Word: ransoming
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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Image. Detectives working on the Lindbergh case had carefully constructed a working model of the appearance, habits and character of the criminal they sought. From the ransom letters to "Jafsie" Condon and the note left in the empty nursery on Sourland Mountain, psychiatrists had deduced that the man was German, or at least Teutonic. His English was largely phonetic and he used "gute" for "good." He also appeared to be some sort of mechanic; one ransom note had a careful working drawing of the sort of box in which he wanted the money delivered. The ladder by which he climbed...
Soon after the ransom money began to appear, New York newspapers agreed to lull the criminal's fears by withholding the news (see p. 46). With growing confidence, the criminal increased the rate of circulation. It was evident that he was active in the Bronx and Yorkville sections of New York. A police map showed each spot where ransom money turned up. The man was spending most of his money never in the same place twice, but always within a well-defined perimeter so that by taking cross-bearings, police had a reasonably good idea that he was living...
Then, while detectives watched the shadow of their criminal flit about their pin-pricked map without ever leaving a satisfactory clue, a huge piece of luck came from Washington. On April 5, 1933, Franklin Roosevelt recalled all gold bullion, coin and certificates. Since $40,000 of the $50,000 ransom money was in gold notes, police chances of catching the extortionist were increased a hundredfold. Not only the Lindbergh money but all gold bills automatically became "hot." The problem had been simplified, but by no means solved. In August $2,980 of the Lindbergh notes were converted into legitimate currency...
...pointed nose, the small mouth. He weighed 180 lb. He had worked in The Bronx lumber yard whence came the scantlings in the kidnapper's ladder. He was, indeed, a carpenter. Under the floor and in the walls of his garage was found $13,750 more of the ransom money. The taxi-driver remembered him in a minute. "Jafsie" Condon made a "partial" identification. Handwriting experts agreed that the lettering in the ransom notes unquestionably matched samples of Bruno Richard Hauptmann's penmanship...
Before he turned silent, Hauptmann told police an incredible tale about how the Lindbergh ransom came into his possession. He thought the money was "old letters left by a friend." After the friend, one Isadore Fisch, died in Leipzig last March Hauptmann discovered the money, and appropriated...