Evening star., 1935-01-24

Hauptmanns car with "inches to
spare"
The fit Of the ladder in the car
was supporting testimony to that given
early in the trial by Hochmuth, who
said he saw Hauptmann in q dirty
green automobile with O ladder near
the Lindbergh home on the day baby
Charles A. Lindbergh, jr., was kid
naped.
The automobile has been for several
days in an alleyway near the court.
Attorney General WilentZ wanted
the jury to view 1t. The photo
graph that was admitted instead
was stated to be true representation
excepting that it showed a trunk on
the rear. The trunk had been re-
moved.
Koehler's cross-examination by
Frederick A. Pope Of defense counsel
began soon after he resumed the stand
following = belated opening of court.
Pope brought out from him that his
Identification Of marks on the ladder,
which he said had been made by
Hauptmann's own plane, was his first
testimony Of this kind in any court.
Hauptmann More Interested.
Hauptmann, still pale and somber,
appeared to be taking more interest In
the testimony as his turn to testify
neared.
Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, father Of
the slain baby, was late In arriving
for the session. Apparently fearing
he might interrupt the proceedings by
his entry he stood for a time in the
doorway and listened.
Snow-clogged roads delayed many
others, including Justice Trenchard,
and for this reason court was nearly
a half hour late IN starting.
Koehler told his croSs-examiner he
did not believe the ladder was con-
structed by q mechanic.
"It was a rather poor job, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
Hauptmann leaned forward at the
counsel table and whispered to c.
Lloyd Fisher. another Of his attorneys.
Koehler also acknowledged as true
Pope's assertion that any three-quar-
ter-inch chiSel might have been used
1OI IIlC CL1IcCl WO1 n VA Vic 1dO0C1s x1C
testified in his direct examination
that a chisel of that size found near
the ladder at the scene Of the crime
had been used on the ladder, and
further that Hauptmann's standard
chisel kit in his tool chest was missing
chisel Of that size.
Notches Poorly Done.
Pope, going on with his inquiry into
the workmanship on the ladder,
asked:
Even the saving of the notches
is poorly done. isn't it?"
YES" Koehler agreed.
"It has been testified" Pope said,
that two sections of this ladder.
namely, this one here which Is
broken, and the next section that fits
into it could be used and was not
used but was actually put together
and put up against the side wall of
the Lindbergh home, the two sections
together. and the officer told US that
when so placed against the side wall
that the top round was 30 inches
below the window sill From your
VA "NOAi nOOA0
that ladder constructed as this one
IS, or referring specifically to this par
ticular ladder. would hold the weight
OF a man ITS to 1S0 pounds under
those conditions?"
Yes, I think it would"
And could he go up and down
readily without the ladder breakine?"
He might"
Pope's manner with Koehler was
easy, conversational, as if spontane-
Gus and unstudied.
He discussed the strain on wcod
with ladder rungs spaced at certain
distances. learned from the witness
that a Swaying motion would result
II they were spaced too far apart so
that man took wide steps upon it.
Then he brought out from Koehler
the assertion that the rings in the
kidnap ladder were spaced unusually
wide"
so that a man stepping from this