Charles R.: The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping

The first of March, 1932, 9:00p.m. infant child Charles Lindbergh Jr was taken away from his nursery (“Lindbergh Kidnapping.”). Charles Jr., son of Charles A. Lindbergh, a historical aviator, was alive for twenty months, until he was found dead by an assistant, William Allen (“Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping.”). Amidst their search and rescue (before the infant’s demise was known), the Lindberghs were visited by Americans from all over that came and assisted in their time of desperation. The Lindbergh baby kidnapping not only influenced the Lindberghs, but also brought out sympathy that was thought to be missing in America at the time. Charles A. Lindbergh was a prominent person in the 1920s. Charles A. Lindbergh was the first person to fly nonstop
across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Paris alone. (Pendergast 132). He was not the first to accomplish the feat itself, but to travel alone was remarkable. Lindbergh flew approximately 3,610 miles, totaling at 33 and a half hours in the “Spirit of St Louis”, his airplane (Pendergast 137). The glory that Lindbergh received in achieving this landmark had influenced and focused people to do great things with aviation. For example, Lindbergh had influence on the commercial airlines, and he influenced the military to create effective airplanes for the war (Pendergast 137). Lindbergh’s fame reached everywhere, and everyone knew his name. Lindbergh’s fame, however, is not just because of his travels, but of a crime that was committed onto his family.
His twenty-month-old son was kidnapped. Charles and his wife, Anne Lindbergh, fell into sorrow. News spread across America, it caught everyone’s attention; from average citizens to underground criminals. The kidnapper left several ransom notes to the Lindbergh family and to the public (“Lindbergh Kidnapping.”). At first, the kidnapper left a ransom note of 50,000 dollars at the window sill of the nursery (“Lindbergh Kidnapping.”). The Lindberghs contacted the Hopewell police (the Lindbergh mansion is located in Hopewell, New Jersey), and as the ransom notes increased in complexity, the state authorities got involved. A second ransom note appeared on the sixth of March (“Lindbergh Kidnapping.”). The note demanded an increase from the original price to 70,000 dollars. The hired private investigators and police held conferences to discuss proper procedures on the kidnapping. The kidnapping was a chaotic time for law
enforces. The kidnapper released several other ransoms notes directed towards the authorities. The kidnapper’s main concern was the intermediary between the notes. In the third ransom note, the kidnapper claimed that they did not want an intermediary, but in the next note, Dr. Condon, a retired principle, was allowed as a “go-between” to report the notes in the newspaper for 1,000 dollars extra (“Lindbergh Kidnapping.”). The process of negotiations got complicated as the kidnapper released even more ransom notes. Dr. Condon had to use code names like, “Jafsie”, to start payments with the criminal (“Lindbergh Kidnapping.”). The notes turned into scavenger hunts for evidence of the baby’s safety. By the end, the kidnapper released eleven ransom notes to Dr. Condon. The kidnapper’s notes weren’t the only letters sent to the authorities and the Lindberghs. It was said that, “The Lindberghs were inundated by offers of assistance and false clues.” (“Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping.”). Many of the information given was misinformed. Information originating from frauds, publicity seekers, and demented people. Two major con artists were Gaston B. Means and Norman T. Whitaker. These two setup elaborate frauds, claiming that they knew the kidnapper and had negotiations for a 100,000 dollars for the return of the child. They were eventually caught and put into state penitentiary. The police had to dismiss a majority of the information accredited to the crime. The Lindberghs had several who wanted to assist in finding their child. The infamous criminal, Al Capone offered the Lindberghs his assistance in prison (“Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping.”). This transaction and many more offerings of assistance took place during the chaos. This shows that even the darkest of criminals still had sympathy of those who have lost those which they cherish. It came to a great surprise, when Charles Jr’s body was found partly buried 4 and half miles from the Lindbergh’s residence (“Lindbergh Kidnapping.”).
The Lindberghs went into a sorrowful state, and gave their mansion to charity, eventually moving out of New Jersey (“Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping.”). From this point in history, Charles A. Lindbergh was renowned as “a tragic and controversial figure.” (Pendergast 132). The people of New Jersey did not give up on this tragedy though, and they pursued the criminal responsible. The kidnapper was a German immigrant and carpenter named, Bruno Hauptmann (“Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping.”). He found with the ransom money by a local gas station employee. The people of New Jersey pressured Bruno into a confession, and his trial ended in his electrocution in 1935 (“Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping.”). The Lindbergh kidnapping turned into a federal offense and the Federal Kidnapping Act was created (namely called, “Lindbergh
Law.”.