The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-04-01
PRISONER CALMEST MAN
IN PRISON AT NEWS

Deru0BS Office anu SalQ some
thing about a "48-hour reprieve. "
But we wanted something official.
At sos p. m. Kimberling
emerged from his office, slip Of
paper in his hand. He read q
typewriter announcement which
in effect said he had received q
telephone message from Allyne
Freeman, foreman of the Mercer
county grand jury, informing Kim.
berling to hold off the execution
for AZ hours because there are
some interesting new angles in the
case the grand jury wished to in
veStigate."
The grand jurors were at this
very moment celebrating whether
they should indict Paul H.
Wendell, former Trenton lawyer,
for the murder of the Lindbergh
baby. Wendell had made q "con-
feSSion," which he subsequently
repudiated, that he had abducted
and killed the baby. Ellis H.
Parker, ST., chief of Burlington
county detectives, who obtained
the Wendell Confession" had
been before the grand jury for
hours. Wendell himself also was
among those summoned before
the jury.
No New Date Set
Kimberling was asked:
"DOeS this mean Hauptmann
will be executed Thursday
night?"
He replied:
81 am setting no date at this
time"
The death sentence had been
set for "the week of March 80"
and Colonel Kimberling, under
the law, could execute it any day
this week without q court order.
Reporters dashed from the
prison, racing pell nell down the
street to the "block house" where
they flashed the story to the
world.
The news quickly spread to che
crowd Of approximately 10000
congregated in the streets back Of
the roped-off dead line" But the
mob refused to believe the news
and did not diSperSe until news
paper extras" appeared.
Fisher Jubilant
I contacted Lloyed Fisher later.
He was jubilant. He described
Hauptmsnn's reaction to his re-
markable experience. He said:
when / saw Hauptmann in
the morning he showed evidence
of grief and concern. When 1
saw him later in the day he
felt better.
Virtually every effort to save
Hauptmann had been exhausted
and no one knew that better
than he did.
And then along about 6 p. m.
came word that Governor HOff-
man had granted . 3O-day re-
prieve to Charles Zied, the man
who was to have preceded
Hauptmann to the electric chair
Zied'S COON news had q stimu-
lating effect on Hauptmann.
"Hauptmann took the news
calmly when I broke it to him.
He seemed to have SenSed it.
AS a matter of fac; I never
saw Hauptmann break down.
He was upset yesterday morn
ing-that was all. The only
time / ever saw him in tears
was at Pennington when he
reached his cell after he had
been convicted"
PITIFUL FIGURE
Reverend Matthiesen who, with
Fisher. broke the good news to
Hauptmann. said:
II went to bed from $3.50 to
$3.50 p. m. because I knew that
Hauptmann was having an hour
of devotion with the Rev. d.
G. Werner. When / came back
to the prison at about 1880 p. m.
I stayed around there until
about 8 p. m. because / knew the
grand jury was in session.
"Then I heard the stay Of
execution. I rushed down to
Hauptmann'S ell. Have you
heard the good newS?' I asked.
He frightened up but didn't say
anything for a moment or two.
He was a pitiful figure, sitting
there his head shaved and
trousers leg slit, waiting to be
taken to the death chamber.
Finally he said: I am very glad
Il hope this is the first sign
Of better things to come"
Explains Break"
The Rev. Matthiesen said Haunt
mann broke down and wept yes
terday morning when Colonel
kimberling went to see him be-
cause he had been moved to a
different cell in the death house
a cell that save for a chair was
empty. The preacher said:
"Thn picture of his wife and
baby were in the other cell.
He suddenly became very lonely.
Emotion Overcame him. That,
and that alone, made him break
down."
Detective Hicks said he was the
first to break the news to Mrs,
Anna Hauptmann, the prisoners
wife, who was waiting fearfully
In her room in a downtown hotel.
He said:
"She chOked up and could
hardly talk, she was SO over.
jOyed."
AT my hotel I found people at
the cocktail bar reading conioc ~