Post by Michael on Sept 10, 2006 19:40:58 GMT -5
June 20, 1937
Radio Station WOV
Radio Station WOV
(Excerpts)
[Ingersoll]: Mr. Conklin, dare you now talk about the kidnapping case that made New Jersey famous?
[Conklin]: Time travels swiftly. Five years and three months ago, the infant of Charles A. Lindbergh was kidnapped in the night from his home in the Sourland Mountains. Fifteen months ago a German-born carpenter, Bruno Richard Hauptmann, died in the electric chair at the state prison in Trenton. It was duly recorded that the case of the kidnapping of Charles A. Lindbergh, Jr. had been solved and closed as the executioner swung the switch on the night of April third, 1936.
All that was human of Bruno Richard Hauptmann died on that night, but honest and sincere opinion was not killed. Today more people are saying "the Lindbergh Kidnapping and murder case still remains unsolved."
I do not intend to attempt to go into detail regarding the many phases of the investigation leading to the arrest and subsequent conviction of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, nor the various angles of the privately conducted investigations. I want to emphasize this one point, - Governor Hoffman at no time expressed an opinion that Bruno Richard Hauptmann was not involved in this case. The Governor of New Jersey doubted, as millions of other citizens of the United States did, and do, - that Bruno Richard Hauptmann alone committed this crime and extorted the fifty thousand dollars ransom money paid into the hands of "John" in St. Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx. The Governor of New Jersey did not seek to save Hauptmann from paying the penalty for any part he may have had in this crime.
[Ingersoll]: Mr. Conklin, I felt very deeply about the Hauptmann Case, and I believed the Governor was very brave to even be neutral and fair.
[Conklin]: Convincing evidence indicative of a plurality of participants being involved in the Lindbergh Kidnapping and murder case led the Governor to do what every other red-blooded American should do - investigate, and, if possible, obtain a complete solution of the case before Hauptmann died. The Courts of the land decided otherwise, - Hauptmann died, and today public opinion swings to the Governor's side with increasing numbers declaring that the death of Hauptmann had in no material way contributed to the solution of this most atrocious crime.
The Lindbergh Kidnapping and Murder Case is not closed. Today Governor Hoffman continues to receive scores of letters, - not letters of fanatics and publicity seekers, but letters from persons of intelligence and understanding who declare they are baffled and perplexed by many of the involved and contradictory phases of the investigation and evidence placed before the court.
[Ingersoll]: Mr. Conklin, does the Governor still think Hauptmann should not have been executed?
[Conklin]: Governor Hoffman is still in doubt. Today he does not believe the case has been completely solved. In this respect his opinion is not unlike that held by millions of other citizens. There are reasonable grounds for the belief that eventually right will win out and some day - somewhere - perhaps in an obscure corner of the world, something will be said, or something will be done, that will completely solve this case and vindicate the Governor of New Jersey and those millions of other doubters who say - "The case has not been solved".
Governor Hoffman's courage is not a synthetic emotion, calculated in advance and prepared by a ghost writer. It is a natural part of his personality and is always ready for an emergency, as well as for the anticipated occasion.