Evening star., 1935-02-07
HUDSON SAW ONLY.
ONE NAIL HOLE.
Certain Other Holes Were
Not There When He Ex-
amined Ladder.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
FLEMINGTON, N. j., February T.
DR.. Erastus M. Hudson, New York
physician who has made hobby OF
fingerprints, was still hope of the
defense today as to the murder trial
of Bruno Hauptmann edged nearer 10
q conclusion.
DR.. Hudson yesterday told Of finding
500 fingerprints, none of them Haupt-
mann's, when he proceSSed the kidnap
ladder with silver nitrate two weeks
after the kidnapping. Attorney Gen
eral David T. WilentZ planned to show
the prints were for the most part
worthless smudges, left by the numer-
GUS officials who handled the ladder
after the kidnapping.
The State also planned an attack on
the physicians declaration he saw only
one nail hole in the so-called attic
board" upright of the ladder. Prose-
cution testimony has been that four
nail holes we're discovered and subSe-
uuently matched with nail holes on
attic beams, where it was alleged the
upright originally had been nailed
down In Hauptmann's home.
Just Another Expert,
Is States Appraisal Of Hudson.
"Just another expert who offered
his services during the kidnapping"
was the States appraisal of the ply
sician, whose testimony has caused
elation on the defense side.
Ready to testify after DR.. Hudson,
Chief Defense Counsel Edward ].
Reilly said he has eight Witnesses
two alibi and two surprise witnesses,
two wood technicians, a handwriting
expert, and Harry Uhlig. mutual friend
of both Hauptmann and the late ISa-
dor Fisch, Hauptmann's business part
ner and his alibi for possession of
$14,600 ransom money.
Again before court opened the ru-
mors few that the defense would rest
today, but there was no official con-
firmation.
AS the end of his trial for murder
approached. Hauptmann's inscrutable
smile remained the same. He was
brought by his guards to his accus-
toned seat behind the defense table.
Detective Max Leet, of the New
York City police arrived in court with
five State rebuttal witnesses. Their
identity was not disclosed, but Leet
said they would seek to clear the name
of Fisch. The defense has charged
that Fisch, not Hauptmann, received
the $4,000 ransom.
Relatives of Fisch, who came from
Germany in the prosecutions behalf,
were not in court.
Court convened at 1901 am.
Three COIonels
Hold Whispered Conference.
Chief Defense Counsel Reilly and
Anthony M. Hauck, jr, Hunterdon
County pl osecutor, came in about the
same time.
THE three colonies" marched in
in single file and took their seats.
Col Charles A. Lindbergh held a
whispered talk with Col. H. Norman
SchWarzkopf Col Henry Breckin-
ridge sat beside them.
Justice Thomas w. Trenchard
mounted to the bench, the jury was
polled, and DR.. Hudson, a broad, tall
man with glasses, went back to the
stand.
Associate Defense Counsel Frederick
A. Pope asked the doctor to identify
some sketches and notes he made
after examining the kidnap ladder.
Pope offered the memorandums in
evidence, put the attorney general re-
quested the offer be deferred until he
examined the witness. Pope &C.
quieSced.
Wilentz oegan cross-examination of
DR.. Hudson on his specimen charts
OF f1ngerprints taken from the kidnap
ladder. The witness said he made the
charts during March, 1892, from
measurements made at the Lindbergh
estate from the prints on the ladder
Q. You were mistaken yesterday in
your testimony about the nail roles
and the knot in rail 16 Qadder up
right.
A. I told what 1 thought. I have
other notes, not here.
Q. Is there any reference to any
nail holes in those charts Indicating
those in the witness hand)?
A. No. sir.
DIR. Hudson Says
He Saw Only One Nail Hole.
Wilentz soon turned to the ply
slclan'S statement he saw only one
nail hole where the State contends
there were four.
@. You appreciate the Importance
of the nail holes in this case? A. No,
I can't say do.
many nail holes did you observe in
10 rnt t1r0 A
nail hole made by a square cut nail.
q. In all the IprightS, how many
nail holes did you see? A. Only one.
@. Do you remember any nail holes
elsewhere? A. There were nail holes
where the rungs we're put on the
upright.
Q. Exclusive of the rungs?
A. Only the one nail hole.
Q. Do you remember any other nail
holes in the runners, exclusive of the
rung nail holes? Please answer the
question yes" or mo-
A. I saw only one square nail hole
Q. Please answer the question.
Eyes, doctor" said Justice Trench
ard, answer the question"
Exclusive of the rung I will say
did not" the witness answered. ITO
the best of my knowledge, there were
none other than that one square nail
hole"
@. Did you make any notes respec-
tive to nail holes?
A. I haven't seen the notes in a
long time. I don't know.
Pope Objects to
Wilentz Scolding Witness.
Pope objected to Wilentz's insistence
on answers as 'scolding the witness ="
Justice Trenchard ruled the ques-
tioning was proper
The nail hole Hudson saw was in
the top or third section of the ladder.
The attorney general showed him the
middle section and pointed out two
nail holes.
@. Did you see those nail holes?
A. don't remember.