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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
It was a crime that shocked the world... but did the wrong man go to the electric chair?
EXCLUSIVE It was a crime that shocked the world... but did the wrong man go to the electric chair? It was the biggest story since the Resurrection, according to critic and commentator HL Mencken. Others stuck to the lesser claim that it was 'the trial of the century.' Either way, the United States and much of the world beyond were convulsed when, in late 1934, an unemployed carpenter from the Bronx stood up in court charged with the horrific kidnap and murder of baby Charles Lindbergh Jr. The child's abduction from the New Jersey home of celebrity aviator Charles Lindbergh and wife Anne echoes down the decades - as does the subsequent trial of the accused kidnapper and murderer, German immigrant Bruno Hauptmann. Despite maintaining his innocence throughout, Hauptmann was sent to the electric chair on largely circumstantial evidence. Even today, there are widespread doubts about the safety of his conviction. Just last month, for example, it was announced that a group of forensic scientists is taking legal action demanding that New Jersey State Police release the sinister ransom letters sent at the time, a key part of the prosecution case. It is hoped that now, after more than 90 years, the same advanced forensic techniques used to identify four Gilgo Beach murder victims could determine whether or not it was Hauptmann who licked the stamps on those letters sent to the Lindbergh family. Now, a new book 'The Enigmatic Aviator: Charles Lindbergh, Revisited ' by David Hamilton is re-examining the crime that rocked the world. The baby's father, Charles Lindbergh, was nothing short of a national sensation before the war - a figure of impossible glamor following his 1927 solo flight, non-stop, from New York to Paris. Charles photographed with his wife Anne shortly after their marriage Charles Lindbergh was nothing short of a national sensation before the war - a figure of impossible glamor following his 1927 solo flight, non-stop, from New York to Paris The arrival of the Lindberghs' first child, Charles Jr, was met with much fanfare From that point on, his every movement was tracked by the cut-throat popular press which, in June 1930, announced with much fanfare the arrival of the Lindberghs' first child. But on March 1, 1932, in a night of horror, the 20-month-old baby boy was taken from the family home. Using a home-made ladder of exact length to reach a room upstairs, the kidnapper entered via a faulty window, removed the baby from his crib and left a semi-literate ransom note demanding $50,000. The intruder disappeared without causing alarm, leaving the ladder and a chisel but no fingerprints. Kidnapping was a common form of extortion from wealthy families at this point in the Depression. The Mob had moved into the so-called 'snatch racket' and ransom demands were routinely – and discreetly – paid. The abducted person was safely returned. The loss of baby Charles was discovered at 10 pm and the discarded three-piece ladder found lying in the garden. The New Jersey State Police arrived quickly. Although kidnapping was a state and not a federal crime, J Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI, was woken at home and immediately put men on the case. Lindbergh's lawyer arrived at the family home, as did the press - in force. Radio stations flashed the news nationally at 11:30 pm. The usual strategy was to deal privately with kidnappers, but the press were already involved and Lindbergh - to reassure those holding baby Charles - announced publicly that the ransom would be paid. On March 1, 1932, in a night of horror, the 20-month-old baby boy was taken from the family home Although kidnapping was a state and not a federal crime, J Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI, was woken at home and immediately put men on the case A new investigation could determine whether or not it was Hauptmann who licked the stamps on the ransom letters The search widened and roadblocks were erected throughout the state. The George Washington Bridge connecting New Jersey to Manhattan was closed. The drama gripped America. Prayers were said in churches. At Madison Square Garden, a boxing match was halted for a reverential three-minute silence. Organizations, including the Boy Scouts, were put on watch for suspicious behavior. The large Lindbergh house was now a command post. A communication center was established in the garage to deal with a deluge of letters and telegrams. Twenty telephone lines were installed to take the calls. But the first convincing contact did not come until three days later, on March 4. The message, which included a secret symbol also left on the original ransom note, deplored the involvement of the police, asking if it was necessary 'to make a world affair out of this?' Everyone agreed that the underworld must be involved in the kidnapping, and Lindbergh agreed to bring in Mickey Rosner, a mobster who claimed he could sort things out. Often a trusting man, Lindbergh took Rosner seriously. He remained in the house for a week but was paid off after finally admitting that the kidnap 'must be the work of an independent.' Al Capone, the celebrity gangster, offered his services in return for release from jail and an amnesty, but the Lindberghs