Lindbergh Kidnapping Case Study

The case against Bruno Hauptmann for kidnapping the Lindbergh baby in 1935 was known as “the crime of the century.” The Lindbergh Kidnapping was a case where the son Charles Lindbergh, a 20-month-old-baby, was kidnapped from his crib about 9 p.m. in March. The Lindbergh case is well known due to the media attention that it received during the case. Hauptmann was the suspect that paid the price for the crime and died from the electrical chair. In the 1933 controversial court case of the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping, the guilty verdict correctly prosecuted Bruno Hauptmann because of a criminal background, evidence, and witnesses.

Due to Hauptmann’s criminal background, he served as a likely suspect. Hauptmann had a history in the German Military

before coming to the United States. According to the article, “Bruno Richard Hauptmann had served as a teenaged machine gunner in the German infantry on the western front” ("Bruno Richard Hauptmann Biography”). The military background that Hauptmann had helped him with the kidnapping of the baby because he learned how to cover up his tracks after a crime he committed. Later, Hauptmann was arrested in Germany numerous times. After years of arrests, thefts, and jail time he was sent to prison and eventually escaped. Bruno illegally entered the United States with a stolen landing card and a disguise. Stated in the article “Bruno Richard Hauptmann Biography,” Hauptmann made two failed attempts to come to the Untied States. When he tried a third time it was successful and he was not illegally in the United States ("Bruno Richard Hauptmann Biography”). When he entered the United States illegally it shows us what kind of a person he is and what extent he will go to get what he wants. He could have waited until he was accepted legally, but instead he came illegally which shows people he cannot be trusted and should be looked into. After the Military Hauptmann had motives and reasons that bring him closer to the kidnapping. Indicated by the FBI, Hauptmann lost his two brothers in a battle. He did not make it very far into his education by only attending eight years of school. When he was released from the military he had no choice but to turn to crime (“Lindbergh Kidnapping). Once his brothers died he had no on left in his family to care about and no one to help his move on with his life after the military. In addition, it creates motives for Hauptmann because it illustrates to the people that he needs family and he realizes that he will never have one. Subsequently, this shows how his criminal history made him a likely suspect in the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh.
Evidence found at the crime scene linked back to Hauptmann. First, the ransom letters were the biggest piece of evidence that connected Hauptmann to the crime scene. According to Jim Fisher, a retired investigator, states what the ransom note said, “Dear Sir! Have 5000$ redy. 25000$ in 20$ bills 15000$ in 10$ bills and 10000$ in 5$ bills After 2-4 days we will inform you were to deliver the mony We warn you for making anyding public or for notify the police the child is in gut care. Indication for all letters are singnature and three holes” (Fisher). Multiple ransom notes were sent to the family while they supposedly had the baby still alive. Experts compared the handwriting on the note to that of Hauptmann’s, concluding, it was a relatively an identical match. This proves that Hauptmann is related to the kidnapping and that this shows a big way on why he was guilty. Second, a ladder was broken when Charles had been taken and that has been linked to Hauptmann. According to Fisher, the wooden ladder was homemade. It was made into three pieces and when it was compressed it fit across the inside of Hauptmann’s car. Hauptmann was a carpenter and one of the boards in the ladder had been purchased at a building supply store close to his house. When the police were searching through Hauptmann's house they found notebook that had a sketch of the exact ladder and the window of the babies room. The tools that Hauptmann had matched back to the construction of the ladder which didn’t help his case while he pleated innocent in a case he was guilty for. Lastly, the ransom money given to the kidnapper was found in Hauptmann’s garage. According to Christopher Klein, fourteen thousand dollars of the ransom money was found hidden in Hauptmann’s garage after he told the police he didn’t have any of it. Also, forty-thousand dollars were found in the form of gold certificates which were used during the time of the Great Depression in Germany. Hauptmann lied to the police about the things that he had and that shows he can be trusted with the things that he has said in the investigation. Hauptmann made claim about getting the money from other people, but after police investigated further that turned out to be a lie. The evidence found at the crime scene and Hauptmann's house made a compelling case for the police that he was guilty of the kidnapping.
A witness gave the description of Hauptmann once they received the ransom money.

Stated by Klein, The physical description of the man in the cemetery, given by John Codon after they meet, match Hauptmann perfectly. Codon said that the man had a German accent, and Hauptmann was a German. The witness helped the police to filter through some of the less likely suspects to narrow down the suspect field to find the right kidnapper. Once they had the description and Codon to help identify the man who he met with made the investigation go faster to make sure that no one got away with the crime. Amends Hochmuth, a man who always sits and watches the intersection by the Lindbergh home, saw crucial information to help the investigation against Hauptmann. Michael Ray, a journalist, states, “Amends Hochmuth was an eighty-four year-old man who loved to sit and watch an intersection near the Lindbergh home. On March 1, 1932, before noon, Hochmuth said he noticed a dirty green Sedan driving from Hopewell at a fast speed. At the last minute, the driver applied the brakes and the car came to a halting stop in front of the ditch and stalled. As the driver attempted to restart the vehicle, Hochmuth claimed he saw a ladder in the car. Hochmuth said he never forgot the green Sedan nor the driver inside” (Ray). The witness help to create a profile of the kidnapper which can be used in court to help against Hauptmann. Hochmuth also saw the evidence in the car of Hauptmann which helps the investigation tie that piece of evidence back to him. The last suspect that was used in the case was Lou Harding. According to Klein, Lou Harding saw the car driving in the area of the Hopewell house before the kidnapping, and the car had a ladder inside. He said that there were only one person in the car and it was a man. The driver stopped and asked for directions to the Lindbergh house. When the witness gave the directions they got a clear visual of who the driver was. This was used to sketch a

picture of who the kidnapper was and it ties Hauptmann to the kidnapping again and the case grew even stronger against Hauptmann. In conclusion, the witnesses testified in court which help lead to the guilty verdict and execution of Hauptmann.
In the 1933 controversial court case of the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping, the guilty verdict correctly prosecuted Bruno Hauptmann because of a criminal background, evidence, and witnesses. With all the evidence against Hauptmann he is thought of by the people to be guilty. While on the other hand, he tells everyone that he is innocent of the crime and that he should not die for crime he committed. Do you think Hauptmann is guilty of kidnapping the Lindbergh baby?