The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-02


New York, Feb. 2.-(FeThe New
York Daily News said Saturday that
Peter H. Sommer, Hauptmann defense
witness who testified that he saw
Violet Sharpe and Isadore Fisch with
n baby on the night of the kidnapping,
was also witness nine years ago at
the Hall-Mills trial.
Copyright, 1885, by the Associated
Press)
Pennington. N. j., Feb. 1.-THE
shadowy figures Of Violet Sharpe and
1sador Fisch, long since dead, were
projected once more in uncertain out
line against the background Of Bruno
Richard Hauptmann's defense Satur-
day in his trial for the murder Of the
Lindbergh baby.
into what part Of the kidnapping
puzzle the defense planned to place
them was not explained as q week
end recess cut short the trial until
Monday.
Previously, the state exonerated
Violet Sharpe, the maid in the Nor
row home who committed suicide
when the investigation was at its
height. Chief Counsel Edward J..
Reilly earlier declared he would not
attempt to link Fisch, Hauptmann's
former business partner, with the &C
tual kidnapping.
But through surprise witness, the
defense Friday adduced testimony
vaguely linking to the crime the Nor
row maid and the German fur dealer.
who is accused by Hauptmann Of leav-
ing behind him the $4,000 ransom
money when he went to Germany to
die.
The witness was Peter H. Sonlmer,
Z former fingerprint man in the New
York city magistrate courts.
Saw Baby on Kidnap Night
Sommer related how he saw a
woman, resembling Violet Sharpe. and
Z man, who looked like Fisch, board q
A2nd street cross town car in New
York City at q Jersey ferry terminal
bearing blond baby dressed in one
piece sleeping suit. A second man
assisted them, he said. This was on
the night Of the kidnapping, March !.
1882. he testified.
sommer's story was due for sharp
attack Monday by Attorney General
David T. Wilentz when trial Is re-
sumed.
In cross examination Friday, the
attorney general produced what he
considered damaging conflicts In Som
mers testimony and ordered q full
investigation Of the witness back
ground over the weekend.
Sommer, who charged the attor-
ney general with trying to confuse
him, noundered about in . maze Of
It wouldn't say yes-and-I-wouldnt-
say-no" answers when court adjourn.
ed.
John NJ. Trendley, 67-year-old hand
writing expert Of East st. Louis, ILL.,,
was the only other defense witness Of
the day. His testimony. under the care
full guidance Of defense counsel, was
directed in refutation Of the conten-
ton by state experts that Hauptmann
was the author Of the ransom note LETT
In the Lindbergh nursery.
Interviews IS witnesses
Chief Defense Counsel Reilly was
husily engaged in New York Satur-
day interviewing some IS prospective
defense witnesses.
The prosecution staff was equally
optimistic Of the possibility Of con-
Guiding the trial by the end Of next
week, and took advantage Of the week.
end recess to make ready for the final
+. intensive drive preparatory to giving
the case to the jury.
George K. Large, special assistant
attorney general, said the verdict
would probably come next Saturday
la the event the defense wound up It's
testimony by Thursday. and added he
did not consider Hauptmanns defense
sufficiently strong to require many
eebuttal witnesses.
CONTINUED on Page Three