ultimately turned down his offer. The kidnapper was again out of touch for a while, but then a second ransom note, posted from New York, increased the demand to $70,000. The loss of baby Charles was discovered at 10 pm and the discarded three-piece ladder found lying in the garden A meeting was arranged between Charles (pictured), an intermediary Dr John Condon, and the kidnapper Eventually, a meeting was arranged between Charles, an intermediary Dr John Condon and the kidnapper. At the night-time rendezvous – a cemetery – Charles listened while Condon was guided by voice to hand over the ransom without the kidnapper being seen. As agreed, the kidnapper passed over the child's sleeping suit as proof of his involvement. The cash paid over was unusual as it included 'gold certificate' notes, an older form of currency then being phased out. The numbers on the notes were retained by the police. The news everyone had feared came on May 12, 72 days after the abduction, when a baby's body was found five miles south of the Lindbergh home. A truck driver had pulled over to relieve himself and came upon the baby's decayed body in a simple burlap - or hessian - bag in the woodland. The press were summoned and the New York Daily News had a special edition on the streets within 30 minutes. The baby's body had been attacked by animals but was identified by Lindbergh from its clothing and physical details including overlapping toes. It was Charles Jr – and he had died from a fractured skull. It was possible that the kidnapper simply dropped the baby during a difficult descent on the flimsy ladder. Alternatively, he might have planned to kill the boy from the outset yet seek the ransom money all the same. Everyone agreed that the underworld must be involved in the kidnapping With the Lindberghs anxious to avoid mawkish memorials, the body was privately cremated, the ashes scattered at sea. For detectives, the key lead appeared to be the detailed knowledge shown by whoever took the child. The kidnapper had entered the correct room via the correct window, one of 15, on the upper floor. The ladder used was exactly the length required. There was an additional detail, too: the Lindbergh family usually moved to the estate of Anne's parents, the Morrows, on Mondays but were unexpectedly staying at their own home that night because the baby had a cold. It seemed the kidnapper had traveled to the scene with great confidence that night, armed with detailed knowledge of how and where to find his victim. Had one of the servants - and in particular someone in the large and wealthy Morrow household - played a part in revealing information about the baby's location? Soon, one-by-one, the servants were interviewed about their movements and social contacts. Betty Gow, Lindberghs' nurse, was first to be cleared. However, one of the Morrows' maids, Violet Sharpe, was evasive and during her third interrogation, became distraught. A series of ransom notes led Lindbergh and Condon to a night-time rendezvous in a cemetery She then committed suicide with a cyanide preparation available to clean silverware at the time, although the police eventually concluded that she was completely innocent. To this day, no further evidence has emerged to implicate the servants or explain how the kidnapper knew so much about his target. It was also hoped that the rare gold certificate bank notes paid as part of the ransom - and identifiable from their serial numbers - would lead detectives to the killer. Frustratingly, they did turn up from time to time and were spotted by alert bank tellers. But the notes were usually included in daily takings from large stores and the shop assistants remembered little about the customers involved. Intriguingly most appeared in the downtown New York area and it was tantalizingly possible the kidnapper was still spending them. Then, in September 1933, another one was spotted. This time it had been used at a gas station and, helpfully, the attendant had written down the car number plate. The New York State police soon traced the owner and arrested him. Bruno Hauptmann, the unemployed carpenter, acted suspiciously on arrest. His handwriting was quickly declared to match that on the ransom note and, when his house was searched, the police found a stack of bank notes from the ransom payment. The search widened from the Lindberghs' home, and roadblocks were erected throughout the state When the police let it be known that Hauptmann was from Germany and had a criminal record there, a relieved America accepted that the murderer had been found. Yet even though Hauptmann was kept in solitary confinement and beaten up, there was no confession. The trial, starting in late 1934, was the place to be seen. New York society ladies bribed their way into the small courtroom where they jostled for positions near the defendant. Sightseers gathered and tacky mementos were sold outside the courthouse: alleged locks of hair from the murdered baby, forged autographed photographs of Charles and replicas of the kidnap ladder. The prosecution's case was circumstantial since there was nothing directly linking Hauptmann to the killing. They could show that the crude ransom note was in Hauptmann's handwriting and that some of the ransom money had been found in his house. Added to that, detailed forensic work on the wood of the ladder found at the scene traced it to a lumber yard close to Hauptmann's