Monday, Apr. 18, 1932

On Sourland Mountain (Cont'd)

CONFIDENTIAL NOTE TO EDITORS:

NOT FOR PUBLICATION.

THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED ALL BANKS IN THE COUNTRY TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A SERIES OF FIVE, TEN AND TWENTY DOLLAR BILLS, WHICH ARE NOT COUNTERFEIT BUT WHICH BEAR RECORDED NUMBERS. THE UNITED PRESS HAS BEEN ASKED BY COLONEL LINDBERGH NOT TO GIVE THIS STORY PUBLICATION BECAUSE IT WOULD SERIOUSLY INTERFERE WITH THE WORK THE FAMILY IS DOING TO RECOVER THE CHILD. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE DEDUCTIONS TO BE DRAWN FROM THIS SITUATION ARE OBVIOUS AND RUMORS TO THE EFFECT THAT THE BABY IS HOME ARE ERRONEOUS.

(Signed) R. J. BENDER,

GENERAL NEWS MANAGER

UNITED PRESS

This bulletin, issued last Saturday morning at the personal request of Col. Lindbergh, was to kill the story that Lindbergh had been victimized either by the abductors of his son or by impostors. Minutes before, the Newark (N. J.) Evening News was on the street with the information. The Associated Press and International News Service picked up the Evening News story and transmitted it to the nation. The United Press had the story but held it up at Col. Lindbergh's request.

The story was soon confirmed by Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf of the New Jersey State Police on Col. Lindbergh's behalf: "A ransom of $50,000 was paid to the kidnappers, properly identified as such, upon their agreement to notify Col. Lindbergh as to the exact whereabouts of the baby. The baby was not found at the point designated. Several days were permitted to elapse to give the kidnappers every opportunity to keep their agreement."

How Col. Lindbergh "properly identified" the person or persons to whom he gave the $50,000 was thus officially explained: "At the time the baby was kidnapped a ransom note demanding $50,000 was left in the nursery. For obvious reasons it was necessary to withhold all information concerning this ransom note. A means was offered in the ransom note of positive identification of the kidnappers thereafter. Subsequent notes received were identified by this means and at the time that the ransom was paid over the kidnappers used this same means to positively identify themselves as the ones who had carried off the baby. This is the only means by which Col. Lindbergh can know for a fact that he is dealing with the kidnappers."

Identified last week as Col. Lindbergh's intermediary with the kidnappers was Dr. John F. Condon, an elderly lecturer at Fordham University in The Bronx. Dr. Condon it was who inserted the 13 "personal" advertisements in New York newspapers signed "Jafsie" (J. F. C.) whereby communication was maintained with the baby-snatchers. These advertisements referred to "ready money" and a "principal" who had to be "satisfied," with "the real articles," promised to "follow your instructions" and insisted on a "C. O. D." transaction. On April 2 Dr. Condon delivered the ransom money to the kidnappers' agent with whom contact was first made at null Cemetery. Presumably he was then informed when and where the baby would be returned. When it was not, the following "Jafsie" advertisement appeared last week: "What is wrong? Have you crossed me? Better directions, please."

Col. Lindbergh's known movements throughout the week indicated step-by-step the course of his negotiations with the criminals and their subsequent collapse. Early last week he and his lawyer. Col. Henry Breckinridge, onetime Assistant Secretary of War, hopped over the back fence at Newark Airport, flew away in a borrowed airplane and were reported some time later inquiring on Cuttyhunk Island. Mass, for a yacht known as the Sally or the Nellie. Next day they borrowed another plane, made a similar flight over the same area. It was 48 hours after these trips that the Treasury Department was asked to trace the ransom money.

Speculation as to the reasons for the failure of Col. Lindbergh's negotiations were three: 1) he had given the money to "chiselers" who were unable to return the child; 2) if he had paid the actual kidnappers, they might be holding out for more money; 3) his child was dead. After it got out that he had sought Federal aid in tracing the ransom money, Col. Lindbergh reiterated his promise not to "try to injure" the criminals if only they would return the child. A spokesman for him admitted that "he feared that his action in calling upon Federal officials . . . might be interpreted by the kidnappers as an effort to double-cross them."

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