OPEN LETTER

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 365, 5 March 1932, Page 1

OPEN LETTER

LINDBERGH’S APPEAL TO KIDNAPPERS. Will Accede to Any Demands PARENTS MAKE PLEA FOR RETURN OF SON. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received March 5, 9.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 4 A message from Trenton (New Jersey) states that Colonel and Mrs Lind-‘ bei*gh to-day issued an appeal direct to the kidnappers, through the office of Governor Moore, of New Jersey, assuring the criminals - that their entire confidence might be placed “in any promise we may make.” The appeal was given to the Press in the hope that it would open negotiations for the return of the baby. It read:—

“ Mrs and myself desire to make personal contact with the kidnappers. Our only interest is his immediate, safe return. We feel that the kidnappers will realise that this is strong enough to justify them in having complete confidence and trust in any promise we in connection with his return and we urge those who have *he child to send any representatives they desire to meet representatives of ours, who will be suitable to them, at any time and any place they designate. If this is accepted we will keep whatever arrangements are made by their representatives and ours strictly confidential and we further pledge ourselves that we will not try to injure in any way those connected with the return of our child.”

It was revealed at the Lindbergh home last night that over seven hundred letters had been received and many notes of condolence, concerning the kidnapping of Colonel Lindbergh s baby son last Monday. Many of the letters wcj* obviously the work of cranks advaneyjg fantastic theories. Several were menacing, one by insinuation threatening the life of Mrs Lindbergh, and a few were iranio* ally humorous. Ransom Note Published. All were carefully inspected, but none resembles the writing on the original ransom note, which was published today. It directs that 50,000 dollars be procured in bills of less than 20-dollar denominations, the disposition of which would be revealed later. The note adds: “.Good care will be taken of the child.” A clue contained in a letter posted at Boston saying that the baby was in a particular town in New Jersey was Exploded when the Boston pqlice arrested the sender, an aged landlady, who admitted that the information was conveyed to her from a clairvoyant operating a local spiritualist circle. Letter from Kidnappers.

A message from Hopewell, New Jersey, states Jiat a promising clue to the kidnappers of the Lindbergh baby developed early this morning, when a third ransom letter, in handwriting similar to that of the first, was received by Colonel Lindbergh. The contents are being kept secret. A second letter received is believed to be the w'ork of a crank.