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Post by linotypist on Oct 14, 2011 23:36:29 GMT -5
When Dr. Condon received the letter in response to his Bronx Home News editorial, he called Lindbergh in Hopewell. Certainly Lindbergh had an unlisted number, and in the pre-direct dial days, an operator would not connect a call to Hopewell just by request. How was Condon able to make telephone contact with Lindbergh that night?
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Post by Michael on Oct 15, 2011 7:35:13 GMT -5
There were two personal lines into Highfields: Hopewell 303, and I believe Hopewell 319 (I can check if need be). These lines were never given out, or connected with anyone who did not know them.
When the crime first occurred, calls would be diverted to the closest State Police Stations. From there they would send teletypes to the Headquarters. However, Lindbergh would tell Schwarzkopf to relocate the "Base" for the kidnapping investigation to Highfields. The NJSP had already took over the house at the beginning of the lane to prevent unauthorized people from gaining entrance. Temporary cots came in from Princeton University, and an agreement was made with Skillman Epileptic Hospital to put up Troopers. From there the garage was taken over and several temporary phone lines were run into the Estate: Hopewell 261, 262, and 263. These lines, coincidentally, run right past and within feet of where the Child was eventually discovered.
And so once anyone called with a "tip" the local Operators would send their calls to these numbers where they were always manned by either Troopers assigned to them or by others, such as Thayer, who is the one who received Condon's phone call (with Fogharty listening in).
I see that some calls still went to various NJSP Stations, but from what I can tell that would happen if someone didn't specifically ask for Lindbergh or Hopewell.
In any event, the NJSP picked up the bill for ALL numbers from March 2nd until the time they vacated.
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Post by Michael on Oct 15, 2011 7:53:58 GMT -5
I just pulled one of my Telephone Log folders and I quickly see that there are more temporary lines then I had remembered. I am seeing lines 260, 307, 306, etc. It looks like 307, and 306 were specifically designated Police to Police phone lines. I think you get the jist.....
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Post by Michael on Oct 20, 2011 5:36:09 GMT -5
Here's an example of the phone log Lino.... This one is a page from Tpr. Genz who was manning "Hopewell 260" the Daywatch shift of 3/5/32. As an example, I am quite sure Mrs. Witnock didn't crank up her phone then tell the Operator she wanted "Hopewell 303": Attachments:
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Post by wolf2 on Oct 20, 2011 18:33:10 GMT -5
mike, not to change the subject, i found the picture of fisches family in atlantic city
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Post by Michael on Oct 21, 2011 5:35:59 GMT -5
Steve: That's a great find. Can you scan and post it?
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