The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-01-17
WORLD WATCHES
PTMANN TRIAL
Millions Follow the Greatest
Courtroom Drama of
Modern History.
BY w. C. WEBER

Pennington, N. J.-This small Amer
lean town holds the center Of Interest
for the entire world as day by day the
intense drama of the trial Of Bruno
Richard Hatptmann. charged with the
murder OF tiny Charles LIndbergh, son
OF the famous flyer. unfolds. Fleming
ton. small New Jersey town OF less
than 1900 population, Is the focus of
all eyes, AS prosecution of the former
German carpenter proceeds.
Batteries Of brilliant opposing legal
counsel clicking telegraph instru
ments, flare OF fashlights-all the ac-
compartments Of q modern murder
frlaI-have been unable to obscure the
human element In this case and drag
1t down to the level Of the usual sem
satlonal court case.
Mothers and fathers everywhere
have followed with sympathetic Inter-
est each biz af testimony, the actions
of the characters In this moving drama.
and are weighing each scrap of evil
dence that Is presented for and against
this man who Is charged with one of
the most hideous crimes of modern
times.
Supreme Court Justice Thomas w.
Trenchard, presiding over the Haupt-
mann trial, has reputation for stern
ness. His task Is not easy as The state
of New Jersey attempts to send an
obscure little German carpenter TO the
electric chair for the murder of the
Lindbergh baby. The interplay Of
human emotions often tends to make
the administration of cold justice diff
flcult.
Tells Of Last Day
Most pathetic figure of the drama
is that Of Mrs. Lindbergh, the former
Anne Morrow A slender figure In
black. she told her story In a clear,
small voice. Under the questioning Of
Attorney General David T.. Wilentz.
chief prosecutor. she told OF the
idyllic afternoon she spent with her
son on the day he disappeared, of how
she had gone for walk and finally of
: the tragedy and the bewilderment of
tile kidnapping. She firmly identified
the flannel shirt the thumb guard. and
the sleeping garment the child wore
At one point the tremendous emo
tional strain she was undergoing was
indicated when she was unable to
testify In answer to question re-
garding the toys Of her dead baby.
She bowed her head silently, and the
prosecutor passed on to another ques-
tion.
Mrs Lindberghs eyes were filed
with tears and her voice trembled with
emotion. There were moments when
she was obviously near the breaking
point, but she went bravely on to re-
late the horrifying occurrence OF that
dramatic day. and concluded her testi-
mony by identifying the clothing.
What that ordeal must have cost her
can only be conjectured.
Sees Hauptmann.
When she entered the courtroom II
was the first time she had seen Haupt-
mann. the accused. Her eyes went 10
him repeatedly but no expression
crossed her> face. Two chairs away
from Mrs. Llhdbergh sat Mrs Haupt-
mann. Hauptmann's face disclosed no
emotion, but was turned steadfastly
toward the witness chair He gave
no indication of Mrs l.lndbergh's
presence. but his wife became more
nervous. She shifted In her chair and
her head twtched as the mother told
her story.
Colonel Lindhergh followed his wife
on the stand. His testimony was di.
rect and clearly given. He testified
that he heard noise "like the break
Ing Of crate" supposedly when the
kldnaper's ladder broke and killed the
child as the criminal climbed down
from the nursery. He did not realize
at the time that II might have been a
1,I k.n