The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-14
GOV. HOFFMAN
UNDECIDED ON
REPR|EvE PLEA
Has Made No Decision on
Delaying Execution,
Executive Says.
HAUPTMANN Is FRANTIC
Seeks Talk With Colonel or
Lie Detector Test as
Doom Nears.
HAUPTMANN is FRANTIC


kidnapping, understood to contain
bitter criticism of newspaper tao
tics used during the Hauptmann
trial, was sent to the associations
executive committee for approval
today.
By United Press
TRENTON, N. j., Jan. 14.-Gov.
Harold G. Hoffman today said he
had made no decision" on the
question of granting reprieve that
would prevent electrocution of
Bruno Richard Hauptmann Friday
night.
Hauptmann's lawyers meantime
continued conferences, preparatory
to making an eleventh hour appeal
to the Federal courts to save the
convicted murderer of Charles A.
Lindbergh Jr.
Chances of obtaining any consid-
Grafton for him there were SO slim
it generally was agreed Hauptmann
will die Friday night unless the
Governor decides to act in the face
of threatened political opposition to
interference.
Suspect Grabs at Straws
Gov. Hoffman was busy today with
other matters in connection with
the state Legislature, which met at
noon, and was not expected to make
a decision on the reprieve question
until tomorrow or later.
The Governor said his trip to New
York over the weekend had no
connection with the Hauptmann
case.
AS his execution hour grew nearer,
Hauptmann himself began to grasp
frantically at any Straws, pleading
for lie detector test and an inter-
view with Col. Lindbergh.
Richard offered himself tc any
test that they want him to take, !"
Mrs, Hauptmann said through tears
after a visit to the death house. He
will do anything at all to show that
he is honest-that he is innocent"
While the condemned man fought
off fear in the death house, five law
yers began new fight to obtain
consideration of his case in the
United States Supreme Court. They
raced against time, for Gov.
Hoffman showed no indication Of
ordering a reprieve and most law
yers considered three days too lit
tie to win court delay.
Refusal Is Expected
Hauptmann's three permanent
counselors-C. Lloyd Fisher, Fred
erick A. Pope and Egbert Rosecrans
conferred secretly last night. Their
plan, it was understood, is to ask
the Federal District Court in Tren-
ton or Newark for writ of habeaS
corpus on a constitutional point.
If the district court refuses the
writ, as most observers believed it
would, the lawyers would go to
higher and higher courts until they
again reach the Supreme Court. The
high tribunal already has refused
to review Hauptmann's conviction.
Gov. Hoffman, once believed 20 be
Hauptmann's best bet for escape
from the chair. stayed in New York
yesterday and was busy today with
opening of the Legislature.
Powerful political pressure bore
on the Governor to prevent inter-
cession for Hauptmann His author
ity to grant reprieve was doubtful
and strong Democratic minority
in the Legislature murmured threats
of impeachment if he overstepped
constitutional bounds.
Despite the Governors predica-
ment, many thought he would save
Hauptmann from death Friday with
a 30-day reprieve. Both he and
other New Jersey Governors have
interpreted the Constitution literally
and granted other such reprieves
without challenge. The difference
in this case is that Hoffman is &C
cuSed of political hay-making and
Attorney General David T. Wilentz,
Hauptmann's prosecutor, is Hoft :
mans bitter political enemy.