metje
Detective
Posts: 174
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Post by metje on Sept 6, 2020 12:06:01 GMT -5
This is why author Noel Behn's conclusion that Jacob Nosovitsky (aka "J. J. Faulkner") wrote all the ransom notes except for the first makes so much sense in view of Noso's background and language skills. Nosovitsky had one heck of a crafty, daring and intelligent criminal mind, who had a pretty good knowledge of German (both spoken and written) AND who could write English fairly well too - as seen in J. J. Faulkner's long letter to Gov. Hoffman. While that letter may have not have gotten an A+ from the point of view of an English professor, its spelling was just about perfect and it was readily understandable by any literate American reading it. It revealed a writer infinitely more proficient in English writing than the ransom note writer.
This, of course, does not rule out the possibility that both the letter to Gov. Hoffman and the ransom notes (except perhaps the first) were BOTH written by Nosovitsky; the poor quality English mixed with the German spellings and syntax on the ransom could have been used by the extremely tricky Nosovitsky deliberately to fool investigators of the crime. After all, Noso was not German nor from Germany and so his use of German spelling and syntax on the ransom notes could reasonably be expected to lead investigators in some direction other than himself.
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metje
Detective
Posts: 174
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Post by metje on Sept 6, 2020 12:54:36 GMT -5
Analysis of the J.J. Faulkner Letter to Gov. Hoffman: A letter signed "J.J. Faulkner" dated January 1, 1936, was sent to Gov. Hoffman pleading that the life of B.R. Hauptmann be spared. The writer is obviously using an alias but is also fairly well educated, using diction and sentence constructions well above average and certainly not on the level of the ransom notes. He does indicate some information not previously known, that Hauptmann paid "a thousand dollars or so" to obtain the ransom money. His motive was "greed," and of that he was guilty, according to the writer. He also repeats Hauptmann's claim that an expert carpenter would not construct the poorly built ladder used in the kidnapping. The writer also suggests that Condon's claims are not to be taken seriously as " he (Condon) has reasons"--which are not identified. The writer also distinguishes between commutation and clemency, indicating some knowledge of the law. He has followed the trial and observes that the judge (not named) "exercised undue and unconstitutional control" over the jury.
The language and sentence construction of the "J.J. Faulkner" letter strongly resemble those of a priest or minister preaching to a congregation. The jury members are "good but spineless people"; he appeals to Hoffman's conscience; he comments that Hoffman is "yet young but may live to see the day when the truth may come out as a death-bed story," as a minister might comment on a confession of sin before dying so that the soul is clean before its Maker. The writer also uses the word "yea" which is Biblical as in "Yea, I say unto you" --a word not used since the Victorian era except in the pulpit. So I suggest because of the emphasis on good and bad and the appeal to conscience that the writer was most likely one of Hauptmann's spiritual advisors who was convinced of his innocence and was appealing to Hoffman to do the right thing. Bound by the need for confidentiality, he could not admit what was confessed to him or reveal how he had any information, so he cannot go into any details. The construction of the sentences, while not altogether perfect, and additionally the syntax, indicate some German background. One example at the end illustrates the point: "in matters Hauptmann."
Why use the J.J. Faulkner alias? it was sure to capture Hoffman's attention and indicate that he had knowledge that he could not reveal, suggesting that he (the writer) was somehow implicated. The signature was easy enough to imitate. Trying to identify a writer by using only a signature is making judgment on insufficient evidence.
I am not arguing here that BR Hauptmann was either innocent or guilty but merely making some observations concerning the identity of the writer of the letter to Gov. Hoffman.
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Post by aaron on Mar 23, 2021 12:19:58 GMT -5
A great of research has been directed to the handwriting of the ransom notes and their probable author. More attention should be paid to the choice of words, problems in spelling and especially in sentence construction. My observations of the diction, errors in spelling, and syntax lead me to believe that the writer is of a German background but is not illiterate or unintelligent. The errors in the ransom notes are consistent with those that a person with dyslexia would commit. Listed are the types of characteristic errors someone with dyslexia would make and examples drawn from the various ransom notes (There are too many of these errors to list on one post, so several will be mentioned but by no means all.
