The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-08
LAWYERS WILL
MEET BOARD
SATURDAY !
Execution Date Set for
Jan. II; Carpenter
Still Has Hopes
By KENNETH T. DOWNS

With grim formality, preparations
for the execution Of Bruno Rich
ard Hauptmann at 8 o'clock on
the night Of January II, went for
ward today as his lawyers worked
feverishly on their last moves to
save him from death. 80
Some time today ExeCutioner
Robert Elliott was to receive the
invitation which viii bring him
to New Jersey State prison to per
form his macabre task. The ply
clans who are to pronounce the
Lindbergh baby's murderer dead
have been designated. Invitations
have been sent out to 1S official
witnesses, mostly newSpapermen.
Meantime both Hauptmann's
lawyers and Attorney General
David T. Wilentz'S staff were
working on several fronts prepar-
ing for the last legal tilt over
Hauptmann'S life before the Court
Of PardonS at 10 O. m. Saturday.
Court Pooled"
This court, made up Of Gov
ernor Harold G. Hoffman, Chan
cellor Luther A. Campbell and six
lay Judges of the Court of Errors
and Appeals, can grant Haupt-
mann q communication Of sentence
to life imprisonment, or doom him
by denying his plea.
The court seldom grants elem
ency, and the New York Evening
journal in q copyrighted story
today quoted an unnamed mem.
Der Of the court as saying that
the sentiment Of the body is
against extending mercy TO Haupt-
mann.
The judge was quoted Is say.
ing his colleagues minds are
made up and it'll take plenty Of
new evidence to change them"
Sure win Be Spared
While this would indicate
Hauptmann's chances Of escaping
the chair are slim, the condemned
man continued to radiate con-
fidence in the death house. He
merely grinned when Col. Mark
o. Kimerling, principal keeper,
! informed him Of the pate Of
execution.
shortly afterward. he told his
spiritual adviser. the Rev. John
4 Matthiesen:
ri win mot that way Cd out"
He jerked his thumb = in the
direction Of the little green door"
which leads to the execution
chamber. Nodding toward the
exit Of the death house block, he
said:
81 will that way 90 out"
Asked what Hauptmann con-
tinues to base his optimism on.
the gray.haired Lutheran minister
said:
HE says he is innocent and
knows something win save him.
Besides, he knows there are
many very influential people In
New Jersey who believe In his
innocence and who are working
for him. He has faith IN Gov
ernOr Hoffman"
INNOCENT, SAYS PASTOR
When asked If he shares Haupt-
mann'S optimism, MatthieSen ges-
turing with his hand. replied, hes
itantly: -
"WeII, sometimes I'm that
way, and sometimes I'm this
way. Sometimes I'm cheerful
about his chances and some
times I think"
His expression told what he
thought. He continued:
81 can say this. / am. abSO-
lutely convinced this man Is In
nOcent Of the crime. But I
don't know what God has in
store for him.
"GOd moves in mysterious
ways. BY taking one lie, he
might correct q condition that
would save many other lives.
These are troublesome and UNI
certain times"
HaUpGmann was visited again
yesterday by his wife, Anna. C.
Lloyd Fisher, chief defense coun-
sci, also conferred with the con-
demned man.
Parker to Testify
While Fisher is close-mouthed
about defense plans, it is under.
stood he will have large group
Of witnesses available to testify
before the court Of pardons Sat-
urday. Chief among them will
be Ellis Parker, noted Mt. Holly
detective. The defense is report
ed to have brought one witness
from Germany and to have an.
other on his way here now. /
The court can hear these wit
neSSes, or decline to hear them,
as it sees fit. According to
sources close to the governor, the
court will hear witnesses for both
the defense and the State.
Whether Hauptmann himself will
be heard still has not been de-
cided.