Evening star., 1935-02-16
7 AM INNOCENT"
BRUNO DECLARES
Utters Last Statement Be-
fore Entering State
Prison at Trenton.
Continued From First Page.)

SuI tlOo, NNP3SJ c>A@@~S
detachment of State troopers.
No motor cycle escort was provided
because of the slippery condition OF
the road from Pennington to Trenton.
Hauptmann was in the back seat of
the second car with his pair of man
acled guards. The car was driven by
Sergt. James Crawford of the State
police. Beside him sat. Sheriff Curtiss.
When Hauptmann paused on the
iail house steps, he smiled broadly
and spoke in German to representa-
tive of a German newspaper.
II am innocent" he said. Come
and see me (meaning at the State
prison at TrentonD."
AS the door to the warden's office
opened the first to emerge were State
troopers were massed about the cars,
standing guard until the prisoner
was brought out.
Next came Under Sheriff A. X. Bar
roWcliff and Sheriff Curtiss. Haupt-
mann followed with his guards.
Behind the group of three came
more troopers who virtually lock-
stepped with them to the waiting au-
tomobiles, so carefully were the prepa-
! rationS made.
Hauptmann wore the same gray
overcoat and brown felt hat he wore
when he was brought to Pennington
from the Bronx. and the gray suit that
, he wore every day in the court room
| during his trial
He stepped along with his charac-
| teristic brisk walk His guards quickly
adjusted their pace to his so that on
the narrow sidewalk around the jail
one of them slightly preceded him and
the other followed.
Despite a cheerful smile, he showed
the tension and nervous strain from
which he was obviously suffering.
Just before his departure he was
visited at his cell by Hovey Low, the
1 deputy sheriff who sat beside him
throughout his trial and with whom
he developed friendship.
Hauptmann autographed one of his
| photographs for Low as his last act
before he left the cell block.
Low said that Hauptmann showed
| increasing signs of nervousness as the
time for departure arrived. but that
the restraint and self-control exhib-
tied by him throughout the trial was
still evident.
Apparently. Low said, the fact that
Hauptmann was getting physically
| nearer the electric chair in the Tren-
ton prison failed to weigh heavily or
him.
Only about so townspeople were
4 90 1rt
They were kept at distance from the
jail entrance by the line of State
troopers. Only newspaper representa-
tives we're allowedsto approach the
| jail steps.
Bruno Blames Fisch.
Going through the necessary lega
| steps to appeal the verdict which
carried the sentence of death in the
electric chair March l8. Hauptmanr
developed a new loQuacity in post
trial protestations of innocence.
| In a newspaper interview from hi:
| cell last night, the convicted man ex-
pressed the belief that Isador Fiscf
must have done the kidnapping"
1t was the first time Hauptmanr
business partner, and the man upor
whom the defense sought to saddl,
the crime during the trial by assert.
ing he had left the $4,000 in ransom
bills with Hauptmann.
Funny" Hauptmann said to tn,
reporters, "but at first I don't thinl
Fisch could do the kidnapping to get
the money.
But later I do. He can't do i
alone, either. No. He can't"
To reports that authorities wer,
kidnapping, there was given oficia
denial from all sources.
G. Lloyd Fisher, Hauptmann's at
torney, said the prisoners confidenc,
was renewed and that he looked for
ward to eventual exoneration.
Knows Nothing of Crime.
In a public statement Hauptmanr
declared: before God, I swear I have
nothing whatever to do with the kid.
naping and murder of this child ant
that know nothing whatever ir
connection with the crime"
Fisher said the statement, quite
lengthy, was dictated solely b!
Hauptmann, with only some necessary
corrections and rephrasings made
necessary by Hauptmann'S German
tongue.
The prisoner yesterday took hi
first step in appealing his conviction
He signed a petition to Justic'
Trenchard, who sentenced him. ask.
ing that the defense be supplied {
copy of the trial record at the ex-
penSe Of New Jersey, and swore {
pauper's oath that he could not af-
ford to appeal the case otherwise.
Fisher said he expected to submit
the petition to Justice Trenchard IL
Trenton next Monday.
The next step in the proceeding
would be to obtain a writ of erro
from the Court of Errors and Appeal
at Trenton. Such q writ would servl
as an automatic stay of execution
until the court hears the case. at 1t!
next term starting May IL.
Fisher estimated appeal costs a
$25 900, Of which about $4,000 woult
60 for the cost of printing the record
The petition, Fisher said, would b.
submitted under New Jersey statut,
permitting defendant, swearing pov
erty, to petition the trial Judge II
charge up to the State the cost of fur
nishing the defense with q copy o
the record. The decision, however, i
discretionary with Justice Trenchard
Hopes for Contributions.
In the meantime, Hauptmann hope
that voluntary contributions will b.
made to aid his attorneys. He mad
another public appeal for contribu
tons and constituted Fisher truste,
Of the defense fund.
About $40 was reported to have beel
received. The appeal was given wide