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Post by Michael on Apr 28, 2008 18:38:36 GMT -5
Kidnapers Thought Known to Locality ---------- Nearby Chief of Police Believes Familiarity Was Essential. Hopewell, N.J., March 14 (A.P.) - Police Chief Clifford Snook, of Hopewell Township, a community to the cast of this town, contributes a theory about the Lindbergh kidnaping.
As he expressed it tonight, he feels that the kidnap plot could not have been carried out without the assistance of some of the people living in the vicinity of the Lindbergh estate. Some one, he reasons, must have had detailed knowledge about the hilly terrain, or a speedy getaway could not have been accomplished.
He believes too, he said, that a car similar to this area was used, for a foreign car would have been spotted immediately. [Washington Post 3-15-32]
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kevkon
Lt. Colonel
Posts: 2,800
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Post by kevkon on Apr 29, 2008 7:09:26 GMT -5
There's no doubt in my mind that there was familiarity with Highfields and the Sourland area. Whether or not that means a local was somehow involved, I am not so sure about. I do think that the key here is the recent construction of Highfields. I know the primary workers were checked up on, but there are still many others who would have had an opportunity to gain knowledge of the house. A job like this would involve many sub trades and given the owner's notoriety, many would vie for a piece of the construction. I look at it this way, - Hauptmann is a carpenter who subs himself out for various jobs
- Hauptmann knows many fellow German tradesmen and
cabinetmakers. - The kidnapping was planned "for a year already". That's an odd
statement, could it be a reference to the house construction? - Working in residential construction is a very personnal experience and you learn a helluva lot about the clients and their habits.
- The exposure to the construction could be very minimal and yet much could be learned
- The person who had this exposure could have innocently passed it on without ever realizing it
Here is a personal experience, the other day I was talking to a client who lives in a very wealthy town nearby. While talking about the extravagance of some of the new mansions that have been built she told me about one of these new homes and it's occupants. What she told me would be welcome news for any would be kidnapper or thief. Now it also just so happens that I have some friends that have worked on that house and so I have some knowledge of the structure as well. It could have been much like that in 32 with such a celebrity home as Highfields.
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Post by Michael on Apr 30, 2008 6:11:25 GMT -5
I agree with your suggestion Kevin. The problem that I see is the investigations concerning these Workers seemed to be pretty thorough. I would think anyone of them who possibly met Hauptmann would have remembered after his arrest and came forward about it.
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kevkon
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Post by kevkon on Apr 30, 2008 6:31:22 GMT -5
I agree with your suggestion Kevin. The problem that I see is the investigations concerning these Workers seemed to be pretty thorough. I would think anyone of them who possibly met Hauptmann would have remembered after his arrest and came forward about it. Sure, but how could they remember a person who was never identified? Also, just as in my experience, the knowledge can be gained without actually working there.
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Post by Michael on Apr 30, 2008 15:11:05 GMT -5
I look at everyone who were certain about seeing BRH after his arrest and think to these people possibly receiving a reward for having spoken to BRH about Highfields. That would be valuable testimony. It's like the J.J. Faulkner deposit. Whoever wrote that knew they did....so why not come forward? There's only one out of two possible answers.
I also believe this knowledge could have been gained without working there... with that said, do you believe there was recon on this house before March 1st?
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kevkon
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Post by kevkon on Apr 30, 2008 16:55:11 GMT -5
Yes, I definitely think so. One thing about predators, they like to be familiar with their hunting ground.
I think what I am more or less suggesting about the information is that this could be the accomplice. In fact it could be an unwitting accomplice.
Personally, I think Hauptmann is the major player here. Having said that I realize there are others who feel differently about his role. Since I think this what intrigues me is what was the initial spark that got this crime going. Why Lindbergh and why Highfields?
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Post by Sue on Jun 23, 2020 19:26:02 GMT -5
Hopewell Police Chief Clifford Snook said a coat like that of a lumberman's jacket was found 36 hours after the kidnapping.
Snook and Schwarzkopf were at odds with each other.
The coat was said to be found on Featherbed Lane.
See The True Story of the Lindbergh Kidnapping by John Brant and Edith Renaud, pages 58 and 59.
Also, newspaper accounts from March 1932 mention the coat.
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