeper into hi head. He lost weight and eolour. Sometimes still he wou’d recover his optimism, but for only a short while, and now- he is beaten. “The judges will not render Judgment for weeks, probably months. Hauptmann must stay i* Death Row-”