The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-30
ADMITS Indy
SLEUTHS FACE
BLANK WALL
New Jersey Police Official
Denies Claim Arrest of
AbduCtorS Near.
0VERRULE CURTIS PLEA
Confessed Hoaxer Seeks
Freedom Because of
News Story.
By United Press

BY Ontted Press
BENNINGTON, N. j., June 3d.
One of the chief police investigators
into the kidnapping and murder of
Charles A. Lindbergh Jr., admitted
on the witness stand today that the
search for the criminals had led to
blank wall"
Captain Joseph j. Lamb Of the
New Jersey state police, testifying
against John Hughes Curtis, con-
feSsed Lindbergh hoaxer, was forced
to make the admission by Lloyd
Fisher, Curtis counsel.
THE information you have re-
ceived has led to a blank wall,
hasn't it?" Fisher demanded.
Eyes," Lamb replied hesitantly.
His admission was in contradic-
ton to the testimony of Frank j.
Wilson, noted investigator of the
department of internal revenue, who
said Wednesday that the operatives
were on the trail of a man who was
thought to be in communication
with the kidnaperS.
Plea Is Denied
What promised to be the StormieSt
session of the trial opened today
with the defense counsel demand
ing a directed verdict of acquittal
on the grounds that members of
prosecution counsel had given out a
newspaper interview saying: Curtis
is as good as convicted already"
Waving copy of the Hunterdon
County Democrat, weekly, Defense
Attorney G. Lloyd Fisher expressed
indignation. Judge Adam o. Rob-
bins took opposing counsel into his
chamber, where wrangling could be
herd through the closed door. When
they returned half hour later
Robbins overruled the motion.
Captain Lamb then resumed tes-
timony, which was interrupted when
court adjourned Wednesday. The
state police officials was reading one
of the lengthy statements Curtis
made to police.
Chin Cupped in Hands
The courtroom, crowded to capac-
ity, was noisy and FESTIVE. Colonel
Charles A Lindhergh sat at the
prosecution counsel table, his chin
cupped in his hands, listening to
Lambs testimony. Curtis eyes
wandered and he was not wholly at
tentive. He smiled occasionally.
Lamb read Curtis description of
several meetings with the kidnaperS,
of their showing him part of the
ransom paid by DR.. John F. Condor,
of his insuring his own safety by
telling the gang he had a complete
written record of the negotiations
in a safety deposit box.
Curtis told John" that Lindber2h
wanted more assurance that they
had the baby. John replied: ITO
hell with the colonel; we've got his
money and that's enough. If they
don't believe you, they can go to
hell"
Tries to Involve Maid
Curtis tried to involve Lind
bergh nurse maid. his statement, as
Lamb read it, showed. In repeating
to the police what he said was the
kidnapers' own story of their crime,
he said John" had been a party
with the nurse who was taking
care of the baby then"
Colonel Lindbergh made numer-
Gus notes as Lamb read on and on.
Judge Robbins leaned back in his
chair, propped his feet up on a rad
iator and looked out the window.
After completing the statement,
Lamb detailed how Curtis had
caused him to remove operatives
from other lines of the investiga-
ton. These operatives accompanied
Curtis on a trip around Newark in
search of the house where Curtis
claimed to have conferred with the
gang.
They took him to various rouges
galleries where Curtis tried to pick
out pictures of the kidnapers. He
found one picture that resembled
John" but it was the picture of an
inmate in a feeble minded asylum
at Morris plains.