The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-31
STATE TOPUT
HAUPTMANN AT
MURDER SCENE
New Witnesses Who Saw
Suspect at HOpeWeII
Found, Is Hint.
BIZ United Press

BIZ UHtted Press
PENNINGTON, N. j., Dec. 81
Within the last month the state Of
New Jersey has discovered witnesses
who will place Bruno Hauptmann
definitely at the scene of the Lind
bergh kidnapping, Prosecutor An
thony Hauck Jr. declared today.
The final link in the states case
against the Bronx carpenter was
disclosed 48 hours before the stolid
prisoner goes on trial charged with
the murder of Col Charles A. Lind
berghs infant son. Mr.. Eauck said
his surprise witnesses made the
states case alright.
Previously, the prosecution had
relied solely upon the testimony of
Ben Lupica, a Princeton student
who insists he saw Hauptmann near
the Lindebrgh home with the "kid-
nap ladder" in his car, to prove
Hauptmann was in New Jersey on
March l, 1882, when the crime was
committed.
Names Are withheld
Mr.. Hauck refused to divulge the
names of his witnesses.
In theory, the state does not have
to show that Hauptmann actually
abducted the child from his crib.
If it can prove that he played
even a minor part in the crime, his
guilt is established.
Against Hauptman'S alibi wit
neses, Bronx friends who will say
they believe he was in New York
on the night of the kidnapping. the
state now promises to bring at least
six men who will declare they saw a
man resembling the prisoner in or
near Hopewell late in February and
on the first day of March.
Defense Not Alarmed
One witness, it was intimated,
may be a bus driver who says he
carried Hauptmann from Princeton
Junction to HopeWell on several &C
casions during February before the
kidnapping.
The defense, headed by Edward j.
Kelley, a Brooklyn criminal lawyer
who boasts a long record of acquit-
tails, scoffed today at the prosecu-
tons declaration. Lloyd Fisher,
Pennington associate counsel, said
upon his return from weekend
conference in New York that The
defense would put all surprise wit
reses in the same vategory as Mil
lard White, the hilly-billy lumUer-
man who has identified Haupt-
mann as a mysterious visitor to
Hopswel on the eve Of the kidnap-
ing, who was discredited by relatives
who described him as "the biggest
liar in the county"
Agent to Testify
eff there had been witnesses who
saw Hauptmann in HopeWel at the
time of the crime he said, they
would have been discovered long
before this
The division of investigation of
the Department of Justice, a re-
organized service since the days Of
the bland swindler, CASTOR B.
Means, who cashed in on the Lind
bergh case for $1O4, 900, will play an
important part in the prosecutions
case.
Chief among the Federal Gov
ernment'S detectives, men who for
two wears devoted their entire time
to running down clews developed,
one by one through the passage OF
the ransom money, will be Thomas
SiSk of the New York bureau.
Helped Trap Suspect
It was Mr.. Sisk who, in company
with Lieutenant Jimmy Finn of the
New York police force, built the ma
tion-wide webb that finally trapped
Hauptmann. Mr.. Sisk had charge
of the Federal force in the New
York district which was constantly
engaged in tracing the ransom bills
as the appeared, at the rate OF $40
week. in the Bronx and Manhat-
tan shops and cafes.
The defense two weeks ago pro-
fessed to be disturbed at reports
that Sisk had been transferred from
the New York district and that he
would not be available for crosS-ex-
animation.
The reports we're met by an in
slant disclaimer by Francis Fay,
head of the New York Federal Bu-
reau, who said Mr.. Sisk would not
only be available but that he would
l,a an in1r1Ortant Witness for the