END OF TRIAL

Southland Times, Issue 22507, 15 February 1935, Page 7

END OF TRIAL

HAUPTMANN GUILTY

MURDER OF LINDBERGH BABY

DEATH SENTENCE

(United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.10 p.m.) New York, February 13. A message from Flemington (New Jersey) says that Hauptmann was convicted of the murder of the Lindbergh baby during its kidnapping and was sentenced to death in the electric chair. A jury of eight men and four women deliberated more than eleven hours and polled separately. All answered guilty of murder in the first degree. Judge Trenchard set the week commencing March 18 for the execution. After a lunch on sandwiches the jury retired to ponder over Hauptmann s fate. All during the morning they listened to the Judge’s charges. Judge Trenchard directed that the jury could return one of three verdicts, namely: (1) Guilty as charged, which meant death in the electric chair; (2) guilty with a recommendation to mercy, carrying life imprisonment; and (3) acquittal of the charge. The Judge indicated 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 guilty by ten to two, later voting by eleven 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 a closet panel from Hauptmann’s house on which Dr Condon’s address and telephone number were written. Mrs Hauptmann attended the trial daily and waited in a boardinghouse near the Court for the tolling of the Courthouse bell, which signified that a verdict had been reached, whereas Hauptmann himself lay in his cell listless and showing little nervousness. The courtroom, which had been cleared of all spectators, leaving only officials, newspaper men and the prisoner and his wife, witnessed the strange spectacle of the breakdown of Iron Will” Hauptmann. _ Although the prisoner stood up straight and listened to the verdict with a firm countenance, he was unable to maintain the pose when the State police led him towards his cell. He collapsed and had to be lifted to his cot where he wept, moaned and muttered in German incoherently. His wife left the courtroom unassisted. Outside a mob cheered the jury wildly.