The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-02
C. O N T l N U e ID
from paee ono.
Shadowy Figures
OF Two Now Dead
Hover Over Court

But despite the optimism Of both
legal staffs, a feeling persisted in court
that 1t would require somewhat longer
than . week to bring the case to
close.
sommers testimony was the high
spot Of the day, and indicated that
the defense, to some extent at least,
was DESTROYS Of keeping Fisch under
the spotlight Of suspicion In the case
Dovetsils With Harding Story
The evidence apparently dovetailed
with the story Of Lou Harding. Tren-
ton laborer, told Thursday for the
defense.
Harding swore he saw two men In
q station wagon bearing q ladder near
Princeton on the day Of the kidnap-
ing. and that they asked him direc-
tons to the Lindbergh estate near
Hopewell. In the testimony Of both
men, Sommer and Harding, two men
figured.
At one point Of sommer,s testimony
under cross-examination, he said he
saw = small man, resembling Fisch.
In the company OF tall man on q
Jersey trolley en- route to the ferry.
A few minutes later he was saying
the first small man disappeared at
the ferry, and q second small man
Joined the tall man for the trip across
the river to New York.
Trendley presented q marked con-
trast to the authorities called by the
state. Trendley seemed detached and
disinterested as he answered ques-
lions In . voice which barely took on
positive infection.
Tfendley's direct examination was
restricted entirely to the ransom note
found after the kidnapping in the
Lindbergh nursery. He declared his
study OF the ransom correspondence
and the Hauptmann writings had
convinced him the Bronx carpenter
never wrote the ransom letters. He
used the original note to demonstrate
his opinion.
He said Albert g. Osborn, dean Of
the eight state handwriting witnesses,
had included only two words OF the
first ransom note In his Photographic
comparisons OF the handwritings,
whereas he considered the first note
full Of distinctive characteristics no
expert could honestly disregard.
It was his opinion, he said, that
the ransom correspondence had been
written by a left handed man seeking
to disguise his handwriting, and cited
technical reasons to back this conclus-
ion.
Assistant Attorney General Joseph
Lanigan, who has been handling the
handwriting evidence for the prose-
cution. harried the expert into telling
the jury his examinations Of the orig
inal ransom notes were highly cas-
ual"-something for which he blamed
the prosecutions lack of cooperation.
He said he had spent only two and q
half hours studying the originals, but
added he spent considerable time
scrutinizing photostatic copies.
Lanigan also read back to the wit
ness the transcript Of his direct testi-
mony In which he first said he did
not regard the word Gut" in the
note, Of any significance, and
then q few minutes later he contra
dicted himself by declaring he did
consider the word very significant.
Trendley insisted he meant both
answers. whereupon Lanigan excused
him.
Becomes Defense Witness
Among the eye witnesses the state
previously called into the case was
Ben Lupica. the Princeton college
student who told Of seeing a man in
an automobile with q ladder In 1t
near the Lindbergh estate the after
noon Of the crime.
Lupica never was called and sub.
1t was learned authorita-
lively. became associated with the
defense.
The youth, q member Of the prose-
cution staff said, was now prepared to
testify for the defense that the driver
Of the ladder car was not Bruno
Richard Hauptmann.