FOR114

CASE DIGEST
BRUNO RICHARD HAUPTMANN CASE
THE LINBERGH KIDNAPPING
 EVENTS THAT LED THE PERPETRATOR TO COMMIT THE
CRIME
 Before Hauptmann was involved in the Lindbergh's case, way back in his previous life,
Hauptmann served in the German army in (1917–18) during World War I. After the war he
apparently drifted into burglary, being convicted of breaking and entering in 1919 and being
arrested for possession of stolen goods in 1922 (he escaped before trial). Twice in 1923 he was
arrested for illegal entry into the United States.

 Given the facts that Hauptmann was engaged in some criminal acts in his previous life, years
passed when Hauptmann again was involved in a crime at the Lindbergh’s home in Hopewell, N.J.
, on the night of March 1, 1932, the said kidnapper of the Lindbergh baby climbed with the use of
a ladder into the second-story of their house specifically the nursery area in which the baby is
placed, he then left a ransom note demanding $50,000. It’s clear that a lust for wealth is a factor
that constitute to the commission of the crime.
 PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE

Bruno Richard Hauptmann was a German-born carpenter who was

convicted of the abduction and murder of the 20-month-old son of
aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The
Lindbergh kidnapping became known as "The Crime of the Century”,

During his trial, the patsy for the plot to turn and shift the psychology
of America against Germany, claims that if he only had enough
money, he could have gotten himself a proper medical care and
attention, things could have been turned the other way around.
 EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE
CRIME
 During the search at the kidnapping scene, traces of mud were found on the floor of the
nursery, and also footprints which is impossible to measure were found under the nursery
window. Two sections of the ladder had been used in reaching the window, one of the two
sections was split or broken where it joined the other, it simply indicates that the ladder had
broken during the ascent or descent of the perpetrator.

 The Household and estate employees were also questioned and had been investigated.
Colonel Lindbergh already made his move to asked friends to communicate with the
kidnappers, they made widespread appeals for the kidnappers to start negotiations. Various
underworld characters were dealt with in attempts to contact the kidnappers, and numerous
clues were advanced and exhausted just to locate and bring back the baby hopefully.
 FORENSIC EVIDENCE
 Charles Augustus Linbergh Jr. the 20 month old baby that had been kidnapped, he is the
son of the famous aviator, Charles Linbergh and Anne Morrow Linbergh.

 He was kidnapped on March 1, 1932 at about 9:00p.m. in their house specifically in the
nursery room in which he is present at that moment.

 After his absence was discovered by his attending nurse Betty Gow, she then quickly told
the parents of the child on what is going on.

 By further inspecting the nursery room they found a single piece of paper which is actually
a ransom note ordering and forcing them to give $50,000 in exchange to their child Charles.
EVIDENCES PRESENT DURING THE CRIME AND OTHER ADDITIONAL
ARTIFACTS

 The Ladder used to climbed the house.

 The Ransom bill Serial Number.
 The Police list of the crime and fingerprints that was taken.
 The Sketch of the police which is referring to Hauptmann.
 The $10 gold certificate on which Hauptmann license plate No. was written by the Gas
Station.
 The Ransom Note.
 Based from what I have learned and picked up in our previous class in forensic evidence, I
believed that an evidence is a crucial and important part in the due process of a certain case.
May it be physical evidence or testimonial, witnesses etc.… plays an important role in
solving the case, all evidences must be properly processed in a way that it was originally
seen, picked-up or received.

 Always avoid tampering and making other artifacts that might decrease or changed the
appearance and state of an evidence. Remember carelessness will put your investigation in
danger or worse, your gathered evidence will be or might be considered null and void in
court
 The Good things that the investigators did in the case is that they imposed
perseverance, they didn’t waiver despite the hardship and trickiness of the case, they're
still moving forward in hope of getting close to the answers that they are wanting to
seek, I'm quite amazed how they puzzled evidences that you might not think of, but
surprisingly is connected from the other evidences that they have gathered. Their
passion and dedication is at top, given the challenges that they might still encounter
while investigating their endurance and stamina conquers all horizons.
 The mistakes that the collectors
made at the crime scene was not
drafting and proofreading couple of  In making your work do not settle
for less but instead always do your
times to make sure that the outcome
excellent job.
of their work is considered
excellent, they might miss the
importance of good writing in
which a simple mistake might turn
the outcome of your work in a
crappy setting, they should consider
the size, shape, and the slanting of
different letters which is considered
a vital features of this overview.
 PERPETRATORS GETAWAY

 The Perpetrators left the ladder at the crime scene and used a motor vehicle
to achieve their getaway.

