The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-11
Indy, SWINDLED BY
KIDNAP GANG, SEEKS
TO RENEW CONTACT
JafSie'
University Lecturer Tells
How Coded Ads Led
to KidnaperS.
nited Press

81 Hited Press
NEW YORK, April 1l.-Dr.
IN John F. Condor, university
lecturer. revealed as the mysteri-
Gus "Jafsie" into whose coded no.
tees in New York newspapers have
been read the story Of the hunt and
payment of ransom for the kid
naped Lindbergh baby discreetly
was silent today regarding his
connection with the search.
The 70-year- old Fordham uni
versity instructor, however, did
clear up several vague reports cir
culated in connection with his
notes, and indicated that he be-
lieved his notes led to contact with
the purported kidnapers and pay
ment of $4,000 to them
Anything I say now" he as
serted, may bring harm to the
baby or hinder the negotiations for
the return of the child"
DR.. Condor denied that he had
entered the case at the request of
Colonel Lindbergh. He also re-
futed the report that his name had
been brought into the case because
he had assisted in teaching va
rious branches of sports to the
prisoners at Sing Sing.
This is a complete fabrication,
he said. Il can give you none of
the details about my connection
with the case, or any specific de-
tails regarding what we have done
without ieopardizing the negotia-
tions further.
CONDON, under the signature
~ "Jafsie" inserted thirteen adj
vertisements since the Lindbergh
baby was kidnapped March /. The
first was March 8. Then on March
%. the following notice appeared:
Thanks. That little package you
sent Immediately was delivered
and accepted as the real article
See my position. Over fifty years
in business, and can I pay with
out seeing goods? Common sense
makes me trust you. Please under
stand my position"
This same notice was repeated
for three days. Then on March 81
this one appeared:
Money is ready. Furnish code
for us to use in paper"
This short message was printed
for four successive days, followed
by this terse one:
L accept. Money is ready"
This ran on April 8. and 5.
during the period in which Colonel
Lindbergh made several airplane
trips near Marthas Vineyard. It
was followed on the 6th-last
.Wednesday-by this message:
What is wrong? Have you
crossed me? Please better direc-
tons"
This appeared for several days.
and was repeated in a metropoli-
tan paper today.
EONDON had offered $1,000 re-
~ ward for the return of the
baby in the course of an interview
March 8 with the Bronx Home
News, a community newspaper.
"A few days later" according
to one version printed by the New
York Daily News, he received
letter which read
Dear Condor. We don't want
your one thousand. We know we
can trust you"
A letter to Colonel Lindberoh
was inclosed, the paper said. Con
don read it to Lindbergh. who was
intrigued by German and Scandi-
navian phrases, and the odd sig
nature which he identified as SINH
lar to that in the original letter
left in his baby's crib was the
kidnaper's.
PRELIMINARY negotiations led
4 to a mysterious message de-
liyered by taxi driver. Condor
entered the cab. then changed
cabs as directed. drove to Yonk-
ers cemetery, walked along the wall
until voice ordered him to cross
the street to a bench, which he
did, the paper said.
A moment later man vaulted
over the fence and sat beside him.
The stranger demanded $40, 1000.
according to that version, saying.
we want an eight-hour start and
we can wait just as long as Lind
bergh can"
Later there was a phone mes
sage which demanded more if the
money were not forthcoming by
April 8. That resulted in the ran
som payment-and failure to find
the child.
That episode came during the
flying trips Lindbergh took to
Martha's Vineyard and points
along the New England coast line.
the paper said.
CONDON declined to say any,
~ thing as to where the money
was paid: how the contacts were
made; who the men were. To all
inquiries which would serve TO
throw light on this amazing turn in
the strange mystery, he replied:
"All information should come
from police headquarters at Tren-
ton