Evening star., 1935-12-24
.L|NDBERGHS' EXILE
BLAMED ON PRESS
Flyer Declared Angered by
Photographing of
Son Jon.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


The spectacle of two American citi-
Bens fleeing to England to get better
protection against kidnapping of their
only child is plainly reflection on
the government of New Jersey, but
there's a story back of it relating to
invasion of privacy that sooner or
later will have to be dealt with by
Law.
One particular incident is believed
responsible for the decision of the
Lindberghs to live abroad. The decl-
sion was made several weeks ago. 1t
happened this way:
Ever since the murder of their first
son. the Lindberghs have been anxious
to avoid publicity for their other boy
Jon. They have appealed to the press
not to photograph the boy and to
refrain from publishing articles that
might concentrate attention on the
second boy or the movements OF the
family.
Secrecy Shrouded Movements.
To prevent photographers from vio-
lating this request, the Lindberghs
arranged for their boy to be taken to
and from his home secretly fpom time
to time. Every effort was made to
elude the photographers who picketed
the Lindbergh home. Finally, two
photographers determined to get
scoop" and they waited until the
Lindbergh automobile with gov
erness was coming down the street.
They ran their own automobile in
front of the car in such way as to
force the Lindbergh car to the curb.
Then they made flashlights of the
child through the automobile window.
Publication of these photographs so
sngered Col Lindbergh that he de-
cided the only thing he could do was
to move abroad. Otherwise, he felt
his son would grow up under constant
annoyance by the photographers anG
with a sort of self elf-consciousness that
might affect the boys own attitude
and psychological reaction to life.
What Are Individual Rights.
Has an individual any rights to his
own photograph? Can he be caught
by the camera when he is riding in
his own closed car, which, in sense,
is as much his private dwelling as is
his home? Can photographer tres
pass on the grounds of home or
enter the dwelling itself and take
fashlight of the occupants?
The Lindberghs considered, it Is
reported, filing an assault suit against
the photographers but feared that
the publicity attending the suit itself
would only serve to focus attention on
them when they wished supremely to
be let alone. The idea of living
abroad has been suggested from time
to time as means of insuring privacy,
but the definite determination to seek
protection and seclusion in England
probably was the elimination of a
series of incidents like those cited
above.
The Federal Government has made
substantial progress in ridding the
country of public enemies, but it is
travesty on justice in the several
States that kidnapping rings and
racketeers still ply their trade. The
Federal Government has no police
power as such. This is the responsibility
of the States and cities. Politics and
corruption infest many of our larger
cities. so that racketeers can continue
their game of threat and extortion.
Aroused Public Necessary.
Until the American people revolt
against all manner of politicians,
Federal, State and city, there will be
little progress made toward cleaning
up the conditions that have made
kidnapping or extortion a profitable
game to criminals. There is no way
of checking up on how much black
mail money has been paid to avoid
kidnapings, but it is probable that the
toll in this respect each year is con-
siderable.
If the enforced exile of the Lind
berghs from their own country serves
to direct public attention to the solu-
tion of those situations existing in
various American States and cities,
the man who won the admiration
of the whole world by his heroic feats
in the cause of aviation may some day
justly feel that he has achieved an
: other notable triumph in the cause of
decant government.
Copyright 1880