The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-03
Action by Gov. Hoffman
Seen as Last Hope for
Condemned Man.
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final decision, Mr.. Marshall said
one reason was that Chief of Coun-
ty Detectives James S. Kirkham had
the only copy of the murder COM
plant tucked away in his pocket
since Saturday.
Explains Reason for Inaction
Therefore" he said, "the grand
jury did not take a vote.
ut could have turned in a vote
without having the signed, COM
plant but failure to have it on
hand interfered with proceedings"
Mi. Kirkham explained that he
merely forgot about the complaint.
Asked if the present situation gave
Gov. Hoffman wide loophole for
granting a reprieve, Mr.. Marshall
said:
ut looks like it, but I refuse to
discuss the matter"
Meanwhile, Col. Kimberling re-
turned to the prison from Mr. Mar
shalls office and then started for
the attorney generals Office at the
StatehouSe.
Leaves Letter for Wilentz
Kurt Mertig, secretary of the
Citizens Committee of 500-an or
ganization which believes Haupt-
mann may have been guilty of kid
mapping, but was innocent of muir
der-brought petitions signed by
$4,000 persons to the Governors
Office. He said the petitions asked
a new trial and reopening of the
case.
Col Kimberling arrived at Mr..
Wilentz'ss office at 11:50 a. M, but
the attorney general had not yet
come to work.
Mr.. Kimberling left a letter with
an assistant of Mr.. Wilentz and
said he expected a reply within
an hour.
Certain Death, Says Hauck
Prosecutor Anthony M. Hauck Jr.
of Hunterdon County, titular head
of the Hauptmann prosecution, in
terpreted the grand jury stand as
certain death for Hauptmann un-
less the Governor grants another
reprieve."
Mr.. Hauck said he would go into
the courts to have any new stay
set aside. But even this action
would assure Hauptmann of at least
another month of life, since Mr..
Hauck could not act until after the
week of March 81 and a new death
date would have to be set.
A paradoXical situation gave
weight and authority to reports that
Gov Hoffman planned to save the
convicted Lindbergh baby murderer
again.
Early today while Hauptmann
slept peacefully in his death house
cell, still believing he will live out
his natural span, forces and coun-
ter forces generated in the cauldron
of New Jersey politics were at work
one striving to send him to his
death tonight, the other seeking to
postpone his death indefinitely.
At stake was more than Haupt-
mann's life-the political ambitions
of Gov. Hoffman, whose friends at
one time advanced him as presi-
Dental or vice presidential timber,
and those of Mr.. Wilentz, whose
friends believe he will be the next
Governor of New Jersey. In the
shadowy background were lesser
fiures but all related to the prin-
cipals, Hauptmann, Gov. Hoffman
and Mr.. Wilentz.
Petition Demands Inquiry
From the plays audience came
audible cries of disapproval. A pc
tition signed by DR.. Harold w.
Dodds, president of Princeton Uni
versity-an institution of which
New Jersey is most proud-and SO
Well-known scholars and Princeton
graduates, was delivered to the Leg
islature, demanding that it investi-
gate whether attempts have been
made by public officials or by any
other persons to annul orderly
processes of law, and if so, whether
grounds existed for the removal or
impeachment of such officials"
The petition was delivered to the
three Assemblymen of Mercer
County, one of whom, Crawford
Jameson, an enemy of Gov.
Hoffman, who has demanded his
impeachment. 1t was signed by Prof.
Edwin w. Kemmerer, famous expert
on money: Charles R. Erdman Jr.,
Mayor of Princeton and former
professor of politics; Dean Luther
P. Eisenhart of the Princeton grad
uate school, and DR.. Abraham Flex-
ner, director of the Institute of Ad-
vanced Study, among others.
New Jersey newspapers continued
their attacks on Gov. Hoffman
Gov. Hoffman, who once again
seemed the final arbiter of Haupt-