Evening star., 1935-01-08
Ladder in-AutO
Described by
Witness.
OFFICER DENIES
FINCERPRINTS
Methods of Police
Criticized by
Defense.

copyright, 1895, by the Associated Press.)
PENNINGTON, N. j.. January g.
An aged former neighbor of Col.
Charles A. Lindbergh pointed a palSied
finger at the accused Bruno Richard
Hauptmann today and declared he
saw him near the Lindbergh home on
the day Charles Augustus Lindbergh,
jr., was stolen from his crib and slain.
The witness, AmanduS Hochmuth,
81, positively identified Hauptmann as
a man in a dirty green automobile
who passed his home on March l,
1882, turned into the Lindbergh road
and "glared at me as if he saw
ghost!"
He also said he saw "some of the
ladder in the car"
The melodramatic surprise-height-
ened by the eXtinguishing OF the court
room lights just as the old man first
pointed accusingly at Hauptmann-
was SandWiched between two other
high lights of the morning session.
The State failed in its second at
tempt to get the ladder down which 1t
contends the baby was carried to its
death into evidence, and the defense
pursued a vigorous attack upon the
efficiency of the New Jersey police
after two State troopers testified they
could find no fingerprints in the Lind
ber2h nursery. on the ladder or ON
the ransom note which Lindbergh
found on the nursery window sill.
Blocked as Evidence.
The defense successfully blocked the
ladder from evidence on the ground
that it had not been properly identi-
fed.
The court ruled, however. that the
ladder could pe again offered into
evidence after more identification tes-
timony about it had been presented.
Hockmuth. who turned out to be
the mysterious old man who paced
the Jail in front of Hauptmann's cell
several weeks ago. electrified the
packed court when he gave his testi-
mony. And there was gasp when
he stepped down from the stand and
gingerly touched the Bronx carpenter
with his hand.
Hauptmann rolled his head mega
lively back and forth.
The old man testified he was stand
ing on the porch of his home in the
forenoon on March l, 1882. His home,
he explained, was on the main high
way intersection with the lane that
runs to the Lindbergh place in Hope
well.
well" he said, II saw car coming
around the corner, pretty good speed,
and I expected it to turn over on
the ditch. And as the car was about
25-I should judge about 25 feet away
from me- the man in there looked out
of the window like this"
He turned his head toward the jury
to show them how.
and he glared at me as if he
saw a ghost"
Prisoner Identified.
Queried Attorney General David T.
Wilentz:
And the man that you saw looking
out of that automobile glaring at you
in the manner that you say, is he in
this room?"
YES" Hochmuth said.
"Where is he?"
The witness raised a shaking arm,
pointed finger.
Alongside the trooper there!"
The lights went out with Hoch-
muth's finger still pointed at Bruno
Hauptmann.
There was objection from the de-
tense as the State invited the witness
to step down and lay hand on the
defendants shoulder. It was quickly
Strengthened out and the old man
ambled directly toward Hauptmann,
his right arm extended.
Spectators leaned forward, held their
breath. The old man lightly touched
Hauptmann's shoulder, and quickly
Withdrew his hand. The spectators
drew breath in unison.
The defense couldn't shake the
Identification.
Doomed Edward ]. Reilly, chief of
Hauptmann's staff:
Did that State trooper point out
Bruno Richard Hauptmann to you as
he sat in his seat?"
The old mans answer had all the
spirit that 81 years could muster.
mol" it was.
Capt. John J. Lamb and Lieut.. John
Continued on Page S, Column ID
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