The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-04-01
Wendell Would Testify

Trenton, April 1-UP)-Paul H. Wendell, who wrote, then repudiat- ed, confession of the Lindbergh crime that delayed the execution of Bruno Richard Hauptmann. ask ed the Mercer county grand jury today for permission to appear be- fore 1t and explain his strange role in the case.
 Wendell wrote letter to Fore man Allyne Freeman and to Pro- secutor Erwin Marshall as the grand jury dwadled along in it's inquiry into whether Wendell had any part in the Lindbergh crime.
 Wendell offered to waive im- munity if he appeared before the jury.
 The word from Wendell was talk en to the grand jury by the warden of the county jail, where the dis barred lawyer has been held since last Saturday night.
 Took Letter to Jury
 Freeman read the letter in the presence of the warden but did not ask the warden to bring Wendell immediately to the grand jury room. The foreman then went into the jury room and the doors were locked.
 Hauptmann, who was saved from death in the electric chair last night by the grand jury's request for more time in which to study the Wendell case. waited in his deathhouse cell for word of devel- opments in the Wendell investiga- ton.
 Mrs. Hauptmann went to the prison to see him shortly after noon but there was some delay because of the presence of another visitor in the death house. She was told to come back later She walked away from the prison with tears in her eyes but without comment.
 After receiving the Wendell re- quest, Marshall and Freeman again conferred briefly.
 Accused Of Politics
 AS Freeman was returning to thS grand jury room he was informed that certain newspapers were charging him with playing politics.
 He shrugged and said that's all right by me"
 After Freeman returned to the grand jury room there was a long delay during which none of the routine witnesses was called.
 Tt ,vop kolIava1 thu iIiru tuae ar guing whether to proceed with the Wendell case.
 Politics Being Played
 Trenton, N. J., April l-UP)- The complex pattern of the Haupt- mann case contains many strange threads, not the least of which is politics. For in New Jersey Dem ocrat" and Republican" carry connotationS far above their per- functory designations in other states. Not that Bruno Richard Hauptmann's life will depend on the political strength of the forces op- posed to his immediate execution, but the pro and con alignment is curiously interesting. Involved in the last minute developments that saved Hauptmann at least tempor- arily from the chair:
 Makeup of Both
 Governor Harold G. Hoffman; Col. Mark O. Kimberling, keeper of the state prison; Allyne Freeman. foreman Of the grand jury, detec- tive James Kirkham who charged Paul Wendell with the murder of the Lindbergh baby and Ellis Park CT, detective who obtained the dis puted confession. All of these are republicans. Skeptical of the Wen del angle or determined to see that Hauptmann dies: Attorney General David T. Wilentz; Anthony M. Hauck, Jr, prosecutor of Hun terdon county; prosecutor Erwin Marshall who is presenting the Wendll case to the grand jury, and Leo Rogers, assistant prosecutor. All of those are democrats. Rogers is the democratic chairman of Mer- cer county.
 PrO-H0ffman Grand Jury
 So sharp is the democratic-re- publican line of demarcation that last night just before the time set for the execution, hotel Hobbies buzzed with gossip along these lines: He'll never burn tonight. Why it's Hoffman grand jury" Major Kimberling who is the Governors choice to succeed Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf as head of the state police. Col Schwarzkopf is technically non-parttsan al- though his relations with Democrat administration have been more friendly. He is one Of those who believe Hanptmann solely guilty. MOURNING CLOTHES HIDDEN
 Trenton, April i.-CuP)-Anna