The Washington times., 1936-02-28
WILL DEFEND
HAUPTMANN
WITNESSES
Col. Lindbereh Ready
To Uphold Whited
In Testimony
BY KENNETH T. DOWNS
Copyright. 1885, by International
News Service)

1901 Dy
News Service)
TRENTON, N. j., Feb. 28 GIN.
S0.-While remaining silent in
the face Of Governor Hoffman's
repeated attacks on its witnesses
at the Hauptmann trial, the at
torney generals office has pre-
pared to take drastic steps II
perjury complaints are lodged
against any of these witnesses,
International News Service learned
today.
One of these steps, a member Of
Attorney General David T. VIII
entz's staff disclosed, might be to
demand a grand jury inveStiga-
tion to determine whether Gov
ernor Hoffman, the Hauptmann
defense lawyers, and Mrs. Anna
Hauptmann conSpired against the
questioned witnesses.
May Call Lindbergh
The aide declared:
'Tf they entertain any charges
against our witnesses and call
for q grand jury investigation,
Prosecutor Hauck may turn
around and ask the HunterdOn
County Grand Jury to determine
whether any conspiracy has been
entered into by the Governor,
Mrs. Hauptmann and the de-
fenSe attorneys.
"There have been too many
threats ON the part of Haupt-
mann's hackers. While we have
remained silent we'n show them
we have an idea or two ourselves
If they continue to think up more
schemes without worrying about
whom thSe schemes might un-
Justly injure."
Meantime, Col. Charles A. Lind
bergh, himself, will be called upon
to defend Millard Whited, one of
the principal State witnesses under
the Governors attack, if moves
are made to indict him, Attorney
General David T. Wilentz revealed.
Credibility Attacked
Whited, the Sourland Mountain
logger, was the witness who testi-
fled he saw Bruno Richard Haupt-
mann skulking about the Lind
bergh premises several days prior
to the kidnapping and murder on
March /, 1882.
The Governor has publicly at
tackled Whited s credibility, declar-
ing that the backwoodsman told
police after the crime that he
never saw any strangers in the
vicinity at that time. Hints OF
reward money prompted Whited
to testify against Hauptmann
later, the Governor intimated.
The defense is prepared to have
Mrs. Hauptmann sign a perjury
complaint against the witness.
If this is done, Colonel Lind
bergh will come to Whited's as
sistance. the attorney general de-
clared. The aviator informed au-
thorities before the Hauptmann
trial that Whited, the very day
after the kidnapping, rot only told
of seeing a stranger near the Lind
bergh home a few days before,
but gave a description which later
was found to fit Hauptmann.
It would not be necessary for
Colonel Lindbergh to abandon MS
voluntary exile in England to come
to Whited's assistance. He could
make a sworn deposition in an
English court and have his testl-
mony sent here.
Colonel Lindbergh was prepared
to take the stand as a rebuttal
witness at the trial to defend
Whited's testimony, Wilentz said.
but it was not necessary to call
him.
The attorney general said Lind
bergh had described thoroughly
his conversation with Whited be-
fore dawn after the kidnapping.
Wilentz quoted the colonel as
saying:
"It was about 4 o'clock in the
morning after the kidnapping
that I talked, to Whited. We
had been visiting farmhOuSes in
the neighbOrhOOd looking for
clues to the kidnapers Of my son.
Four policemen were with me.
"Whited was In his kitchen
when we arrived. He appeared
surprised at having us call at
that hour. But any fears he had
were quickly cleared away be-
cause when 1 stepped up and
asked him if he recognized me
he said: Sure you're Indy.
TALKED TO STRANGER
II told him my son had been
kidnapped and / asked him If he
saw any persons around who
had acted suspiciOuSly, or If he
had seen any strangers in the
neighbOrhOOd.
"Whited said he had, and de-
scribed the stranger. He said
he saw the person coming out
Of the bushes back of my house
I on one occasion. On another,
my recollection is that he ex.
changed a word with the
stranger"
The governor, in public state
ment, yesterday brought a fourth
State witness under attack. He
was Joseph Perrone, the Bronx
taxi driver who identified Haupt-
mann as the man for whom he
had delivered one of the ransom
notes in 1882.