A Trial Captivates America: The Lindbergh Case Begins
They called it the trial of the century. Bruno Hauptmann sat in a Flemington, New Jersey courtroom, charged with kidnapping and murdering the 20-month-old son of Charles Lindbergh — the most famous man in America. The baby had been taken from his crib on March 1, 1932. A ransom of $50,000 was paid. The child was found dead 72 days later, two miles from the family home. Hauptmann, a German-born carpenter, was caught spending marked ransom bills at a Bronx gas station. $14,600 more turned up hidden in his garage. He insisted he was innocent. His defense pointed to inconsistencies in the ladder evidence and witness testimony. Didn't matter. The jury deliberated eleven hours. Guilty. Hauptmann was electrocuted on April 3, 1936. The case created so much chaos that cameras were banned from federal courtrooms for decades afterward.
January 2, 1935
91 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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