Bruno Richard Hauptmann In The 1930's

The 1930s was a time that encompassed the Great Depression, tight money, gangsterism and desperate attempts to distract from hard times. It seemed like nothing would be able to stun the people of America after being beat up the past few years, but when the Lindbergh family contacted the police saying that their baby had been kidnapped, America offered their sincere help. The Lindberghs had only recently moved back to New Jersey for a break from Charles Lindbergh’s fame when their child was taken. Evidence was studied at the scene of their missing child’s second-story bedroom. Contact was made with the family in a series of thirteen ransom notes containing instructions until they finally discovered the body of their beloved son. When they claimed a suspect, Bruno Richard Hauptmann, evidence was taken from his residence

The two witnesses were asked to choose Hauptmann from a lineup; the lineup contained Hauptmann, who was very slight and had blond hair, a brawny, Irish detective, and a policeman who was still in uniform. Because the case had been highly publicized for two years, it was simple for them to pick out Hauptmann based on previous descriptions. While in court, it was discovered that one of these witnesses was legally blind; he mistook a vase with flowers for a woman’s hat. The other witness was known for being a “chronic liar” and had only agreed to step forward once a monetary reward was offered. The main person who testified against Hauptmann was Dr. Condons. Initially saying on record that this man was not the description of “cemetery John,” Condon claimed that Hauptmann was the one whom he spoke to in the cemetery. He identified his voice and appearance, which acted strongly against Hauptmann, but Dr. Condons had met with this man once, at night, in a cemetery, two years ago, in which the man only uttered the words, “Hey Doctor, over