Evening star., 1932-05-19
Curtis Blames Peacock
Shipbrader Says Minister Encouraged His Activities
in Lindbergh Case Because He
Crayed Publicity.

u TATE police last night released
the following:
Statement of John Hughes
~ Curtis, aged 43 years old, 702
Redgate avenue, Norfolk, Va.
Statement made to Inspector Harry
w. Walsh, Jersey City police depart
ment, concerning the murder OF Charles
A. Lindbergh. jr., in Hopewell, n j.:
between 8 and 10 pm. on the night OF
March l, 1882:
Between 1890 and IL am. on the
morning Of March 10 I went to my
Office, and in the presence Of Mr.
Brownley I called Dean Peacock and
told him 1 had very important mat
ter that would like to talk to him per-
sonally about, and invited him over to
the office, explaining that l would send
for him. I sent Mr.. Brownley with an
automobile, and he brought him over
to my Office.
Immediately upon his arrival he
cleared the Office out, and talked TO
him personally, and 1 told him this
fantastic tale that I had concocted
about meeting contact man VINO
claimed he knew the kionaperS of the
Lindbergh baby. After discussing the
matter for some time, he decided the
best thing to do would be to get In
touch with them over the telephone.
Sought Private Line.
"Mr. Brownley again took us in his
automobile to the telephone oftlce. We
interviewed the manager and asked II
1t we're possible to get private wire
through without leak to Hopewen. We
asked for Col Lindbergh, Mrs. Morrow
or her secretary. Were told that we
could not see Mrs. Morrow, as she was
indisposed, and the secretary was not
there, and the party talking to me. VINO
told me his name was Rosner, SAID ne
was private secretary to Col. Lindbergh
and would accept the message. Dean
Peacock explained who he was, talked
first. told that he had been dean OF the
Cathedral in Mexico City; that ne
knew Mrs. Morrow and her family In
Mexico City; that Mrs. Morrow had
opened I'D a bazaar for him; that he
had met Col Lindbergh at reception
there. Told him what We wanted, ana
Rosner replied that he could not put
such a notice in the paper; that what
we should do would be to have a PIC
ture taken of the face, chest, back OF
the child and send the undeveloped
film to him.
Il then talked to Mr.. Rosner, and
told him practically the same thing as
MI, DtdH ECdCONh 6dNO AAAAAAy ~AA~ ~N~O
conversation was practically the same
thing with me. After that conversa-
ton I told the dean that it looked as
if we could not get in touch with him.
and the only thing l saw was 10 crop
it then and there The matter lay in
allowance from Thursday till the fol-
lowing Tuesday night, when Dean Pea
cock called me to the telephone and
told me that he had written a letter TO
Mrs. Morrow and to come around and
see him at the parsonage, which was
about $50 at night, which dlo.
Considered Asking Burrage's Aid.
"He read the letter to me, which was,
in effect, that he had tried to get tnem
over the telephone, could not, and con-
seouently was writing them; explained
who he was. At that time called
| the deans attention TO the fact that
! Admiral Burrage knew the Lindberghs,
| and why not get in touch With him?
He stated he would not do this unless
we do not hear from this letter.
He did not want me to take II up
with Burrage, because, he said, YOU
! know what sort Of an old fogy ne Is
We received no reply to the letter, ano
| I was inclined to let the entire malUeI
drop until March l9, when, at the Sug
gestion of Dean Peacock, we went 10
| the house of Admiral Burrage and told
| him about the matter, and it was de-
cided the best thing to do would be TO
get in touch with the Lindbergh home
| bv telephone, and picked UP Admiral
| Burrage by telephone and went to my
Office. and from this point and on the
suggestion of Dean Peacock Admiral
Burrage called the Lindbergh home.
told them who he was, and after brief
conversation both the dean and l told
| the one who answered the telephone
who we were; also what our mission
| was.
The party on the other end Of the
| line took Dean PeacockS telephone
number and Admiral Burrage's number,
| and promised to communicate with
them at IL o'clock the next morning.
Opposed Further Dealings.
From that time 1 carried on my
operations and transactions in connec-
ton with the Lindbergh case much
against my will, having expressed a
desire to drop 1t on March is entirely,
and because of my knowledge that the
whole thing was untrue and carried on
because I had been continuously urged
! and encouraged by Dean Peacock;
who was enjoying the publicity that he
was getting out Of the newspaper
stories. This also applied to his entire
family. Night after night in his urgent
manner to keep himself in the public
press he called my home, inquiring as
| to whether or not there was anything
new and pressing me for information
which would be of news value. In the
hope of getting more publicity.
| ANY news that I gave Peacock in
| confidence he gave to the newspapers
| and to the neighbors, and on two or
| three occasions confidential informa-
tion that I had given him concerning
this case returned to me through my
! wife or daughters. Many Of the stories
] concerning our actions in this case that
appeared in the newspapers. were man.
ufactured by Peacock, were untrue, and
he had q knowledge Of their untruth-