LINDBERGH BABY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21999, 4 January 1935, Page 9

LINDBERGH BABY

TRIAL OF HAUPTMANN SELECTING THE JURORS NEW YORK, Jan. 2 What promises to be one of the most sensational murder trials in America was opened at Flemington, New Jersey, to-day, when Bruno Hauptmann was brought before the bar of justice, charged with murdering the infant son of Colonel and Mrs. Charles Lindbergh. Ten jurors were selected during the day, four of whom were women. It is expected that the prosecution 'will call the first witness to-morrow.

The newspapers in the United States and abroad are devoting much space to the proceedings.

The time occupied in selecting the jury for the trial of Bruno Hauptmann in New Jersey seems long to British citizens. In British countries there are stringent rules regarding the right to challenge or stand aside a juror, and the selection of a jury is in no way protracted. American practice, in most of the States, differs considerably. The attorneys have the power to question summoned jurors as to their attitude on capital punishment and on any knowledge they might possess about the case before the Court. This practice often means that the selection of a jury is a long affair. Murder trials in the United States are also of very long duration compared with those iii British countries. The five weeks occupied by the Ruawaro case in Auckland was extraordinarily long, but this period would not be unusual in America

It was the Lindbergh kidnapping case which caused public agitation throughout the United States for the suppression of kidnapping. Such cases as the Hamm, Factor, Robles and (Jrschel kidnappings served merely to arouse public feeling further. The result was the action of Congress in June, 19.32, in passing what was called the Lindbergh Law against kidnapping. This law was amended in May last year to include the death penalty. It gives the United States Government power to investigate and prosecute kidnapping cases, above State authorities. Since its passage 31 of .32 kidnapping cases in which the Federal authorities have intervened have been solved, 74 persons have been convicted and 15 are awaiting trial. Two death sentences and 16 life imprisonment sentences have been imposed. The additional plight of the criminal can also be appreciated in the fact that three suicides, two murders and two lynchings have resulted in these cases.

The bureau of investigation of the Department of Justice at Washington, controlled by Mr. .T. Edgar Hoover, has been conspicuously successful. America's drive against crime, incidentally, has resulted in the deaths in the past year of such dangerous criminals as John Dillinger, Charles Floyd, Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Associates of Dillinger, namely, Harry Piorpont, Charles Maklev and Russell Clark, have also been apprehended.