THE LINDBERGH BABY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20489, 7 March 1932, Page 9

THE LINDBERGH BABY.

+ A SEAMAN ARRESTED. FRIEND OF CHILD'S NURSEMAID. (UNITED TRESS ASSOCIATION'—JBY ELECTJIIC TELEOR AMI —COrYIUGHT.) (Received March Cth, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 4. A message from Trenton, New Jersey, states that Mr John Toohey, Secretary to the Governor, Mr Harry Moore, said to-day that he had been informed by the Connecticut State Attorney, Mr Alcorn, that Harry Johnson, a friend of the nursemaid of the kidnapped Lindbergh baby, had been placed under arrest at Hartford, Connecticut. "We have got the car and the milk bottle found in the car," Mr Alcorn said. A Hartford message states that after Harry Johnson, of Englewood, New Jersey, had been taken into custody in connoxion with the kidnapping of Colonel Lindbergh's baby, a special delivery letter and a postcard addressed to the Lindberghs were found in the Hartford Post Office. The letter, which was unopened, was sent to Mrs Lindbergh at Hopewell. The postcard was addressed to Colonel Charles Lindbergh. It said: The baby is still safe. Get things quiet. The description of tho card is similar to the previous ones sent to Lindbergh. llenry Johnson is a seaman employed as a summer's deck hand on a yacht belonging to Mr Thomas Lamont, a partner of the late Mr Dwiglit Morrow (whoso daughter is Mrs Lindbergh). Officials hurried to Hartford to start questioning J'olinson, who is reputed to bo tho sweetheart of Betty Wood, tho child's nurse, who last saw him before the kidnapping. Ho has admitted that he telephoned her the day before the' kidnapping. Despite the earlier announcement the police are completely exonerating Betty Wood. Suspicions Aroused. The ladder found at the Lindbergh homo after the kidnapping is described by a county officer as the kind used at a Bronx shipyard frequented by Johnson. The "New York Times" reports that Colonel Lindbergh departed by aeroplane from a field near his home about 1.45 a.m. presumably en route for Hartford to participate in the questioning of Johnson. Officials have denied the possibility of an effort to maintain secrecy. Johnson was arrested at the request of tho New Jersey police, whose suspicions were further aroused by an empty milk bottle found in his automobile. After conferring with the police officials of ten States and the Federal Government the Governor, Mr Harry Moore, announced that it was their bolief and hope that tho Lindbergh baby would soon be restored. Mr Moore said was the general opinion of the police officials who came to a conference from as far away as Chicago, that the kidnapping' was the work of amateurs, who would soon realise thftt their only chance of escape was to place the baby in some safe place and notify the authorities. The kidnapping bore none of the earmarks of those practised in crime, even though the result was successfully achieved. IN TOUCH WITH THE KIDNAPPERS. . GANGSTERS NAMED AS INTERMEDIARIES. (Received March 6th, 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 5. The "New York Times" says: "The Lindbergh houso at Hopewell was ablaze with lights to-night. Through the windows could be seen officials engaged in earnest conversation with members of tho family. The State police did not relax their guard on the roadways leading to the house, and most observers were not allowed within a mile and a half of the buildings. Colonel Lindbergh's attorney declined to add any information to the letter naming intermediaries. It is now surmised, however, that the Lindberghs received a communication from the kidnappers, but to make a reply it would be necessary to broadcast the same, and therefore their letter will bo published. "Spitals' and Bitz are said to be New Yorkers, but it is now believed to be Jersey City, which is not far from Hopewell." The Trenton correspondent of the "New York Times" reports that shortly after midnight on Sunday it was indicated that Colonel Lindbergh had at last been in communication with the kidnappers. A letter signed by Lindbergh and his wife was published. - It read: If the kidnappers of our child are unwilling to deal direct, we fully authorise "Salvy," Spitals and Irving Bitz to act as our go-between. We will also follow any other message suggested iby the kidnappers that we can be sure will "bring the return of our child. The name Spitals seemed to indicate that gangsters were involved in the kidnapping, but no explanations were at first given by the authorities. Professional Kidnappers. The Trenton, message was published at the .request of the Lindberghs. It was dictated over the telephone from their Hopewell home to the office of the Governor, Mr Harry Moore, at Trenton by Major Sclioefeel, DeputySuperintendent of tho State Police, who would add nothing to it. "Whether tlie first definite step toward securing the release of tho child has at last been made is still uncertain, but it now seems that, the abduction of the child can be laid to. professional kidnappers. It has dispelled the long-held belief that an abnormal, but generally non-criminal type, of person were involved. Spitals and Bitz are known to the New York Police as friends of Jack Diamond. It is surmised that these were suggested as intermediaries by the kidnappers in their communncation with Colonel Lindbergh, and were declared acceptable by the latter in his reply. Failure of Appeals. Newspaper files show that ,Spitals is known in the underworld as the."Beer Baron," He figured in the investigation into the shooting of Jack ("Legs") Diamond in New York in 1930, and also last December in Albany, but was not then arrested. He was arrested in New York in 1928 for alleged homicide, but was discharged. Bitz was convicted in 1926 on a charge of dealing in narcotics, and he served a year in gaol. A radio appeal previously by the Lindberghs emphasising the immediate safe return of their baby apparently failed. The results of the latest statement are taken to indicate that they

had no communication with the kidnappers. Protestant, Jew, and Catholic clergymen appealed to the Lindbergh baby abductors to leave the ehild in any religious institution should they find themselves unable or unwilling to communicate with the Lindberghs, and assuring the kidnappers that the child would be accepted without question. PARENTS APPEAL TO KIDNAPPERS. READY TO MEET DEMANDS. NEW YORK, March 4. A message from Trenton (New Jersey) states that Colonel and Mrs Lindbergh to-day issued an appeal direct to the kidnappers, through the office of Governor A. H. Moore (New Jersey) assuring the criminals that entire confidence might be placed "in any promise we may make." The appeal, which was given, to the Press in the hope of inducing open negotiations for the return of the baby, reads: "Mrs Lindbergh and myself desire to make personal contact with the kidpapers. Our only interest is his immediate safe return. We feel that the kidnappers will realise! that this interest is strong enough to justify them having complete confidence and tros in any promise we may make in connexion with his return. We urge those who have the child to send any representatives they desire to meet representatives of ours who will be suitable to them at any time and any place they designate. If this is accepted we will keep whatever arrangements made by their representatives and ours strictly confidential, and further pledge ourselves that we will not trv to injure in any way those conH6ctcd witl? tliQ return, of th© child. kidnapping in qhio. A MISSING CHILD FOUND. (Received March 6th, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 5. A message from Youngstown (Ohio) states that James de Jute, who was reported on March 2nd as having oeen kidnapped, was found alive m a deserted house. It is reported that t*o men are under arrest.