"Big Al" Reich: His 1936 Comments in Syracuse, New York
Feb 15, 2020 11:38:06 GMT -5
Michael and Wayne like this
Post by Sue on Feb 15, 2020 11:38:06 GMT -5
Do comments that Al Reich made to a journalist, named Marge Weinheimer, in Syracuse, New York, in 1936 line up with trial testimony that he gave in Flemington in 1935?
"AL REICH LAUDS 'JAFSIE' ON SYRACUSE VISIT"
by Marge Weinheimer
Syracuse Journal
March 16, 1936
A mild-mannered giant with a
sense of humor, who talks like a
college professor and dressed in
black coat and hat, looks more like
a minister than a former boxer . . .
that's Alfred J. (Big Al) Reich of New York City, who played an important role in the Lindbergh kidnap case.
In Syracuse to referee amateur
boxing bouts at the Arena tonight,
Reich told of his part in the Lindbergh case and related some of the
more amusing incidents connected
with the kidnapping.
Using his huge hands to emphasize his point, Reich said:
"We made only only one mistake. Condon handed Hauptmann a letter which Lindbergh had given him authorizing him to act as go-between. Hauptmann took it over to
the street light, read it carefully and then handed it back to the doctor."
THEIR MISTAKE
"That's where we made our
mistake. We should have used
paper from which we could get
fingerprints. But then I suppose
Hauptmann would deny they were
his fingerprints.
"
"He's an egotistical fellow, that
Hauptmann. I believe that the
only way to get him to tell the
truth is to promise to change his
sentence to life imprisonment.
He's afraid of burning, but that's
the only thing he is afraid of. He
believes there's not a jail in the
country big enough to hold him."
Denying that he is or ever was Dr.
Condon's bodyguard, Reich explained their relationship in this
way:
KNOWN HIM FOR YEARS
"I've known him for years. We
attend all sorts of boxing and
wrestling matches together. As
for Condon being feeble, that's a
laugh. He's 76 years old now, but
I'd wager
anything he's as physically fit as 60 per cent of the men who are walking the streets today,
regardless of their age.
"
"That was quite a meeting between him and Hauptmann in the
park near the cemetery. I sat in the car about 100 feet away and
waited. Just a friendly meeting,
you know,
with Hauptmann's
hand on a gun inside his pocket
all the time he talked, and Condon's hand inside his pocket on a
gun."
"I guess I met up with 1,000
cranks during the time of the
kidnapping and the trial. Everyone had some connection with the
case. It was a great experience alright."
"AL REICH LAUDS 'JAFSIE' ON SYRACUSE VISIT"
by Marge Weinheimer
Syracuse Journal
March 16, 1936
A mild-mannered giant with a
sense of humor, who talks like a
college professor and dressed in
black coat and hat, looks more like
a minister than a former boxer . . .
that's Alfred J. (Big Al) Reich of New York City, who played an important role in the Lindbergh kidnap case.
In Syracuse to referee amateur
boxing bouts at the Arena tonight,
Reich told of his part in the Lindbergh case and related some of the
more amusing incidents connected
with the kidnapping.
Using his huge hands to emphasize his point, Reich said:
"We made only only one mistake. Condon handed Hauptmann a letter which Lindbergh had given him authorizing him to act as go-between. Hauptmann took it over to
the street light, read it carefully and then handed it back to the doctor."
THEIR MISTAKE
"That's where we made our
mistake. We should have used
paper from which we could get
fingerprints. But then I suppose
Hauptmann would deny they were
his fingerprints.
"
"He's an egotistical fellow, that
Hauptmann. I believe that the
only way to get him to tell the
truth is to promise to change his
sentence to life imprisonment.
He's afraid of burning, but that's
the only thing he is afraid of. He
believes there's not a jail in the
country big enough to hold him."
Denying that he is or ever was Dr.
Condon's bodyguard, Reich explained their relationship in this
way:
KNOWN HIM FOR YEARS
"I've known him for years. We
attend all sorts of boxing and
wrestling matches together. As
for Condon being feeble, that's a
laugh. He's 76 years old now, but
I'd wager
anything he's as physically fit as 60 per cent of the men who are walking the streets today,
regardless of their age.
"
"That was quite a meeting between him and Hauptmann in the
park near the cemetery. I sat in the car about 100 feet away and
waited. Just a friendly meeting,
you know,
with Hauptmann's
hand on a gun inside his pocket
all the time he talked, and Condon's hand inside his pocket on a
gun."
"I guess I met up with 1,000
cranks during the time of the
kidnapping and the trial. Everyone had some connection with the
case. It was a great experience alright."