The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-02-14
WiIentz Comments on Bull

Trenton, N. J., Feb 14.-(UP)- Attorney General David T. Wilen:z to-day cleared all court officers and attaches of any blame in con- nectaon with the false report of the Hauptmann verdict which was sent out from Remington last night by the Associated Press.
 Replying to suggestions that a signal might have been given, upon which the erroneous an- noupcement was based, the at torney general said:
 Tt is my impression that the premature announcement as to the verdict of the jury, and which ar- n0uncement was an erroneous one to the effect that the verdict was guilty with recommendation of mercy, was the result of over-en- thuniasm on the part of some re- porter. No official and no juror was in any wise responsible for this enthusiastic outburst which had no proper basis"
 The Associated Press report to which Wilentz referred was sent out last night 14 minutes before the Hauptmann jury gave its yer dict, and four minutes before the jurors entered the box and took their seats to await the arrival of the judge before announcing the verdict.
 It was printed in newspapers in many parts of the country and was announced on the radio.
 Messages from Shanghai, Lon don, Santiago and other cities to- day told of the appearance of the mistaken report in newspapers III those and other foreign cities.
 Associated Press Explains
 The Associated Press later "killed" it's announcement and issued the following explanations:
 When word that a verdict had been reached in the Bruno Rich ard Hauptmann trial for murder of the Lindbergh baby flashed through the courtroom, confusion reigned briefly.
 "In transmitting the verdict 7 from one part of the courthouse to another the Associated Press report of the decision was garbleIl and first word to reach waiting newspapers was that the jury had found Hauptmann guilty, but with a recommendation of life impris- Onment instead of the death pen alty."
 (No such word reached United P9ess newspapers as the erroneous announcement was carried eX- clusively by the Associated Press.)
 United Press newspapers throughout the world received the verdict correctly when it was an- nounced by the foreman of the jury at 10:44 D. m. At that hour the United Press flashed that Hauptmann had been found guilty and that a death sentence was mandatory.
 Confer With Hauptmann
 Remington, N. J., Feb. 14.- (UP)-Bruno Richard Hauptmann, shaken by the jury's death decree, conferred with Counsel for a half hour today in his cell.
 Edward J. Reilly, C. Lloyd Fish CT and Egbert Rosecrans. memb bers of the defense legal battery, de- clined to reveal details of the visit.
 A few minutes after the lawyers left, Mrs Harry McCrea. wife of the Hunterdon county jail warden, served lunch to the prisoner. His fare consisted of string beans, fried potatoes with onions, spiced cabbage, coffee, rye bread and but ter. ,.
 According to the warden, Haupt- mann, who earlier had sobbed in- termittent!e. had regained his conn posture after the visit from coun- sel.
 Mother Makes Appeal
 Kamenz, Germany, Feb. 14.- InV mt a aged, white haired mother of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, wrote a pathetic appeal to President pnnaouAlf 4ndnv naEinfz nla a n nu