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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2017 15:40:56 GMT -5
Michael,
In Chapter 13, page 194, you mention Major Lanphier and a conversation he had with J. Edgar Hoover on March 16th. In that conversation, Lanphier mentions a "woolly dog" that was sitting on top of the black bag(suitcase)that was on the cedar chest that was under the window with the warped shutter. I think most of us on this board have seen the window picture taken the night of the kidnapping and that the black suitcase had the roof from the toy ark sitting on it, not a woolly dog. I have seen the picture of the French window taken on the same night and the woolly dog is sitting on the built in toy chest under the French window.
Lanphier is apparently getting the information he is sharing from Lindbergh, who is claiming there was no disturbance of the black bag or the woolly dog. The photos taken the night of the kidnapping tell a different story. If there had been no disturbance why does the woolly dog end up under the French window and the Ark roof on top of the black bag? This actually suggests there could have been a disturbance and that the room had been cleaned up before the police arrived on the scene.
Lanphier is talking to the FBI. Did Lindbergh ever mention the location of the woolly dog being on top of the suitcase to the Troopers? Trooper Wolf's report notes the woolly dog under the French window.
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Post by Michael on Mar 31, 2017 16:41:12 GMT -5
Lanphier is apparently getting the information he is sharing from Lindbergh, who is claiming there was no disturbance of the black bag or the woolly dog. The photos taken the night of the kidnapping tell a different story. If there had been no disturbance why does the woolly dog end up under the French window and the Ark roof on top of the black bag? This actually suggests there could have been a disturbance and that the room had been cleaned up before the police arrived on the scene. Lanphier is talking to the FBI. Did Lindbergh ever mention the location of the woolly dog being on top of the suitcase to the Troopers? Trooper Wolf's report notes the woolly dog under the French window. Great questions. I brought the various versions "out" so that everyone could see everything that existed in the source material (that I could find) then draw their on conclusions. Lanphier was getting his information from Lindbergh, and Hoover was getting this information from Lanphier. Wolf is getting his information as a eyewitness and investigator. Sisk is getting his information from Keaten who said it was a "tinker toy." So by comparing the three versions it seems to me it was probably the Ark, or if one remains unsure simply refer to it as a "toy" either being the ark, tinker toy (which could actually be the ark), or the dog. So now jump to page 196 where Keaten tells Agent Sisk they aren't sure how the toy was moved. Go back to Lanphier's version and it's quite clear Lindbergh told him it wasn't moved by the "Kidnappers."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2017 17:21:07 GMT -5
So by comparing the three versions it seems to me it was probably the Ark, or if one remains unsure simply refer to it as a "toy" either being the ark, tinker toy (which could actually be the ark), or the dog. So now jump to page 196 where Keaten tells Agent Sisk they aren't sure how the toy was moved. Go back to Lanphier's version and it's quite clear Lindbergh told him it wasn't moved by the "Kidnappers." In the official photo it looks like the ark roof is on the black suitcase when the picture is taken. The roof is definitely not on the ark when the French window picture is taken. I do understand the point here that someone moved this roof from the floor to the suitcase. What really concerns me is that if Lanphier has Lindbergh telling him that the woolly dog was on top of the suitcase and not disturbed, then I am wondering how Lindbergh knew there was a dog on that case to begin with on Tuesday night. If the events occurred the way those in the household relate they did, then Lindbergh is never in that nursery room until after Charlie was been abducted. So the woolly dog would have been on the suitcase at the time Lindbergh came into the nursery and saw the empty crib and also observing the dog on the suitcase. Something must have happened to that nursery after the kidnapping for that woolly dog to end up on the toy chest under the French window. Obviously the woolly dog was disturbed at some point that night before the police got there!
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Post by Michael on Apr 1, 2017 8:35:43 GMT -5
In the official photo it looks like the ark roof is on the black suitcase when the picture is taken. The roof is definitely not on the ark when the French window picture is taken. I do understand the point here that someone moved this roof from the floor to the suitcase. What really concerns me is that if Lanphier has Lindbergh telling him that the woolly dog was on top of the suitcase and not disturbed, then I am wondering how Lindbergh knew there was a dog on that case to begin with on Tuesday night. If the events occurred the way those in the household relate they did, then Lindbergh is never in that nursery room until after Charlie was been abducted. So the woolly dog would have been on the suitcase at the time Lindbergh came into the nursery and saw the empty crib and also observing the dog on the suitcase. Something must have happened to that nursery after the kidnapping for that woolly dog to end up on the toy chest under the French window. Obviously the woolly dog was disturbed at some point that night before the police got there! I've always personally believed the "toy" on top of that suitcase was the Ark, and that Lanphier's story switched it with the stuffed animal. Whether it was Lanphier jumping to that conclusion, or Lindbergh actually saying it I'm not sure but I go with what makes the most amount of sense - to me. That's why it's important for everyone to draw their own conclusion about it. In my mind, when Lindbergh supposedly raced to the nursery, he saw the "toy" on top of the suitcase. Somewhere from that point in time forward it was moved to the floor. Was the roof left behind or was that placed back on top of the suitcase after that? And given Lindbergh's history of altering the truth concerning the facts that night, I don't even know if what he was telling Lanphier was true - only that I don't see a benefit in telling him that. But then again he's done that several times before too, however, I don't expect he thought Lanphier was running back to Hoover with this information. Frankly, Lindbergh wasn't as intelligent as he thought himself to be.
