The Washington times., 1932-05-19

1 ~ ~ T ~ - a. N6'I N4NJ 40
GNSO Residents Of Norfolk
today simply refused to accept as
the whole truth the amazing con
fesSion of John Hughes Curtis
that his negotiations" to recover
the kidnapped Lindbergh baby
we're the product Of a reeling
imagination.
All along Curtis two aSsoci-
ates here, the Very Rev. Harold
DobSon-Peacock, rector Of Christ
Episcopal Church and Rear
Admiral Guy H. Burrage, re-
tired, have felt there was more
to the shipbuilder'S tale than he
told. Today the entire populace
was swept with an inescapably
obvious wave of this belief.
Some believe the erStwhile Nor
folk social dictator has hidden
something SiniSter-they don't
suggest what-behind his state
ment that the whole wretched
affair was a fabrication.
Norfolk Senses Crisis
Others hold Curtis is acting as
directed at the point of a gun
by gangmen with whom they
believe he was dealing. Still
others think the confession, police
inquiry, and subsequent stir con-
stitute a blind to throw the Lind
bergh kidnap-murderers off their
guard in order to further the
search for the criminals.
Today, more than 48 hours
after news of the Curtis confes-
sion was released, Norfolk was
still in a seething uproar OF ex-
element and expectancy. There
was undeniably q feeling abroad
that something else was bound
to happen"
Prosecution Unlikely
John M. Arnold, commonwealth
attorney, initiated an investiga-
ton to determine whether Curtis
will be prosecuted here and ex-
amined Burrage and Capt. Frank
H. Lackmann, skipper OF the
Yacht Maroon, on which Curtis
and his associates made their
mysterious cruises in search OF
the phantom kidnaperS.
He had planned action on one
of three countS-attempted ex'
tortion, false pretences or dissent,
nation of false information-but
today said he had found nothing
here to justify such a course
against the shipbuilder. He will
continue hi. investigation and
may question the Rev. Dobson'
Peacock today, but + any action
at all comes, it will be held up
pending the outcome Of work OF
the New Jersey police in the case.
The clergyman said he had no
objection to submitting to ques-
tions, but has no intention OF
travelling up to Trenton for that
purpose. Dobson-Peacock received
several communications from Col.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf, of the
New Jersey police, requesting his
presence in Trenton, but did not
reply to any of them until today.
Today he sent the New Jersey
official the following telegram:
Replying to your teEegrams
of yesterday and today request
ing my presence in HOpewell,
stand ready at such time as
you may select to meet at Nor
folk you or Governor MOOre's
accredited representative and
will fully and freely give all in
formation in my possession per-
tanning to the subject"
Asked Conditional Cash
The Christ (EpiscopaD Church
rector was plainly chagrined at
Curtis latest expression, which
denounced him as a publicity
seeker, violater of condolences,
and manufacturer Of news. He
was openly concerned over the
effect of the charges, however,
particularly with respect to their
inevitable publication in England.
He is an Englishman and has
many friends abroad.
Admiral Burrage has played a
silent role since Curtis confeS-
sion. He spent more than two
hours in conference with Com
monwealth Attorney Arnold.
The Rev. .DobSon p e a cock
cleared up a controversial point
as to whether he ever asked Colo
mel Lindbergh for any money
during the negotiations. He ex-
planned that he "relayed" to