Evening star., 1935-01-24
TRENCHARD DEN|ES'
DIRECTED VERDICT.
Defense Loses Plea and
Fisher Outlines Bruno's
Case to Jury.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PENNINGTON, N. J., January "a
New Jersey brought its murder case
against Bruno Richard Hauptmann to
its closing hours today, after three
weeks of testimony
Arthur j. Koehler, the studious,
middle-aged Federal wood expert who
turned out to be the States star wit
ness, waited in court to tell the jury
still more of his conviction that
Hauptmann wood and Hauptmann
tools constructed the kidnap ladder.
The Madison. Wis expert, accom-
panied by his wife, arrived early in
the court room, which was chilly and
not as crowded as usual. The heavy
snowfall and the biting cold weather
which followed it had thinned the
ranks of the early arrivals in the au-
dience.
Attorney General David T. Wilentz,
chief of the States legal staff. reached
the court room with Mr.. and Mrs.
Koehler and said Koehler would be
the last witness called in the States
direct case.
Kidnap Ladder
Placed in View of Jury.
The kidnap ladder was carried in
and stacked against the wall near the
jury box and the witness stand. Along
side of it was placed the floorboard
plank from Hauptmann's attic-the
plank which Koehler declares was cut
to furnish one of the ladder uprights.
The jurors could not help seeing the
wooden evidence every time they
glanced toward the witness stand.
Hauptmann and his guards marched
into court and took the seats back
Of the counsel table at $50.
His face was pale but he did not
appear nervous.
He looked about the room, but not
In the direction of the witness chair,
near which stood Koehler.
Mrs. Hauptmann came in just as
the jury filed into the box She and
her husband held their usual morn
ing conversation.
Supreme Court Justice Thomas w.
Trenchard still had not put in his
appearance at the court house, and
every one sat back to wait, realizing
court would be late in convening.
While the appearance of Justice
Trenchard was awaited, Hauptmann
engaged in a long conversation with
his chief counsel, Edward J. Reilly.
Reilly sat close in front of the
defendant, who now glanced fire.
quently toward the ladder as he talked.
Once Hauptmann shot a swift
glance toward Koehler, who was
seated behind the prosecution table
He appeared very grave, but much
more alert and active than before in
his trial
After Justice Trenchard arrived
Wilentz and Reilly went together to
the jurist's chambers for an extended
conference.
Anthony NJ. Hauck, jr., Hunterdon
County prosecutor, missed his first
day at the prosecution table. He had
a cold and remained at home.
Hauptmann Reads
Letter During Delay.
AS the conference of counsel and
the justice delayed the opening of the
session, Hauptmann read long letter,
given him by counsel. He bent for
ward and held the miSsive partly
folded as though to prevent his guards
from seeing the contents.
Justice Trenchard, the attorney
general and Reilly came out of the
judges chambers together The justice
took the bench and the jury was
polled
Court was convened at 1925 am.
and Koehler was called back to the
witness stand by the attorney general.
Col. Charles A. Lindbergh and his
companion throughout the trial, Col
H Norman Schwarzkopf, did not ap-
pear as the questioning of Koehler
began.
Col. Henry Breckenridge, the avia-
tors legal adviser, was seated near
the prosecution table.
Wilentz, taking the witness for the
rest of his direct testimony, had the
bald expert tell the jury that the
rail Is" of the ladder was not part
of the lumber shipment traced to the
Bronx lumber yard. Rail 16" is the
rail which was allegedly cut from the
attic board in Hauptmann's home.
Asks to Present
Bruno's Auto to Jury.
Wilentz asked the court for permis-
sion to introduce Hauptmann'S auto
mobile as an exhibit.
1--WE have it," he said. "on the court
house property and, if the weather
permits, the jury may have permiS-
sion to examine it,
The purpose, he said, was to show
the car was owned and operated by
Hauptmann at the time of arrest.
Justice Trenchard said that pho
tograph should be produced instead.
@. What was it you traced to the
lumber yard?
A. Just the two bottom rails of
the ladder.
Koehler then said the other up
SPECIAL NOTICES.