The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-01

SOIle one cHeereQ, ana soon great
chorus OF hurrahs lifted into the
night sky. Prisoners in nearby cell
blocks heard the cheers. They didn't
know for what reason, but they
cheered too.
- Jury Bitterly AssaiIed
Meanwhile, in the grand jury
room in the courthouse sulphur
Gus debate was raging. Though
the session was secret, though
guards kept all outsiders at far
distance, it was obvious that the
jury was bitterly divided.
At IL p. m. it sent out for sand
wiches. AT los a. m. it adjourned
without taking action. Foreman
Freeman intimated it would meet
this afternoon to continue consid-
ering Wendels confession. Marshall
said the jury would not continue
this consideration until Thursday
Yesterday, Freeman had his way.
He probably will today.
WendelS case was the answer to
Hauptmann's prayers for a miracle.
Only Hauptmann had believed that
the miracle would occur, and he
was none too sure.
In his last hours he wrote, in
his foreign, clumsy English, to Gov.
Hoffman thanking him for his in
tereSt in his case, reaSSerting in
naive but seemingly sincere terms
his innocence, and denouncing his
prosecutor, Wilentz, and DR.. John
F. (Jafsie) Condor.
Tortured, Wendell Claims
Wendell, man of 48 with con-
siderable local reputation for intel
lect and unscrupulousness, had
been taken into custody" in New
York Feb. IA. He had been held
secretly, and, according to his story,
tortured.
His confinement there apparently
was illegal. He was transferred
across a state line into New Jersey
without the usual formality of ex-
tradition. Then, last Saturday
night, Detective Ellis Parker of
Burlington County, obeying the
angry command of Wilentz, deliv-
cred him to Mercer County authori-
ties.
Three days before Parker deliv-
cred him, when there were many
JUNIORS but no true knowledge that
was even in custody, some I'M
own person mailed copies of his
,onfession" to members of the
Board of Pardons.
The instant Wendell was in the
lands of Mercer County authorities,
he repudiated the confession. Prose-
cutor Marshall ordered that he was
against him in 1881 that charged
embezzlement.
Kirkham Also Republican
County Detective James Kirkham
diSobeyed this order and charged
him with the murder of the Lind
bergh baby. 1t was this charge that
the grand jury took up yesterday
over Marshalrs objection.
Kirkham is a Republican and a
member of Hoffmans organization.
Parker, friend of Gov. Hoffman
who has a national reputation be-
cause of his association with the
Hall Mills case, had been called in
to the case by Hoffman after Hoff-
man reprieved Hauptsnann in jan
uary.
Hoffman denied strenuously that
he had had anything to do with
Wendel's arrest and confinement or
had known about his confession.
Last night he denied that he had
had anything to do with the grand
jury action. or had known about its
foreman's request for reprieve I'M
oil after it was made.
Wilentz Hints Charges
Wilentz, in a press interview yes
terday, limited that charges might
be made against Parker. What would
be charged against the heavy rural
sleuth who is proud of his 80 years
experience in police work." Wilentz
would not say.
There was no doubt Of the legality
Of the reprieve given Hauptmann
last night. unlike the reprieve Hoff-
man had granted in January. KIM
berling Is under court mandate TO
execute Hauptmann at any time
during this week. II he wishes. he
may postpone 1t until 1l:59 .. m.
Saturday.
re said last night that he would