The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-11
Underworld Co. BetWeenS'
Plan to Leave Soon for
Michigan City.
BABY STILL is MISSING
Crop of False Rumors
Plentiful; Efforts for
Contacts Fail.
BY BATES RANEY
United Press STAFF Correspondent


HOPEWELL, N. j.. March IL
The trail of the baby Lindbergh
kidnapers turned today toward De-
troit.
It developed that Colonel Lind
bergh's underworld go-betweens,
Salvatore Spitale and irving Bitz,
have leads" which will take them
soon to the Michigan city.
Spits.le and Bitz are among a
group of sixteen indicted on liquor
conspiracy charges in Brooklyn.
They are listed under fictitious
names, but the defense counsel con-
f1rmed today that the pair are
listed, and that they plan to go to
Detroit as soon as this matter fhe
liquor case) is disposed Of"
Spitale is listed in the Brooklyn
case as James Martini" and Bitz
as Morris GroSsman, in a case in
volving seizure of 100 cases of liquor
aboard the schooner Colonial on
Brooklyn beach last year. One
man was wounded in an exchange
of shots between the police and the
alleged rum runners.
Named as Listening Posts
Before the trial started today. At
torney Abraham Kesselman of de-
tense counsel verified that the big
underworld shots we're in the in
dicated group and added:
They have lead which will
take them to Detroit Just as soon as
the case against them here in fed
eral court has been finished. I can
not discuss the nature of this in
formation, but they plan to 90 to
Detroit as soon as this matter is
disposed Of"
Colonel Lindbergh last Saturday
night named Spitale and Bitz as his
listening posts" in the underworld
IN the hope that, with their con-
facts, they could act for return of
the baby, without undue publicity
or police interference.
Meantime, the Lindberghs and
the authorities continued efforts at
restoration of the baby, with moth
ing positive to show that there had
been any real contact between the
Ndnapers and the Lindberghs or
police.
Ladder CIew Exhausted"
The liason officer at the Lind
oergh home decided today to abol-
lsh the previous system of CUES
lions and answers" for press guild
ance, but agreed to give two press
announcements today on develop
ments.
The first statement under this
system revealed that at Miami John
Norman Brett, reported to have
been a friend of the Lindbereh
servants, had been arrested and
questioned. He offered an alib
which is being checked further and
denied knowing the servants.
The possibility of connecting The
ladder with construction work 90
ing on at Skillman's seems to be
exhausted" the statement said.
No connection of employees has
been in any way established and
unless positive information comes
in, this angle of the investigation is
exhausted.
The day brought forth its Gus
tomary harvest of fantastic or mis-
guided rumors.
Still Ready TO Pay Ransom
The Lindberghs still are ready
to pay the $4,000 ransom demand
ed, but their contacts have not sue
ceeded in pointing the way to re-
turn of the child.
Hundreds of notes have come DUR
porting to be from kidnapers. but
recurring stories of authentic
notes" and telephone calls from
the kidnapers" are without real
foundation in fact.
Henry Johnson, friend of Miss
Betty Cow, the Lindbergh nurse
maid, has knowledge of the Law
out Of the Lindbergh home, but DO
lice examination has not shaken his
alibi.
Lie oGdCC pOllCe announced That
Betty Cow was not a former cho-
rus girl by the same name, who
had been deported for illegal entry
into this country. Finger prints had
been checked, they said.
Johnson May Be DepOrted
johnson is under arrest at New
ark, because he entered this coun-
try Illegally" in 1927, the police an
Finger prints of both have been
sent to Europe for any criminal
record that may be on file there,
police said.
If we can not fix any RESPONSE
oility on Henry Johnson for partici-
patton in the crime, he will be
turned over to immigration authori-
ties for deportation
The warrant was issued March 6.
soon after johnson was detained for
questioning at Hartford, Conn.
Search of ships in foreign ports
was part of the routine police in
vestigation of the kidnapping. Re-
ports of similar investigations in
places ranging from Harlem to
Moscow were expected.