1. Transposition of letters: transposition of dollar sign. Word "singnature" "quite" for "quiet" transposition of letters in "theas"; transposition of letters in "quite"; "handel" "rigth" for "right"; "bundel " for "bundle"
2. Problem with forming suffixes: omission of "ing" in "notifying"' "danger" for "dangerous"; "can" for "can't"; "fail" for "failed" etc. etc.
3. Difficulties spelling: obvious--many
4. Horizontal and vertical inversions: Backward letter "N"; "supway for "subway" The problem with dyslexia is formed in the brain: the sounds of the word are not well associated with the visual spellings-- a definite problem with the English language in which words that sound similar are not always spelled the same way. Dyslexic children are often very intelligent and identified as "special needs" in today's American educational system. The writer (or writers) of the ransom notes most likely dropped out of school at an early age because he could not do the reading and writing required. Dyslexia was identified in the 1880's, but children with dyslexia simply dropped out of school. Thomas Edison may have been dyslexic, for example. He was home-schooled by his mother after dropping out of school. Conclusion: The writer of the Lindbergh ransom notes was most likely dyslexic with little formal education though intelligent enough to function in society. The correct spelling and syntax of the longer words eg. "hazardous," "circumstances, "consequences," "communicate," etc. indicate that someone other than the writer is helping the writer by suggesting words and spelling them correctly but not dictating the spelling of the easier words or assisting with punctuation.
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Post by aaron on Mar 24, 2021 4:46:22 GMT -5
On an earlier thread someone commented that the German word for "boat" is "boot." There is no "d" in the German word so "Boad Nelly" is not the German spelling at all. While some German words ending in "d" are pronounced "t", this confusion is not a matter of translation of the word. But it is an example of a error that a dyslexic person would make. The sound is not associated with the usual spelling. The writer with dyslexia has difficulty associating the sound (phoneme) of a word with the usual spelling of the word.
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Post by Michael on Mar 25, 2021 10:12:28 GMT -5
On an earlier thread someone commented that the German word for "boat" is "boot." There is no "d" in the German word so"Boad Nelly" is not the German spelling at all. While some German words ending in "d" are pronounced "t", this confusion is not a matter of translation of the word. But it is an example of a error that a dyslexic person would make. The sound is not associated with the usual spelling. The writer with dyslexia has difficulty associating the sound (phoneme) of a word with the usual spelling of the word. Forgive me if you've already mentioned this (I am way behind) but have you considered it to be a simple ploy instead of something so complex?
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Post by aaron on Mar 25, 2021 15:33:05 GMT -5
Hi, Michael: Thanks for the question. I am not sure that the writing problems are so simple. True, the errors are not consistent, but dyslexic writers are not consistent with their mistakes, whether spelling or omissions, and the errors are numerous. Writers with the problem have no visual memory for a word's spelling or its suffixes. The writing is often repetitive and sometimes messy to cover mistakes. "Read and writing (of students with dyslexia) shows repetition, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, reversals in letters, numbers, and/or words." Children do not outgrow the problem and as adults may be talented in math. They may become mechanics, traders, designers, builders or engineers. Albert Einstein is regarded as a genius, but he was dyslexic. I would suggest respectfully that the Lindbergh kidnapping ransom notes be examined by someone who is expert in identifying and assisting dyslexic individuals, whether young students or adults. Perhaps more than one expert, even. Then you would have a professional opinion regarding the type of individual who wrote those notes. There are personality characteristics tied to the problem. My guess is that the writer of the notes dropped out of school early--in the elementary grades--and probably in Germany. He may have been home schooled, was reasonably intelligent, and as an adult became a tradesperson, business owner or builder. He may have made even a good living if he had a good secretary!
