Imagine that a twenty month old baby has been stolen from his parents. Imagine the horror! Why did this happen to me? Who could do something like this? On March 1st , 1932 a few minutes after 9:00, Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr. was kidnapped from his crib, launching a vast investigation of motives, any conspiracy, and a questionable outcome (Walker 1).The future looked bright for husband and father Col. Charles A. Lindbergh. He was known as the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic in his plane (Walker 1). Lindbergh was also known as the spirit of St. Louis, as well as the most worshipped hero in the Western Hemisphere. Mr. and Mrs. Lindbergh were the proud parents of their twenty mo ...view middle of the document...
We warn you for making public for notifying the police (Gray 2)." On March 4, 1932 a second ransom note arrived along with tons of other mail. The second note called for an increase of the payment to 70,000 dollars in addition of 20,000 dollars in fifty dollar bills (Walker 160). The baby was found near the Lindbergh estate ten weeks later on May 12, 1932, after a truck driver stopping to relieve himself noticed a shallow grave and called the police (Mosely 5, 164).The motives of the kidnappers are still unsure. Most think it was for the money. Others however believe it was in somewhat a vengeance against Mr. and Mrs. Lindbergh. No matter what the circumstances, the baby was still killed. Even though it wasn't on purpose.People believe that the kidnapping was due for money because of the two different ransom notes. The first asking for 50,000 dollars yet the second asking for 70,000 dollars. The money was also asked to be put in small bills in order for easier usage. Therefore the ransom money was assembled twice. The first assortment did not contain gold certificates. The detectives believed that gold certificates would be easier to spot. No two serial numbers were in order and all serial numbers were recorded.The investigators had the suspects narrowed down to one main one and two possible. One of the possible kidnappers died while visiting his family in Germany. His name was Isadore Fesch, a friend and business partner of Brueno Richard Hauptmann. The second possible was Paul H. Wendel. A twenty-five page typed confession was sent to the New Jersey Court House. It was signed by Paul H. Wendel. However the sender of the confession was not identified (Fisher 79). The third main suspect was Brueno Richard Hauptmann. Police arrested Hauptmann on September 19, 1934 because they found a twenty dollar ransom bill in his wallet. He had also paid for gas a few days before with a ten dollar note.Several investigators and detectives took part in the investigation. FBI agent Leon Turrou began the investigation but was soon over-ridded by higher authorities. Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf and Col. Brickinridge were the leaders of the investigation . Col. Brickinridge also served as Lindbergh's attorney. Another man by the name of Dr. John F. Condon was also used in the investigation. Condon was a seventy-two year old former grade school principal. He was chosen by the kidnappers (Grey 3). On April 2, 1932 the two packages containing the money were delivered to Condon's home by Lindberhg and Brickinridge at 7:54 that evening. Condon was connected with payment instructions. He then took the packages to the Bergan Grechneus Florist at 3235 E Tremont Avenue. Further instructions were found. He then proceeded to St. Raymonds Cemetery. Inside the cemetery he met a kidnapper who hid behind a hedge as they spoke. Condon convinced the kidnapper to only take 50,000 dollars of the original demand. At 9:16 p.m. Condon exchanged the packages of ransom money for a note...
