The Washington times., 1936-01-22
forged NOTE
SEEN AIDING
HAUPTMANN
By KENNETH T. DOWNS


key to the States murder case
against Bruno Richard Haupt-
mann-waS in the hands Of no
torious public enemy and was
circulated through the underworld
before any Of the subsequent ran
som letters went into the mails.
This information - sensational,
If true-iS contained in an affi-
davit in the hands of Governor
Harold G. Hoffman today, it was
learned by International News
Service.
Colonel Lindbergh, himself, de-
nvered the photostatic copy to the
underworld figure before even DR..
John F.. "Jafsie" Condor entered
the case, according to the sworn
statement.
May Upset Case
If the affidavit's charge can be
proved, it may upset the entire
case against Hauptmann, persons
close to the governor said.
For it will be remembered that
the State depended on it's conten-
ton that Hauptmann alone could
have written that original note to
prove that he was in the Lind
bergh nursery on the murder
night, March /, 1882.
Two other striking facts will be
Recalled:
ID. That the State had diff
guilty proving that Hauptmann's
handwriting was the same as
the handwriting of that first
n0te; and
t2). That Col. H. Norman
SchwarZkopf, heao Of the State
police, testified that the note was
never out of the possession of
himself or his right-hand man,
Capt. John j. Lamb, from the
night of the kidnapping until the
baby's body was discovered 10
weeks later.
Handwriting experts at the trial
used only one word out Of the
original note to picture Hauptmann
aS its author. The word was lis"
They used many words and phrases
to tie him to the subsequent notes.
They explained this by saying that
Hauptmann, disguised" his writ
ing in the first note.
If Hauptmann's lawyers can
prove the truth of the assertions
In the affidavit. the conclusions
they will point out is obvious
that underworld figures may nave
forged the writing of the original
note in a deliberate ransom hoax.
This would upset the States
contention tnat the murder and
ransom hoax we're part of the
same crime, committed by one
man.
The defense attorneys believe
the purported new evidence is
about the best they have yet found
and they may use it as basis for
seeking a new trial or a rehearlng
before the Court of PardonS.
Hoffman Supported
Apprised of the affidavit, prose
cution officials denied that photo
static copies of the original or
nursery" note were ever given out
to anyone until long after "JafSie'
entered the case, nine days after
the kidnapping. One official said:
"COpieS Of the ransom note
were later given out to Morris
ROsner, our underworld inter
mediary, and a few others, but
even then they were accom-
panied everywhere by police.
''If such an affidavit exists,
the maker probably means the
second note. We defy anyone
to Show us that a copy of the
first note was given out at that
time"
The affidavit supports Governor
Hoffman'S theory that underworld
figures had plenty Of opportunity
to initiate the handwriting and
the symbols of the original note
and thus enter a ransom plot
against Colonel Lindbergh.
ROsner in Trenton
Rosner, who was given permis-
sion to investigate by Colonel
lindbergh and who contacted
some notorious criminals in the
early stages of the mystery, was
in Trenton two days ago. He is
known to have gone into the
Hotel Hildebrecht, where Cover
nor Hoffman has special suite,
but the governor denied he had
conferred with him.
There was story in circula-
tion here today that the defense
is planning a spectacular move to
save Hauptmann if efforts to OBJ
tain communication or new trial
fail.
According to this rumored plan,
they would contend the reprieve
by which the governor saved
Hauptmann from execution last
Friday night was illegal and that,
the reprieve being illegal, Haupt-
mann is now legally dead"
One close to the defense en-
phatically denied any such move
would be made, saying:
"Hauptmann'S attorneys
would never Tare go into any
court of this State with any
such hOcuS-pOcus."
Governor Hoffman today denied
reports that Republican State
committeeman last night urged