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Post by aaron on Mar 25, 2021 16:11:13 GMT -5
The symptoms of dyslexia are many and varied, so much so I do not think that an ordinary person would be able to dissemble so frequently and many different ways. If he did attempt to dissemble, he would need to know how to do just that. Dyslexia was not described and discussed until the 1880s, and by 1936 there was little attempt to help the student specifically in ways to understand and compensate. Today these students are termed "special needs" types with professionals who have training in assisting them. So I think that in 1936 the errors would have been genuine and not a ploy intended to deceive the reader. Thanks again.
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Post by Sherlock on Sept 27, 2021 6:52:34 GMT -5
Correct me if I'm wrong but in one of the notes the word "Frankfurter" is mis-spelled "Frankfurther." Seems like someone is trying hard to seem semi-literate and writing in a German style but mis-spells the one word which is the same in German as in English!
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Post by aaron on Sept 27, 2021 12:00:11 GMT -5
True! The word "boat" in English is "boot"" in German. There is no "d" in it. It may not be a matter of trying to appear semi-literate, though. I am interested in the suggestion that the writer of the ransom notes may have had dyslexia. This condition is not well understood; it is not simply a matter confusing left and right although this does happen. The problem is that the sound of a word or letter (called a phoneme) is not always connected by the brain to the proper symbol (eg. in the alphabet) that represents the sound. This misrepresentation is not consistent. Sometimes the brain correctly associated the sound with its symbol, but often not. The problem with the disconnect is not consistent so at one time the error is mispresented one way and another time differently, so the mistakes in spelling or formation of letters will not be the same from one paragraph to another. I have contacted an expert recommended by a national association here in the US who has agreed to examine the ransom notes and investigate the possibility of dyslexia in them. She is working on this project now. I will post her analysis when she is finished. (This expert has published a number of articles on symptoms of dyslexia in Agatha Christie, William Yeats, and Dylan Thomas.
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Post by Sherlock on Sept 27, 2021 15:13:46 GMT -5
Hi aaron, An excellent idea to have the notes examined by an expert on detecting dyslexia. Its always good to get an opinion from someone outside the Lindbergh case bubble, free from theories about the crime etc. I look forward to reading this lady's report when available. Well done! Sherlock.
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Post by aaron on Sept 27, 2021 18:01:35 GMT -5
Thank you, Sherlock! I became interested in the suggestion that the writer of the ransom notes was dyslexic and so contacted the International Dyslexia Association located here in the US and asked for assistance. I received an immediate response and was given the name of an expert who lives in British Columbia. She is entirely objective, knowing little (if anything) about the Lindbergh kidnapping case. I am not trying to prove anyone guilty or innocent but am looking for a professional opinion. I sent several of the earlier ransom notes as attachments and will send all as time goes on. Her reaction so far indicates that "the handwriting (of the early notes) is definitely that of a dyslexic. The letters are poorly formed and unevenly spaced. Sometimes the letters slant in the wrong direction." The grammar problems, she observed, could be dyslexic errors or translation problems, not certain as yet. Misspellings, she wrote, could be dyslexic type of errors. I will keep you informed as we proceed as my intention is to send her all the notes as attachments before we are finished. The problem of dyslexia had been identified but students affected were not given in the early 19th century the kind of assistance they receive now as special needs students. Students with dylexia are often intelligent, but they did not do well in school because of the problem, so it is possible that the writer of the ransom notes left school in the early grades of the elementary school Many of them take jobs or positions using math skills, at which they often excel and so avoid situations requiring writing skills. If the writer of the ransom notes was dyslexic, he would probably have dropped out of school during or after the elementary grades and would have worked in a trade that did not require writing. This would have no bearing on his intelligence otherwise. By the way, the expert has published papers on dylexic writers of literature including Agatha Christie, William Butler Yeats, and ee cummings (not Dylan t'homas, sorry, my error). ee cummings would be quite a challenge, I would think.
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