The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-31
NOT AFRAID TO DE- WEEPS
BRUNO, CLAIMING Innocence,
CHANCE FOR LIFE HELD Slim
Killer, Who Might Gain New Reprieve by
Changing His Story Materially, Prays in
Cell for Miracle to Prevent Execution.
Continued From Page One)

the ransom intermediary in the
Lindbergh kidnapping and vital
witness in the trial that resulted in
Hauptmann's conviction.
Hauptmann was pale and shaken
as the guards made the final prep
arations.
Kimberling said that, in a trem-
bling voice, Hauptmann told him:
Although I'm innocent, I'm not
afraid TO die and will go to the chair
feeling better than some of the
other men who testified against me- "
The warden also said that recently
Hauptmann told him that DR.. Con-
don at Flemington told Hauptmann
that he was unable to identify him
as the receiver Of the ransom money.
Dr. Condor identified Hauptmann,
however, at the trial.
Makes No Final Request
Kimberling left Hauptmann stand
ing at the front of his cell, gripping
the bars and leaning heavily
against them. Kimberling asked
Hauptmann If there was anything
he wanted. There was nothing.
Fisher refused to give up hope
for his client but his manner beled
his words.
What are you going to do next?"
he was asked.
Il don't know" Fisher said. His
eyes were blood shot and he was
nervous. There's always a chance
while there's life"
He said he was going to talk i'm
mediately to Frederick A. Pope, CO.
counsel, land then I may know
what we will do"
Many RumOrs Heard
Hauptmanni looked every bad"
but he was not weeping when Fish
er visited him.
Hauptmann asked him about his
wife, Fisher said, and if she was
all right. Mrs. Hauptmann will not
be allowed to see her husband
again, Fisher said.
The frantic last hours of Haupt-
mann's life, the preparations for
execution and the extraordinary
precautions taken by prison guards
TO prevent a suicide attempt were
accompanied by many rumors that
something would happen"
one 1.-THE most persistent ru-
mors was that Hauptmann had told
his wife to tell Gov. Hoffman that
ne was ready to talk. This was de-
MED by Mrs. Hauptman, by Hoff-
man, by Kimberling, by Atty. Gen.
David l. Wilentz and by Fisher.
Whether Hoffman would make a
last-minute visit to the death
house remained uncertain.
1t was known that prison officials
believe Hauptmann may talk, and
with that in mind, they put guard
IN front OF his cell today with in
structions not to take his eyes off
the doomed man for an instant.
Crowd Begins Forming
Outside the high brick walls of
state prison, all developments were
rushing Bruno closer and closer to
death. The Court of Pardons had
pronounced its final word of doom.
Gov. Harold G. Hoffman, who
doubts that the Lindbergh mystery
will be solved by Hauptmann's exc
cution and would like to see his life
prolonged Indefinitely, had said
there would be no reprieve.
The area Immediately surrounding
the prison was closed off by police.
Only newspaper men and officials
by Kimberling were permitted to
cross their lines.
But soon after dawn a crowd be-
gan forming as near as it could get
and this crowd was expected to be
OF huge proportions by dusk. Pri-
vate automobiles, BUSES. and trains
were bringing in excursionists from
nearby cities.
The Lindbergh kidnaping-a bru-.
tai, wanton crime that shocked the
world-rushed forward to its de-
nouement on the wings of public
hysteria, ruinor and melodrama
that has characterized it from the
night of March /, 1892, when Col
Charles A. Lindbergh informed the
village constable of Hopewell, N. j..
by telephone that his baby had
been stolen from its crib.
Characters Await Denouement
Gov, Hoffman, silent and appar-
entity crushed by his failure to clear
up the mystery he maintains was
not cleared by Hauptmanns arrest
and conviction, was in semi seclu.
sion, awaiting possible summons
from the death house that the
prisoner wanted to see him and
change his story.
In the tiny English village of
Weald, Col. Lindbergh, his wife. and
their son, Jon, lived the quiet life
OF country people, apparently UNI
aware that the life of the man con-
victed of killing their first born was
ebbing fast.
In the village of Kamenz, Ger
many, Hauptmann's aged mother
wept and bitterly exclaimed that
her son was being made victim of
people over there" who have no
conscience"
In his New York City home, DR..
John F. Condor, who as the melo-
dramatic "Jafsie" paid $4,000 to
ransom baby already dead, was
available to no one. He testified at
Hauptmann's trial that Hauptmann
was the man who collected the ran
enY,a Gov uaffu,or at+acIad 49,;