The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-22
CITY LUTHERAN
PASTORS SHUN
BRUNO APPEAL
Filled 1t In Waste Basket
Says One: Others Echo
Sentiment.

The appeal to Lutheran clergy
men of the nation, sent out by the
Rev. John Matthieson, spiritual adj
wiser to Bruno Richard Hauptmann,
has fallen on barren ground here.
The letter, appealing for support
for Hauptmann in his fight TO
escape the chair for the murder Of
the Lindbergh baby. is to be ig-
nored by Indianapolis pastors of the
United Lutheran Church, survey
revealed today.
Mr.. MatthieSon. Lutheran. sent
letters in Indianapolis only to clegy-
men of his denomination.
The Rev. Allen K. Trout, pastor OF
Bethlehem Church, 52nd-st and
Central-av, said he received the
form letter early this week and
filed it in the waste basket" Mr..
Trout said justice must be followed
regardless of the persons concerned
in the case. and the appeal would
receive no consideration from him.
The Rev. j. Luther Seng, pastor
of Bethany church, 2753 Shelby-st,
said he had received the appeal and
would take no action.
Other Pastors Are Indifferent
81 don't want anything to do with
it and I will not reply" said the
Rev. R. H. Benting. st. Marks
%Sl.,,.al, 1901 ;pdonct
The Rev. John S. Albert has re-
ceived the letter but indicated he
does not plan to act.
The Rev. c. E. Gardner, 227 E.
Fall Creek-blvd, South-dr, pastor of
the First United Lutheran Church.
Pennsylvania and Walnut-stS, said
he had not received the letter.
The letter reads in part as fol-
lows:
There seems to be dreadful
misunderstanding of facts current
among our Lutheran ministers and
the people of our churches with re-
gard to the life and character OF
Bruno R. Hauptmann, whose spir-
itual adviser the undersigned hap
pens to be.
Explains German Record
"This letter comes to you for no
other purpose than to enlighten you
about his moral and spiritual atti-
tude toward the kingdom of God
and the Lutheran Church.
when a mere chap of Is years,
he was enlisted in the army, and
year later he had to go to the
front. After being wounded twice
and after the Armistice was signed,
he came back to the Fatherland
which did not appreciate his serv-
ices and which had gone through
such dreadful changes that he
found himself stranger in
strange land
The minister then pointed out
that the former German machine
gunner was the sole support of his
mother and this and the law of
self representation led him ito do
something for which he has paid
truly and for which he has truly
repented."
Calls Bruno True Christian
"But what about Hauptmann to.
day?" Rev. Matthieson's letter asks.
II know him and I love him. He
is a true Christian and a brother
in Christ. He has keen mind and
a tender conscience-if a murder
had to be atoned for, he would not
shrink from making that atonement
for he knows that God demands a
life for life.
II feel that we, as ministers, have
great duty to perform. We have
to preach and stress civic righteous
ness as based upon Gods word.
And there is a great deal for us
to do.
eve have right to uphold those
people who are interested in that
and especially at this time in the
Governor of the state, Harold G..
Hoffman. An encouraging word
from Christian people at this time
would be greatly appreciated.