home and suggested that wood in one part of the ladder came from the floor of Hauptmann's attic. Lindbergh, who attended daily carrying a pistol in a holster, gave dignified evidence and testified that the voice he heard from the cemetery directing him how to hand over the money matched Hauptmann's. Bruno Hauptmann, an unemployed carpenter, was arrested and charged for the kidnap and murder Bruno Hauptmann (center) is handcuffed to a state trooper as he is taken from county jail to be executed Anne, too, gave testimony and managed to keep control when identifying the baby's sleeping suit to the hushed court. The defense wisely declined to question her. Hauptmann's flamboyant attorney, Edward J Reilly, claimed that the money found in Hauptmann's house had been stored for a friend, a business partner, who had left for Germany and died there. Hauptmann said he was entitled to use it since his friend owed him money. Reilly cast doubt on the handwriting evidence and reasonably argued that the ladder was not worthy of a skilled carpenter. But his client's alibis for that night were unconvincing. At the conclusion of the six-week trial, the judge gave a balanced summary and the jury retired. Outside, a restive crowd of 6,000 people waited 11 hours for the verdict. Some of the reporters devised plans for being first with the result. The Associated Press correspondent even had a special radio and was ready with simple codes for the possible permutations. But when the bell rang to announce that the jury was returning, he mistakenly - and now notoriously - sent out the 'guilty and life imprisonment' code. In fact, Hauptmann had been sentenced to death. Mrs Lindbergh with three of her children Reeve, Anne and Scott (left to right) in 1950 Hauptman's steady denials, plus concern about a verdict based entirely on circumstantial evidence, meant that doubts persisted and the execution was postponed by series of appeals in the course of 1935. But on April 3, 1936, the appeals finally ran out and Hauptman went to the electric chair. It is striking that he never made a confession despite the fact that doing so - and allowing for a sentence of life imprisonment - might well have saved his life. Perhaps, nine decades later, it is only the miracle of forensic science that will finally lay the doubts to rest. Edited and exclusively excerpted from 'The Enigmatic Aviator: Charles Lindbergh, Revisited ' by David Hamilton
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Yahoo
Oregon appeals court finds gun forensics method is not ‘scientifically valid'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Major changes could be coming to the way shootings are prosecuted in Oregon after a recent state appeals court ruling. The case centers around the forensic practice of matching markings on bullets to specific guns under the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE) method. While the method has been used for decades, some critics argue that it is not based on measurable science. 'Just wrong': Oregon advocates say SCOTUS decision targets transgender youth Now, the Oregon Court of Appeals agrees – overturning a case that relied on the method. In a May 29 decision, the appeals court found that the state did not prove the method is 'scientifically valid.' Plaintiff Odell Tony Adams was appealing convictions for unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm and second-degree criminal mischief. BLM warns of 'aggressive' mountain goats along Oregon river As part of his appeal, Adams argued that the court erred by admitting testimony and a report of an expert as scientific evidence. According to court documents, the expert used the AFTE method and 'identified' cartridge cases that were found at the scene of a shooting as having been fired from a gun that was found in Adams' home. Adams argued that the state 'failed to establish that the AFTE method is scientifically valid and thus that evidence based on it is admissible.' The appeals court agreed with Adams. The case stems from a 2018 shooting at the Speakeasy Lounge. At the scene, police found several .40 caliber shell cases on the ground along with bullet holes in two cars parked in the nightclub's parking lot, according to court documents. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Police later obtained a warrant to search Adams' home, where officers seized a Taurus handgun, court documents state. While prepping the state's case against Adams, a forensic examiner used the AFTE method to analyze the gun and the cartridge cases found at the scene, court records say. The examiner determined that the gun seized from Adams' home fired 10 cases found at the scene of the crime. Another AFTE examiner analyzed the gun and agreed with the original findings, court documents state. Feds demand Oregon Health Plan data in crackdown against immigrant coverage Court documents from the appeals court describe scientific evidence, in part, as evidence that 'draws its convincing force from some principle of science, mathematics and the like.' The court explained, 'the state did not meet its burden to show that the AFTE method is scientifically valid, that is, that it is capable of measuring what it purports to measure and is able to produce consistent results when replicated.' The court continued, 'That is so because the method does not actually measure the degree of correspondence between shell cases or bullets; rather, the practitioner's decision on whether the degree of correspondence indicates a match ultimately depends entirely on subjective, unarticulated standards and criteria arrived at through the training and individualized experience of the practitioner.' 