The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-25
RECALL CURTIS
CONNECTION
WITH CASE
Former Postal Inspec-
tor Gives Sworn State
ment to Aid Probe
BY KENNETH T. DOWNS
Copyright, 1885, by International
y KENNETH T. DOWNS

News Service)
TRENTON, N. j., Jan. 25.-Gov.
Harold G. Hoffman suspects that
part of the evidence used to con-
Vict Bruno Richard Hauptmann
Of the Lindbergh baby murder
was framed" it was learned by
International News Service today.
He is in possession of a sworn
statement supporting the belief
that rail Is" of the kidnap lad
der-that part of the ladder which
the State showed came from the
floor of Hauptmann'S attic-was
planted"
And though he answered mo
comment" to a direct question
about his possession of evidence
Of framing" it was learned
Authoritatively that he holds
many similar assertions to support
the theory that the cards were
stacked in advance against the
condemned man.
One of the most sensational of
these is a sworn statement by a
prominent detective and former
U. S. postal inspector that the
prosecution of John Hughes Cur
tbs was built up on framed"
evidence in order to appeaSe Col
onel Lindbergh, who was outraged
by the fruitless chase led by the
Norfolk (Va.O shipbuilder during
the weeks before it was learned
the baby was slain.
Curtis Convicted
Shortly after the child was kid
mapped Curtis told Colonel Lind.
bergh he was in touch with the
kidnapers and volunteered to be
an Intermediary. He led the colonel
on vain hunt.
Curtis was tried and convicted
at Pennington in 1882 on the
charge of obstructing justice. One
of the premises of the case against
him was that there was a kidnap-
ing gang.
Last year, in the same court
room at Pennington, Hauptmann
was prosecuted and convicted as
the lone kidnaper and slayer. The
"gang" theory was discarded.
The former postal inspector was
engaged by Hunterdon County
Prosecutor Anthony M. Hauck,
who, with Assistant Attorney Gen
eral Joseph Lanigan, prosecuted
Curtis.
Both Hauck and Lanigan as
sisted in the prosecution of Haupt-
mann.
Ready to Aid Case
Governor Hoffman has asked
the former postal inspector to
Join the army of investigators now
attempting to clear up phases OF
the Hautpmann case which mys.
tify him. The detective said:
"The governors request is an
order. don't believe the case
is completely solved and 1
never have thought so. This
is the governors viewpoint and
/ am under his orders.
Before they convince me of
Hauptmann's guilt or entire
guilt, want to know who that
second man was in the GENE
terry the night of the ransom
payment who was seen by both
Colonel Lindbergh and DR..
Condor.
CDR. Condor has been telling
this story time and again since
the trial and 1 have seen no
explanation which should sat
isfy anyone that this man who
covered his face with a hand
kerchief and cOughed like a
cOnSumptive, as Condor de-
scribed, was merely a phantom
or a Pigment of the magma
ton"
Officials who prosecuted Haupt-
mann deride the detectives story,
terming it just another report OF
the governors to Justify his re-
opening of the Lindbergh case.
They plainly indicated they would
stand for no open charges Of
tampering with evidence.
Wants Probe of Police
Governor Hoffman maintains
the State either should admit its
case against Curtis was erroneous,
since he was charged with having
known the kidnapers, or admit its
'lone wolf" theory against l!aupt-
mann is mistaken. The governor
also declared he would like to see
a sweeping investigation of the
Federal and State police forces
which worked on the Hauptmann
case. He said:
81 want to know whether
public demand that law enforce
ment agencies make good in
any way has caused evidence to
he framed"