The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-16
RANSOM NOTES
HAUPTMANN'S.
SAYS EXPERT.
Confession Is Contained in
One Message, Jersey
Counsel Says.
NURSERY VISIT RELATED
Suspects Lawyer Hammers
Away at Testimony of
Witness.

BIZ InffCd Prose-
NEW YORK. Oct. 16.-Handwrit-
ing described as AN admission and
confession" that Bruno Richard
Hauptmann entered the Lindbergh
home and kidnapped the famous
fiiers son went into supreme court
evidence this afternoon. at resump-
ton OF the German carpenters eX-
tradition hearing.
The state of New Jersey, seeking
to extradite Hauptmann on charges
of numbering the baby, introduced
testimony of Albert S. Osborne,
handwriting expert, to prove Haupt-
mann wrote ransom notes to Colonel
Charles A. Lindbergh.
These notes said the writer had
been in the Lindbergh nursery.
Hauptmann'S counsel Immediately
attacked credibility Of Mr.. Osborne S
testimony
James NJ. Fawcett, counsel for
Hauptmann, forced the pOrtly
white-haired Osborne to make min
ute explanations and comparisons
to show why-In OsbOrne's opinion,
the ransom notes were the same as
Hauptmann's handwriting.
Mr.. Osborne, wearing an appa-
ratuS to aid his hearing. explained
the lines and the errors in the writ
ing which he said made him "rea-
Sonably certain
Tell of Nursing Visit
Special emphasis was placed on
the handwriting testimony because
the notes referred to the writer hav-
ing gone into the Lindbergh nurs-
cry.
New Jerseys greatest difficulty in
evidence against Hauptmann has
been in proving that he was at or
near the scene of the crime on
March /, 1882.
BY proving Hauptmann wrote
these notes Attorney General David
WilentZ seeks to establish a CON
fession" that the suspect was at the
scene.
Mr.. Fawcett shouted at the wit
ness until Mr.. Osborne said:
You don't have to shout. I'm
wearing one of those things" and
pointed to his ear phone.
Mr.. Fawcett had the expert at
tempt to select from a sheaf of au-
tomobile license applications, the six
he had utilized in his study of the
ransom notes.
Points Out SimiIarities
He selected three-tWo applica-
tions by Hauptmann in Iceland
another. and said these were used
in his studies.
Mr.. Fawcett then sought to have
the witness select characteristic
mistakes or handwriting signs of a
similar nature from any two of the
license applications.
Mr.. Osborne testified that a typ
ical error made by Hauptmann in
writing was confusion in placing OF
III" and Il" in a word.
In this auto application" the
witness said. "Hauptmann wrote that
he went past a red light. He spelled
light and 'lihgt.' He often spelled
the as 'hte'"
Mr.. FaWCett hammered away at
Mr.. Osborne to make further ident-
ification of tell-tale lines in the
writing. Mr.. Osborne said he was
Handicapped by not having all of the
ransom notes.
Further Notes Admitted
Mr.. Fawcett objected to introduc-
ton Of further notes. but gave way
temporarily to further direct ex-
animation by Mr.. Wilentz, who in
troduCed other notes.
Mr.. Osborne frequently claShed
with Mr. Fawcett. insisting he could
not definitely say the handwriting
was the same on the basis of the
auto registration cards alone.
I must take all writing into con-
sideration," the witness said. The
promiSsory note. the auto card, the
writer made a request of police, and
so on"