'It was scary': Residents near Portland ICE building frustrated with recent protests 'The state did not show that the method is replicable and therefore reliable: The method does not produce consistent results when replicated because it cannot be replicated. Multiple practitioners may analyze the same items and reach the same result, but each practitioner reaches that result based on application of their own subjective and unarticulated standards, not application of the same standards,' the appeals court added. The appeals court noted that Adams was tried on a federal charge from the same incident. In that case, Adams was granted a motion to exclude scientific testimony of an AFTE examiner who analyzed the same gun and cartridge. In response to the appeals court finding, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield's office told KOIN 6 News the office is planning to seek review by the Oregon Supreme Court and is working with law enforcement and prosecutors to determine next steps. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Times
18-06-2025
- Times
Forensic science cuts will mean ‘more miscarriages of justice'
Miscarriages of justice will increase without urgent action to avert the 'long-running crisis' in the forensic science service, which experts warn is in a 'graveyard spiral'. Forensic science is praised for enabling miscarriages of justice to be overturned, including the convictions of Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, and Peter Sullivan, released 38 years after being wrongly convicted of murder. But scientific evidence 'can be highly persuasive, even when wrong' and 'mistakes, omissions, unreliable science or misinterpretations of forensic evidence can cause catastrophic wrongful convictions', a recent report argues. The report from the Westminster Commission on Forensic Science warns that 'reckless policy decisions' compounded by spending cuts have diminished the capacity to overturn miscarriages of justice as well as preventing them by reliably assisting with crime detection and prosecution.
The Herald
13-06-2025
- The Herald
Police investing in more investigators, forensic skills and new recruits
An additional 675 forensic science laboratory analysts and crime scene experts are undergoing workplace training at station level. Their mandate will be to improve and expedite evidence collected at crime scenes. Some will be deployed to capacitate the four forensic labs. ALLOWANCES 'As a way of retaining skills and talent within our high-risk environments, we are introducing a scarce skills allowance for the national intervention unit,' Masemola announced. 'We will also increase the scarce skills allowance for the counter assault team.' The two units respond to high-risk crimes ranging from cash-in-transit armed robberies to ATM bombings. The allowance will also be extended to hostage negotiators, police divers and airborne law enforcement officers who work in the air wing unit and are deployed to assist ground units during operations, and to coastal skippers and vessel handlers, who are responsible for conducting inspections on vessels that come into the country at all seaports. Last year, the ranks of the special task force unit were adjusted to an entry level of warrant officer with an increase in their scarce skills allowance as a retention strategy. PROGRESSION Masemola said during this financial year, police management is considering progressing 10,000 constables and sergeants who have been at their rank for more than 11 years. An additional 1,000 warrant officers will also be considered for progression to a higher salary band. CALL CENTRES He said 575 call centre operators have been trained and deployed to serve as call takers at 10111 centres across the country. Masemola said this has greatly assisted the service to ensure a more rapid response to crime-related emergencies. STATION COMMANDERS At local level, 150 station commanders' positions have been filled. 'We have also introduced a mandatory station commanders induction course over and above the station management learning programme for all newly appointed station commanders to assist in enhancing the much-needed skills and knowledge required to run a police station.' VEHICLES AND RECRUITMENT Budget has been set aside to procure more vehicles for provinces. Priority will go to police stations and units to enhance police visibility and police response. At the end of this month, the police service will, through an online recruitment process, advertise to recruit 5,500 trainees. Their training will commence between January and February 2026. Eligible candidates need to be under the age of 35. Among the intake of 5,500 police trainees, some will graduate in August while the rest will graduate in December. TimesLIVE
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Miscarriages of justice more likely due to forensic science crisis, report finds