 Before leaving the crime scene they left a piece of paper which is actually a
ransom note on the nursery's window which states a sum of $50,000 demand
in exchange for the baby's safe return. All of them was in state of shock and
remorse but was warned to not get the police involved or else they will get in
trouble.
 Although it was possible that the abduction and murder were spite work, it
seemed more likely that the kidnapers, observing from this lookout point that
the alarm was spreading from the Lindbergh home, became frightened, killed
their small prisoner and fled.

 During the search at the crime scene, traces of mud were found in the area
which led to a conclusion of the perpetrator mode of operation, after the
ransom note was discovered they discussed the payment, it was all set but
due to some circumstances they failed to do so.so they turned over the case to
the FBI.
 THE TRIAL

 The case succeeded in apprehending the suspect Hauptmann by the help of the evidences
that was gathered at the crime scene. By carefully organizing the evidences they achieved
answers that is relevant to the case, at trial the testimonies of the witnesses was carefully
reviewed to unlock all possible information about the case, handwriting identification was
also applied in the case relating to the ransom note and also the marked bills was successful
in apprehending Hauptmann. The ladder left at the house of the Lindbergh's was also a great
factor that leads to the apprehension of the criminal.
 Hauptmann had been already related and engaged into criminal
acts and had criminal records in the past so the prosecution was
smooth to process the case because of Hauptmann's history.
 The governor of the State of New Jersey granted a 30 day reprieve
Hauptmann, on February 17, 1936 Hauptmann was resentenced to be
electrocuted during the week of March 30, 1936. On the said date, The
pardon Court of the State of N.J. denied Hauptmann's petition for
Clemency, so unfortunately on April 3, 1936 at 8:47pm Hauptmann was
electrocuted.
 THE DEFENSE

 The defense was not planned, Hauptmann was resentenced to be electrocuted

during the week of March 30, 1936. On the said date, The Pardon Court of the
State of N.J. denied Hauptmann's petition for Clemency, so unfortunately on
April 3, 1936 at 8:47 p.m. Hauptmann was electrocuted to death.
 NO, The Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey on October 9, 1935
upheld the verdict of the Lower Court. Hauptmann’s appeal to the Supreme
Court of the United States was denied on December 9, 1935 and he was to be
electrocuted on January 17, 1936, However, on the same day the Governor of
the State of New Jersey granted a 30-day reprieve and on February 17, 1936,
Hauptmann was resentenced to be electrocuted during the week of March 30,
1936. On March 30, 1936, the Pardon Court of the State of New Jersey denied
Hauptmann’s petition for clemency, and on April 3, 1936 at 8:47 p.m. , Bruno
Richard Hauptmann was electrocuted to death. 
 In my point of view I believe that Bruno Hauptmann was involved in the
case and is guilty, but I think that the way they due process the case is a
bit not convincing, they still lack concrete evidences, they might still have
undiscovered facts about the case but they still push through without even
digging a little more to unlock additional information's and answers, but I
guess that’s how the justice system works in the past we don’t have
control of that.
 I've seen a lot of articles and books regarding the Lindbergh's Case, some still is not
convinced that Hauptmann is guilty. A lot of those articles is on Hauptmann's side
because they believed that he is truly innocent. Innocent or not things had been already
done, lets just hope that our Justice System in the present and in the future will be a lot
more keener, persevered and is equal to the rights of all men.

SUBMITTED TO: FLORA LIZA S. LAMASAN

SUBMITTED BY: POLANCOS, IAN NICOLE O.