The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-03-04
Lone EAGLE PLEADS
HK|DNAPERS TO
COMMUNICATE soon
Hundred Clues and Hall. Clues
Wilt Under Police Maqni-
tying Glass
PROBE COMES TO MIDWEST
Officials Think Abductors Will
Concentrate on Their
Safety First
PROBE COMES TO MIDWEST

odleIy flrsr
Hopewell, N. j., March 4.-(P)-The
Lindberghs offered Friday to nego-
tiate directly with the kidnapers Of
their baby.
In statement issued to the Press
Colonel Lindbergh and his wife an
nounced they wanted to make person.
al contact with the kidnapers and said
the child's return was their only in
tereSt.
The kidnapers were assured no
harm would come to any representa-
tive they might send to open nego-
tiationS and that any promises the
Lindberghs might make would be
faithfully observed.
A few minutes after this appeal
was made public Governor Moore an
nounced he had sent kilograms to
President Hoover and to the mayors
of the larger cities as far west as
Chicago inviting their representatives
to a conference Saturday to arrange
for coordination of all the efforts be-
ing made to run down the kidnapers.
Police at the Lindbergh estate had
little to report Friday, but 1t was
learned they had made long exam
ination of Betty Cow, the baby's
nurse.
Payment Report Denied
Reports that Colonel Lindbergh had
already deposited $4,000 in small
bills in Newark, or Englewood IN
readiness to pay ransom for the baby's
return were officially denied.
It was pointed out that the Lind
tergh's appeal to the kidnaperS FRI
day clearly showed no negotiations
were vet under way and no definite
demand for specific ransom had 30
far been made.
A hundred clues and half-clues IN
the case paraded Friday beneath the
careful magnifying glass OF the po-
lice-and one by one wilted under It's
burning focus. :.
Letters, threats, phone calls and
telegrams, all pretending to be high
" important-some pretending IN
deed to be from the kidnapers them
selyes-were subjected to thorough
scrutiny: yet the essence Of the
situation early Friday. as epitomized
by the authorities, was:
1--WE do not know who kid
naped Charles Augustus Lind
bersh. Jr., from his crib Tues
day night.
1--WE have no knowledge Of his
present Whereabouts.
I'VE do not know even II he be
alive or dead.
"And there has been no offer
Of the baby's return made to Col.
or Mrs. Lindbergh."
Those were the essential facts. BE-
hind the negative announcements
however, were elaborate maneuver-
inps by the multitudinous forces OF
law seeking solution Of the most
astonishing abduction America ever
has known.
The investigatorial arms extended
even into the midwest-to Detroit,
to Chicago and to another midwest
ern point, the name of which was not
revealed but which Newark police
(who were running down this par
ticular clue) looked upon as Of ma
ior Importance.
There were unexplained phone
conversations between the investi-
gators here and police officials in
numerous cities. Some, it was learn
ed, concerned specific police charac-
ters. Others involved clues that
might lead directly to the missing
child himself.
Most significant Of the stalemate
in which the searchers for the 90
month-old child found themselves
was the nationwide appeal broad
cast Thursday night by direct auth
orization Of the transatlantic flier
himself. It said:
"Colonel and Mrs. Lindberyh
not only wish but hope that who
ever is in possession of the child
will make every effort to com.
municate with them"
This, by inference, testified that
although AZ hours had passed since
the little Lindbergh was lifted from
his crib at the lonesome estate Of
his parents in the Sourland Hill
country. the abductors had not COM
municated with the distraught pa
rents. It was apparent to Officers
the kidnapers were concentrating at
present on making safe their hide
away before entering into negotia-
tions for ransom.
There have been numerous notes
that pretended to be from the kid
napers. Only one, however, is re-
rarded as genuine. That is the note
found on the sill Of the nursery VIM
dow through which the child was
taken. The contents have been care
fully guarded. II is not even GER
tain the note made . demand for ram
som. although the inference it asked
for ransom has been given by per-
sons close in the Colonel's conf
dence.
Whatever the note may have said.
II apparently failed to outline what
steps would be necessary to open
negotiations for the childS return
and for payment Of the ransom-
generally understood to be $4,000.
a report Thursday night that Z
continued on page threel