Evening star., 1935-02-14
CRAVATTREPORTED
DELAYING VERDICT
Source Close to Bruno Jury
Says He Held Out for
Mercy for 6 Ballots.
BY the Associated Press.

"A source close to jurors Who found
Bruno Richard Hauptmann guilty of
the murder of Baby Charles A. Lind
bergh, jr, today said six ballots were
cast before the jury could agree that
Hauptmann should go to the electric
chair.
The same source reported that
Robert Cravatt, educational director of
a c. c. c. camp, held for five ballots
to a verdict of guilty with recon-
mendation of mercy, which would
have automatically sentenced Haupt-
mann to life Imprisonment.
On the first ballot, the source said,
two women, Mrs. Rosie Pill and Mrs.
Verna Snyder, voted with Cravatt for
mercy. They swung over on the sec
ond, and thereafter until the sixth
ballot the jury stood, II to l, for the
verdict that was finally delivered.
The eight men and four women did
not retire until an early hour this
morning, although they returned to
the hotel across the street from the
court house shortly before II o'clock.
They celebrated" the eve of the end
OF their AZ days of living together while
they heard the testimony in the case
against Bruno Richard Hauptmann.
Appear Fresher at Breakfast.
They came down to breakfast this
morning shortly after 8 o'clock, look
ing somewhat refreshed and very pat
emily relieved that the strain was over.
Instead of sitting at one long table
behind a screen as they have for all
their meals during the trial, they
broke into smaller groups and used
three separate tables.
Oden Baggstrom, chief jury con-
stable, said that "all the jurors are in
excellent condition" and that no physi-
clan had been called for any of them
after they were dismissed.
The Jurors were to return to their
homes later today.
After their return to their hotel last
night the jurors relaxed in dancing
and singing in their quarters, on the
third floor.
Jury Prepares Statement.
The jury today asked to be allowed
"to retire to our homes as ordinary
citizens"
A statement prepared by Foreman
Charles S. Walton, ST., and approved
by the eight man and four women,
read:
The only statement the members
of the jury have to make is that they
are glad to be released after their
confinement of 43 days. The news
has been we'll covered by the repre-
sentatives of the different newspapers
who themselves were on the scene.
The relations between the jurors
at all times have been amiable and
It is we'll understood that we cannot
give out any news concerning what
occurred in the jury room. We now
want to retire to our homes and again
become ordinary citizens"
The statement was handed out by
Lieut.. George c. Wallace of the State
police, who said that an escort of his
men would take each of the jurors
to his or her home later today.
Roar Bursts From Crowd.
A few minutes after the jury re-
turned its verdict of guilty last night
a roar burst from the crowd packed
outside the courthouse.
Sheriff Curtiss modified a detail of
State Troopers and escorted the eight
men and four women through
closely packed lane of people to the
hotel where another guard was posted
to keep away the inquisitive.
The jurors clearly showed the strain
of their II hours of deliberation when
they were polled on the verdict, an
swering in choked, quavering tones.
Mrs. Snyder and Mrs. Pill, who ap-
peared to show signs of tears when
they filed into the courtroom, indi-
Gated extreme fatigue as they walked
through the lane Of spectators to the
hotel.
Smoke Heavy in Court Room.
BY the time they returned to the
court room, it was anything but a
spectacular setting for the conclusion
Of the sensational case.
Tobacco smoke hung heavily in the
air; half-emptied containers of cof-
fee perched on uncertain bases; law
yers and newspaper men who had
waited since before noon stretched
restlesSly.
There was talk that the jury would
be locked up for the night. Each
hour that passed decreased the ex-
pectation of death sentence.
AS abruptly as the flare of match,
a change transformed the room. !
Sheriff Curtiss came quickly into |
court from the door through which |
the jurors passed on their way to the |
jury room.
Even before ne said it, the word |
whiSked through the room: They've
reached a verdict. The jury's COM
ing in
Wilentz, chief of the prosecution !
forces in the 32-day trial, tried to be
calm, unconcerned. But his face
paled and he moved about jerkily in |
self conscious motions.
Reilly, usually urbane and jolly, be-
came strangely serious. His forid
face took on deep flush.
Bell Heralds Verdict.
AS every one waited, a bell began
to toll 1t was the court house bell
signalling to the burghers that the
jury had found its verdict Outside
the court house the crowds grew
tense.
At 1921, six State troopers
marched in. Behind them came
Hauptmann manacled to his two
guards.
His face was gray and etched with
deep, tired lines. There was an ap-
prehensive, fearful look in his eyes,
and he did not walk with his familiar
readiness and expectation.
There was another slight stir and
Mrs. Hauptmann hurried down an
aisle. She forced a smile on her
colorleSS face as she looked on her
husband, and her bloodless lips moved
soundlessly as she tried to utter words
of encouragement.
Another minute and another, and
the jury had not returned. At 1924
the jurors and their guards walked
slowly in.
Mrs. Snyder walked with bowed head