The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1932-03-03
Kidnappers
Steal Baby of
Lindbergh's
Taken From Nursery at Home
of Parents in New Jersey
Tuesday Night
DEMAND BIG RANSOM
Boy 20 Months Old-World
Wide Interest-Parents
Showing Courage
DEMAND BIC RANSOM

Hopewell, N. J., March 2-Charles
Augustus Lindbergh, Jr, blue-eyed
and fair haired 20 months old child
of Colonel and Mrs. Lindbergh, is
held by kidnappers today for $780,.
600 ransom.
Seized in his crib last night as he
lay slumbering and i'll of a cold, the
baby was taken away by kidnapers
one of whom is believed to be q
woman. -
With bold daring, the actual kid
naper crept up a short sectional
ladder into the second floor nursery
some time between 7:30 and 10 p
NJ. last night, took the child down
the ladder and left behind the ran
som demand.
This note, demanding the $780,
600 for the child's freedom, was re-
ported to have said in substance:
1--WE will be back tomorrow
"wednesday to talk business.
Don't talk to the police or the pa
pers."
Colonel Lindberg, grim and reti-
cent, aided in searching for the
kidnapers and was represented as
ready personally to enter direct
negotiations for the child's re-
turn. --,r
Meantime, the kidnapping created
a worldwide sensation.
Literally thousands of police and
state troopers were put on alarm
guard, watching highways and state
and national boundary lines. Over
the teletype wires of the eastern
states and up along the Canadian
border flashed word that one of
the nations most famous babies
had been stolen.
The kidnapers apparently had not
realized the furore and resentment
their deed would cause.
After Governor A. Harry Moore
had announced reward OF $1O,-
600 for the capture of the Lindbergh
baby kidnapers and the state sem
ate had resolved to increase the
amount to $4,000, the reward was
Cancelled out of consideration for
Colonel Lindbergh.
Moore telephoned the distraught
father and told him Of the proposed
state action. Lindbergh expressed
the fear the reward might endanger
his child, whereupon the reward
plans were cancelled.
Aviators from many parts OF the
country offered their services, and
an air comrade was sent aloft this
morning to see If from the skies he
could see anything along the road
ways of value to the search.
Colonel Lindbergh, worn by the
anxiety of his predicament, worked
side by side with the state police.
During the night he helped to trace
down tracks on his property In
the Businesses of the Sourland
mountains. During the forenoon,
he went on a mysterious errand
with lieutenant John Keaton OF
the New Jersey state police. They
sped away in a fast car and came
back a couple hours later on foot
through the woods. Rumor had 1t
that they had visited a district
where a group of suspected boot
leggers were believed to be.
Meantime, Mrs. Lindbergh, deep
ly stirred, bore up with the courage
of a Spartan mother.
The first word Frustrated her, but
1t was not long before she was ex-
hibiting the same courage as her
husband, and she helped authori-
ties. Once she joined searchers for
a short period.
Her burden was all the greater
for she had been treating the child
several days because Of cold. And
the kidnappers without even trying
to catch up some quilts, dragged
the boy of, clad only in its sleep
err" Moreover, Mrs. Lindbergh Is
again an expectant mther.