Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-28
Curtis BELIEVED
INDICTED BY JURY
True Bill Given Court, but
Judge Declines to Disclose
Its Nature.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BENNINGTON, N. j., May 28.-An
indictment, presumed to be against
John Hughes Curtis, Norfolk hoaxer in
the Lindbergh case, was handed today
to Justice Thomas Trenchard, who
ordered it delivered to Quarter Sessions
Court for further proceedings.
| ]. Chester Skillman, foreman of the
grand jury which considered the Curtis
case earlier this week. handed three
indictments to Justice Trenchard, who
announced that one of them dealt with
Julia Winterstein on a charge of
murder. The other two, he said, would
be sent to quarter sessions.
The grand jury only considered three
cases at the sitting at which evidence
was presented in the Curtis case, and
SO 1t seemed certain that one of the
two indictments not made public today
was against the confessed hoaxer.
Silent on Two Others.
II have nothing to say about the
other two indictments" Justice Trench
ard announced from the Supreme Court
bench after making the one public and
saying what action he was taking on
the others.
The grand jury heard the evidence
on the Curtis case Thursday and after
1t had heard several witnesses and seen
Curtis confession reports were current
that an indictment had been voted
unanimously on the first ballot. This
was not officially confirmed, nor was 1t
denied.
Prosecutor Anthony Hauck would not
say definitely today that the indictment
had been returned against Curtis. but
he did say: THE Curtis case will be
tried not later than the week of
June 27."
As an indictment is q necessary pre-
liminary to trial this statement was
! taken as positive confederation of the
! general belief that one of today's in
! dlctMentS was against Curtis.
Will Plead June 4.
Hauck added that Curtis would not
be arraigned for pleading on Tuesday,
as previously indicated, but would
probably plead on Saturday, June 4.
AS his plea would be to an indictment
this statement too was taken as virtual
acknowledgement that Curtis has been
indicted.
The prosecutor said he received a
telegram this morning from w. C. Pen
der, Norfolk attorney, who will defend
Curtis, saying he could not be ready
to try the case by June 10, the day the
prosecutor had hoped to begin trial.
Curtis began his fake negotiations
soon after the Lindbergh baby was
stolen from his crib on March l. He
was at first unable to interest Col.
Charles A. Lindbergh, but succeeded in
doing so after persuading the Very Rev.
H. DobSon Peacock and Rear Admiral
Guy H. Burrage. retired. friends Of the
Lindbergh family, to intercede in his
behalf. Curtis and his two former as
sociates live in Norfolk, Va.
On the night of May IL, when the
body of the murdered baby was found,
Col. Lindbergh was at sea following up
one of Curtis imaginary clues, and Cur
tbs even then continued to furnish police
with what he later confessed was false
information.
| Confessed May II.
He confessed on May II. and was
! next day placed in Jail to await the &C
| ton of the grand jury, which subse-
quently was asked by the prosecutor to
indict him.
There were reports from well in
formed sources that Curtis. accused Of
obstructing justice, would avoid an
open trial. These reports said he would
plead non vult contendere and by de-
clining to fight the charges, throw him
self on the mercy of the court.
Prosecutor Hauck said such a plea
would be welcome from an economic
viewpoint, since it would save the
county money. He added that trial
would have advantages in discouraging
other people from acting as Curtis has
confessed he acted.
The prosecutor said he had not been
approached, however, with a proposal
for a plea Of non vult.
The hunt for the killers of the baby
went on, but police reports gave no in
dication of what progress is being made.