The forensic science sector is in a 'graveyard spiral', according to a parliamentary inquiry that has warned of biased criminal investigations, a rising risk of wrongful convictions, and murder and sexual offence cases collapsing due to missing evidence. The three-year inquiry set up by the all-party parliamentary group on miscarriages of justice has outlined how a series of 'reckless policy decisions' over the past decade have brought forensic science to a point of crisis. A near-monopoly in the commercial sector means there is now a dangerous single point of failure and the increasing reliance on in-house police laboratories risks compromising scientific impartiality, the inquiry found. 'Forensic science in England and Wales as currently configured isn't working for anyone – not for the police, not for the lawyers or for the courts, not for the scientists themselves, and not for the general public who get caught up in the criminal justice system,' said Prof Angela Gallop, co-chair of the Westminster Commission on Forensic Science. 'Like a plane hurtling downwards in what has become known as a 'graveyard spiral', with the pilot in desperation making increasingly erratic decisions, it can only be a short time now before it impacts the ground.' Since the closure of the Forensic Science Service in 2012, work has been divided between commercial providers and, increasingly, in-house police laboratories. However, the inquiry said there were now real concerns about bias due to the expanding types of investigations the police conduct, paired with inadequate legal aid funding for defence experts. The report recommends an immediate halt to the expansion of police in-house forensic provision and, in the long term, removing forensic science provision from police oversight. 'The increased risk of miscarriages of justice is self-evident and the potential for investigative failures leading to further injustices is continuing to grow,' said Gallop. The report also highlights the imminent collapse of the forensics market, which is heading toward a 'last man standing' monopoly after the UK's largest forensics provider, Eurofins, acquired the second largest provider, Cellmark, which was on the brink of insolvency last year. Eurofins now delivers more than 85% of external science provision, the report estimates, a proportion that could rise further, creating the risk of a single point of failure. Another concern raised is the police handling of crucial evidence used to prosecute the most serious crimes, with a growing number of cases dropped due to 'disappearing material' including DNA samples, CCTV footage, weapons, drugs and mobile phone data. Missing evidence was recorded as the reason for 30,552 prosecutions being dropped between October 2020 and September 2024, the report reveals. This included 70 homicides and 554 sexual offences, and represented just over 2% of all prosecutions nationally. The Metropolitan police had 4.6% of cases dropped because of missing evidence. Prof Carole McCartney, a criminologist at the University of Leicester, who helped compile the figures, said: 'The most obvious cause for alarm is that each of these cases is potentially a victim who will never see their perpetrator in court or see their case brought to justice. 'And if we're not retaining evidence, people who are victims of miscarriages of justice can't get out of prison and cold cases will stay unsolved if you lose the evidence. It's a fundamental part of the criminal justice process.' The inquiry adds to continuing criticism of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), after the cases of Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit, and Peter Sullivan, whose murder conviction was overturned last month after 38 years. The report describes a culture of 'complacency in respect of a lack of scientific knowledge and understanding' among CCRC staff and recommends the recruitment of permanent staff members with scientific backgrounds. Kim Johnson MP, the chair of the APPG on miscarriages of justice, said the Post Office Horizon scandal and the exonerations of Malkinson and Sullivan highlighted the need for urgent reform of forensic provision. 'These cases are not isolated incidents but symptoms of deep, systemic failings in our criminal justice system,' she said. 'We owe it to victims, their families, and the wider public to demand transparency, accountability, and meaningful reform. We must see the government act on this report without delay to restore trust and prevent future injustices.' A CCRC spokesperson said that in response to an independent review of its handling of the Malkinson case it had taken a number of steps to improve its forensics provision, including training sessions for staff. It said its Forensic Opportunities Programme, announced last year, was analysing pre-2016 convictions to assess whether advances in DNA technology could identify an offender and that it had recently recruited a full-time forensic science and evidence adviser. A government spokesperson said: 'We understand the importance of high-quality, timely forensic evidence for an effective criminal justice system that prevents crime, prosecutes suspects and gives victims the justice they deserve. 'In November 2024 at the NPCC/APCC summit, the home secretary acknowledged that the adoption of forensic science across the board has been uncoordinated. That's why we are appointing a national forensic science lead who will transform our approach by helping to create a new model of delivery with the police and forensic leaders to raise standards and improve efficiency, and ultimately build greater public confidence in our criminal justice system.'
