The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-02
Gov. Hoffman TeStifieS a.
Inquiry Into Wendell /
Confession
SILENT ON REPRIEVE
Executive May Act if Jury
Fails to Complete
Case, Is Hint.
Copyright. 1885. by United Press,

NSOpJiikht. ASoo, Ny OuitCN EAcccl
TRENTON, N. j., April 2.
= Bruno Richard Haupt-
mann's chances of escaping
the electric chair tomorrow
night increased rapidly today
as the Mercer County Grand
Jury opened new lines of in
quiry in it's consideration of
the Lindbergh baby murder.
Gov. Harold G. Hoffman, who be-
lieves Hauptmann did not commit
the crime alone, was the first of
several new witnesses to go before
the grand jurors, indicating that
their investigation might extend far
beyond 7 p. m. indianapolis time.
tomorrow, the time set for Haupt-
mann's execution.
There was no official word from
the jury as to how far it would in
quire into the murder and the case
of Paul H. Wendell, who wrote and
then repudiated a confession to the
crime.
Wilentz, Jafsie May Testify
But with the appearance of lhe
Governor to urge that the mystery
be solved before Hauptmann Il put
to death; with the preparations of
Atty. Gen. David T. Wilentz to go
before the jury in opposition to any
such delay, and with reports that
DR.. John F. (Jafsie) Condor, who
paid over $4,000 ransom to the kid
naper just four years ago today.
would be called, there was every in
dication that the jury would be UNI
able to complete its inquiry before
the hour now set for Hauptmann's
death.
Wilentz, state police superin-.
tendent, H. Norman Schwarzkopf
and Hunterdon County Prosecutor
Anthony NJ. Hauck made every eff
fort to force the grand jury to drop
the murder charge placed against
Wendell and thus permit Haupt-
mann to go to the electric chair
this week.
But SO heavy was the tangle of
political animoSities, so powerful
was the momentum of sensational
developments in the climactic hours
OF the case that it appeared only
drastic action could force the Jury
10 bring its inquiry to an end to-
morrow
kimberling Studies Delay
Whether Hoffman, under such
circumstances, would issue another
reprieve was uncertain, but Head
Keeper Mark o. Kimberling of the
state prison, already has Announced
that he will delay execution until
saturday or Sunday if necessary.
unless the grand jury has reached a
decision before then.
Federal investigators made their
nrst appearance in the case when
Edward c. Dougherty, Philadelphia
district supervisor of the alcoholic
tax unit of Pennsylvania. APP
peared at the Statehouse and made
available records concerning the ac-
tivities of Wendell from March to
November, 1892.
Dougherty was the first Federal
officer actually to appear in the
case, although there have been re-
ports that the Department of Justice
IS investigating Wendels charge
that he was kidnapped in New York
and tortured.
WendePs Record Barred
According to Wilentz, the records
show that in March, 1882. about
the time of the abduction of the
Lindbergh baby, Wendell was all
legged to be under the alias of Christ
Narr and connected with a COM
pany which was negotiating for
construction of huge still near
Scranton, Pa. The plant was seized
before. the still could be put into
operation
The exact significance was not
disclosed but it was inferred that
a man involved in a project of that.
magnitude would not have had time
Tor kidnapping at the same time.
Hauck, meanwhile, charged that
Holman was attempting to block
his investigation of an attack by
five men yesterday on the caretaker
at the Lindbergh home in the Sour
land Mountains-scene of the kid
naping.
Gov. Hoffman testified for hour
and Is minutes. Upon completing
his testimony he descended the mar
row, winding private stairway to the
county prosecutors Office.
A few minutes later he came out
and with guards holding back every
one who attempted to speak to him,
went down the elevator and drove
away in his automobile.
AS the Governors automobile sped
away from the Courthouse Wilentz
stepped out OF his office at the
Statehouse several blocks away and
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