Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-20
ThA Kidnaping Mystery.

Nearly three weeks ago the infant son
6f Col. and Mrs. Charles Lindbergh was
etclen from their home in New Jersey.
No trace Of the child has been found.
Negotiations with the kidnapers for the
return of the little one, with payment Of
ransom, have been futile, if, indeed, they
have been actually conducted. Many
"clues" have been followed without re-
suit. Every avenue of approach to the
solution Of the myS~ery has apparently
been closed. Yet hope remains that
eventually the child will be restored.
e Innumerable theories have been ad-
vanced to account for the strange fea-
lures of this dastardfy crime. Public
interest in the case is Reen and literally
thousands of people are seeking to effect
the rescue of the child. Numerous per-
sons have been detained for examination
on the vague possibility of their COM
plicity. Fair-haired children of about
the same age as the SON of Lindbergh
have been mistaken for him, but the
hope of Identification has been quickly
ctenched. -, -. -.4-- r-
The thought has been advanced that
the great volume Of publicity regarding
the case has initiated against the recov-
cry of the child, through successful
negotiations for its restoration to its
parents. This is probably not the case.
Unless the kdnapers are of the lowest
grade Of intelligence, they must have
known that the theft Of this baby would
arouse the country to a degree perhaps
never before known in the case of an
individual crime. 1t is altogether likely
that they anticipated just such an out
cry as that which was raised immedi-
ately upon the announcement that the
little boy had been taken from his
parents home. In any case, the press
has but obeyed its duty In the premises,
to give the fullest possible account of
happening which has not heretofore had
q parallel In the records Of crime in
America
Nor has the remarkable volume of
printed matter concerning this case
hampered in any definite manner the
search for the child. II the crime was
committed for the sake Of ransor1Tand
there Is no other plausible hypothesis
its concealment probably was previously
planned and effectively secured. 1t
may be, indeed it is hoped that such is
the case, that the kidnapers went upon
the premise Of waiting for time. until
the hue and cry of public indignation
subsidized, before engaging in dealing
with the parents. This presupposes the
scrupulous care Of the child,
If this was an amsteur lob" hastily
conceived and executed, the kidnapers
may have become panic stricken and
taken. the child's life to destroy any
trace Of their identity. But there is no
evidence that 1t was such case. The
house was approached at time and in
q manner to indicate a previous study
of the premises and the child's resting
place was located without error. The
getaway was accomplished with
minimum Of evidence. It was presurn-
ably a professional undertaking,
shrewdly conceived and carried out.
The only logical deduction is that 1t
was undertaken for ransom, not for
revenge. Kidnapping for ransom In
wolves some method of communication,
and requires the careful tending of the
hostage.
Thus although nearly three weeks
have elapsed since the child disappeared
there Is still ground for hope of its safe
return. During this period the parents
have suffered agonies of distress and
anxiety. They have had the instant
and the deepest sympathy Of the Amer
ican people. There may be some COM
fort for their narrowed feelings In this
knowledge, although no words and no
acts Of consolation can possibly heal
their wounds.