Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-04
NOT GUILTY PLEA
MADE BY CURTIS
Trial Date for Hindering
Lindbergh Investigation
Set for June 27.

PENNINGTON, N j., June 4 LP.-
John Hughes Curtis entered a plea Of
not guilty today to an indictment
charging him with hindering capture
of the kidnap-murderers of the Lind.
bergh baby.
Trial was set for June q as soon q
the plea was entered.
Curtis, who pleaded not guilty de-
spite his own confession to police, en-
tered court dressed in dark blue suit
He seemed entirely unconcerned and
there was a faint smile on his face as
he looked directly at the Judge. He
waived reading of the indictment and
was remanded to Jail in lieu of bail
Remanded to Jail.
AS soon as the brief proceedings were
over Curtis was told that he was re-
manded to Jail to await trial. He nod
ded his head
Thank you very much" he said
speaking directly to the judge
Although he did not otherwise show
any emotion. Curtis rudy complexion
paled slightly as he stood before the
bar of Justice, but he seemed entirely
composed as he walked out of the court
room. past the judges bench, on hi,
way back to Jail.
Court Room Orderly.
Only about 100 persons we're in the
court room during the brief proceed.
1ngs and all was orderly, the Judge hav-
ing warned in advance that no demon
stration of any kind would be tolerated
The room was quickly cleared after
Curtis left, and the case seemed tt
have quickly settled back into quiet un.
likely to be broken again until the tria
opens on June 81.
curtis counsel had previously askeS
Judge A. o. Roberts to conduct tn,
arralgnment in the cell to avoid pub
liclty. but the judge refused.
May Repudiate Confession.
The decision to plead not guilty in
dlcated Curtis might repudiate the con.
iesslon that he hoaxed Col Charles A
Llndbergh on wild goose chases II
search of the kidnapped baby.
Following Is the text of the indict
ment:
The Court of Oyer and Terminer il
and for County of Hunterdon.
April term, A. D. 1882.
''Hunterdon County, to wit:
THE jurors of the State of New
Jersey in and for the body of tn,
county of Hunterdon, upon their oatt
present that on the first day OF March
1882, the township of East Amwell, ir
the county of Hunterdon and the State
of New Jersey. one Charles A. Lind
bergh, jr.. child within the age of IA
years. was kidnapped in the township
and county last aforesaid: that be-
tween the ninth day of March. 1882
and May II, 1882. both dates inclusive
to wit, on the 18th, 14th, 18th, 18th
and 18th days of MAY. AID. 1892
one John Hughes Curtis with force ano
arms in the said township of East
Amwell. aforesaid, in the County Of
Hunterdon, aforesaid, and within the
jurisdiction of this court, being within
the State Of New Jersey, for the pur-
pose of preventing and hindering the
apprehension of the person or persons
who committed the said Kidnapping, did
knowingly and willfully give false and
untrue reports of such person or per-
sons to Charles A. Lindbergh, H. Nor
man Schwarzkopf, John j. Lamb Harry
A. Walsh and Arthur Keaten, contrary
to the form of the statute in such case
made and provided, and against the
peace of this State the Government and
dignity of the same.
"(Signed) Anthony M. Hauck, jr.,
Prosecutor of the pleas.
&C. Chester Skillman,
Foreman of the grand jury"