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Post by Wayne on Apr 1, 2017 13:17:22 GMT -5
Just wanted to add a few facts about the Ark roof found on the black Louis Vuitton suitcase by the southeast window.
It was actually 1/2 of the Ark roof. Amy, if you look closely at the photo you referenced (the French window shot) you will see, as you say, the woolly dog sitting on the right side of the chest. If you look to the left of that chest, you will see the toy Ark. And you will see that 1/2 of the roof if there and 1/2 is not (you can almost make out some of the animals inside).
By the way, the Ark roof (both pieces) were painted red and white. The Ark was given to Charlie by Mrs. Morrow for Christmas 1931 (which, of course, there are no photos of the festive event).
We can all question this case to death, but one of the little things that bugs me is that Betty claimed she and Anne cleaned the nursery until 7:30, then Anne left the room. Betty says she spent another 30 minutes in the room (and the baby's bathroom) "fixing things" (from her March 3rd statement).
Take a look at all the photos of the nursery. Everything is neat and orderly. Everything appears to be in place except for a big, bright red piece of wood resting on the suitcase. I wonder why Betty didn't notice this and put it back in its place?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2017 15:36:16 GMT -5
It was actually 1/2 of the Ark roof. Amy, if you look closely at the photo you referenced (the French window shot) you will see, as you say, the woolly dog sitting on the right side of the chest. If you look to the left of that chest, you will see the toy Ark. And you will see that 1/2 of the roof if there and 1/2 is not (you can almost make out some of the animals inside). Thanks, Wayne, for pointing that out to the readers of this board who may not have seen that picture. I was aware that it was half the roof, I just always call it the ark roof when I talk about it. I am glad you thought to make that clear. I look at those pictures a lot. I try to picture myself in that room doing the things that Anne and Betty say they did that night. I look at all the various items in the room. I have even looked at the print on the wallpaper! Nuts, huh? A couple of things: No sheet on the crib mattress. Did they not use mattress sheets in 1932? Plus the blankets in that crib are a mess! A baby could get lost in that bed! The picture showing the dresser. If you look on the floor section underneath the window, there looks like a metal pot of some sort resting there. Not sure what that is for. Most of the room is neat and orderly. The toy chest under the French window has books on the left side of the chest. They look disarranged to me. But what really gets me about this French window picture is Betty saying she left the French window open for ventilation while Charlie was sleeping. She said she opened those window panels half way. They open inward into the room. That is quite a bit. So why is there an ark animal on that sill if she had the window panels open half way? What do you think about the German Beer Stein on the window sill where the ransom note was found? It hardly seems appropriate for a child's room. If it had been a gift(?), why not display it on the fireplace mantel instead of a windowsill. You would think that Betty would have noticed that portion of the ark roof in a place that it didn't belong. Maybe it wasn't out of place when Betty left the room.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2017 15:50:16 GMT -5
And given Lindbergh's history of altering the truth concerning the facts that night, I don't even know if what he was telling Lanphier was true - only that I don't see a benefit in telling him that. But then again he's done that several times before too, however, I don't expect he thought Lanphier was running back to Hoover with this information. Was Lanphier ever present at Highfields during the early weeks of the investigation or was Lindbergh only discussing the case with Lanphier via telephone?
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Post by Wayne on Apr 1, 2017 16:00:22 GMT -5
Great observations all, Amy!
I've often wondered by the lack of a mattress sheet as well. It just seems out of place not to have one, doesn't it?
One small thing. I basically had the same crib for my son years ago. I bet you know this, but see the two metal rods, one on the right and the other on the left? Simply give them a pull and the front part of the crib comes down for easier access. Just seems to me the kidnapper(s) had little familiarity with cribs.
As for the metal pot. You're talking about the one underneath the northeast window, right? Interesting that you should ask. I've looked this photos over with Mark Falzini and we're pretty sure it's a water bowl. For Skean. Sad he wasn't there to drink from it.
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Post by sweetwater on Apr 1, 2017 23:19:47 GMT -5
Very interesting thread. I may have seen at least some of them before but: Is there a quick way to view all the photographs being discussed?
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Post by Michael on Apr 2, 2017 7:04:49 GMT -5
Was Lanphier ever present at Highfields during the early weeks of the investigation or was Lindbergh only discussing the case with Lanphier via telephone? He flew into Mercer Airport on March 2nd. Both he and Sgt. Campbell went up in the plane to circle the property and the surrounding areas to search for clues. How long he stayed I don't know but when he was talking with Hoover, as outlined in Hoover's Memo dated March 19th, he told him he did not see the ransom note. Maybe that wasn't true and he was only guarding against whatever criticism may have come from that, or maybe it was true - but I cannot say with any degree of certainty because just about anyone there during that time saw it or had the ability to do so. I also have references to Lanphier coming into the NY office to speak with Agents about various leads he wanted investigated, and on March 23rd there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that he attended the Police conference on the case at Highfields.
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