Evening star., 1933-02-05
'DRAST|CLAWSLA|D
|IIOL|NDBERGH CASE
More Than Twenty States
/ Join in Drive to Curb
! Kidnapings.
" the Associated Press.

Dy the Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY, February 4.-Society
which was aroused to feverish anxiety
by the kidnapping and Staying Of Charles
A. Lindbergh, jr., slowly but surely Is
increasing penalties against the evil
fhus so drastically revealed.
La more than score OF State Leg1s-
Mtp1es, bills intended to increase the
punishment and aid in the conviction
Of kidnapers either have been passed,
have been introduced or are being dis
cussed The electric chair and the
moose have an important part IN the
legislative discussions.
During the months since the night OF
March l, 1882, when the infant son OF
the noted American flyer was stolen
from his nursery bed in rural New Jer-
sey, stern measures have been taken
Final discovery Of the baby's body in
q woods near his home added to deter
mination to discourage in every way, a
repetition Of the tragedy.
A survey shows that a number OF
States, including Missouri, Mississippi,
Texas. Nebraska, Virginia and Illinois
have declared certain kidnapings cap
Hal offense.
Life imprisonment. as penalty for
convicted kidnapers, is not uncommon.
Such sentence is possible in Indiana,
Michigan, New Jersey. Rhode Island
and Ohio.
Old Laws Changed.
Numerous States have amended o,a.
laws to make prosecution easier.
Amendments in some cases make the
trial of abductors possible in any county
through or into which the victim is
taken
Legislation to strengthen existing laws
has been passed recently. is being con-
s1dered. or is in prospect in Massachu-
sets, Rhode Island. New Jersey, Wyom-
ing, Texas, Ohio, Colorado, New Mex
teo. Minnesota. Michigan, West Vir-
&faia. California, Nebraska, Kansas,
Okla homa, Maryland, North Carolina,
Georgia, South Crolina, Mississippi,
louisiana. Virginia and Tennessee.
The inadequacy Of existing laws to
cope with the situation was demon
strated as prosecutors, interested by the
Lindbergh case, thumbed old statutes.
In Minnesota it was found that the
crime of kidnapping was without such
legal designation The State has no kid
naping laws.
Legislative leaders Of Minnesota ex-
pect measures designed to change the
situation to be introduced in current
session.
Last week the Wyoming State Senate
passed bill providing capital punish
ment for kidnapers. The House also
has Endorsed the measure. Present
maximum punishment is l8 years i'm
prisonment.
In Missouri the penalty may vary
from five years imprisonment to hang
ing.
Texas, in 1881. adopted measure
providing punishment OF from five
years behind the bars to death in the
electric chair.
An Illinois statute. enacted in 1901,
makes possible either a life sentence or
the death pronouncement, and offers
minimum of five years in prison, for
kidnapping for ransom.
Death Penalty Voted.
The Mississippi Legislature last
Spring raised the extreme penalty from
maximum Of 10 years to death at the
jury's discretion.
Kidnapping. with an attempt to extort,
has been punishable by death in Vir-
ginia for several years.
Nebraska inf1ictS death upon convic-
tion Of kidnapping for the purpose of
extortion and injuring or threatening
to lnJure the "snatched" person under
such circumstances.
Actuated by the Lindbergh affair, the
1882 New Jersey Legislature authorized
payment of a reward not exceeding
s25,0o0 for information leading to the
apprehension Of persons stealing any
child under 16 years OF age.
The Ohio Legislature, stirred by the
Iindbergh case, and the companion
"snatching" of Jimmie de Jute. at
Niles, is considering adoption Of a pro-
posed law providing stricter punish
ment. The measure, approved by the
State Bar Association calls for the elec-
trio chair, unless mercy is recon-
mended, if a kidnapped person dies as
a result OF the act, from neglect, or Is
frightened to death. Present punish
ment is imprisonment from one year
to life.
A North Carolina House committee is
considering measure to increase pun
ishment of kidnapers now subject to
sentence not exceeding 20 years.
Last Summer the West Virginia Leg
1slature failed to enact additional laws
because of the limitations of a special
session. Now a suggested measure
would punish offenders by death or
life imprisonment.
A bill before the Maryland Legisla-
ture seeks to change the present maxi
4luIIl oCIIICliIc VI Il ycdlS W ou yedlS
Two measures to increase maximum
punishment to 20 and 80 years respec-
lively. instead of T. as at present, are
being considered In Georgia.
Measure is Rejected.
South Carolina legislators last year
declined to pass measure making kid
naping capital crime. Present laws
provide for 10 years imprisonment This
year the Senate has sent the House
bill to declare the act a felony
IN Louisiana old laws have been
strengthened to include all ages In the
legal definition Of kidnapping A 20-year
penalty is unchanged.
AS direct result of the Lindbergh
case, Rhode Island last year increased
the punishment for 'snatchers" to a
life sentence maximum.
The Massachusetts, Legislature is con-
sidering a measure to increase possible
punishment from Is years to life i'm
prisonnent.