THE LINDBERGH CHILD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22487, 4 February 1935, Page 9

THE LINDBERGH CHILD

TRIAL OF HAUPTMANN /' - i SURPRISE WITNESS FOR DEFENCE FLEMINGTON, February 1. (Received Feb. 3, at 9.30 p.m.) The defence in the Lindbergh baby case called a surprise witness to-day in the person of Peter Sommers, who swore that about midnight on March 1, 1932, he saw a man and a woman, whom he identified as Fisch and Violet Sharpe, a maid at the Morrow home at that time who subsequently committed suicide, taking a baby from New Jersey into New York City on the Weekhawken ferry across the Hudson River. Sommers described the baby as a blonde about two years of age, wearing a onepiece sleeping garment which was almost an exact description of that worn by the Linabergh child. The defence's own handwriting expert, Mr John Trendley, testified most of the day, largely to the effect that the ransom notes coifld not be positively identified as Hfluptmann's, as the writing could easily be duplicated. He expressed the opinion that Hauptmann was not the author.

The prosecution apparently did not take his testimony seriously, limiting cross-examination to suggestion. Mr Trendley, it was suggested, was not qualified ,as an expert." ; The prosecution also pointed out contradictions in his direct examination.