Historic Trial Transcripts

Mr. Pope: Will you give us the number, Mr. Wilentz?

Mr. Wilentz: The last one or the new one?

Mr. Fisher: The last one, the envelope.

The Reporter: Exhibit S-45.

(Envelope referred to was received in evidence and marked State Exhibit S-45.)

Mr. Wilentz: May I read these, please, if your Honor please?

The Court: Yes.

Mr. Wilentz (Reading to the jury): This envelope is addressed to Dr. John F. Condon, 2974 Decatur Avenue, New York. That is Exhibit S-42, one note. “Dear Sir: If you are willing to act as go-between in Lindbergh case, follow strictly instructions. Handle enclosed letter personally to Mr. Lindbergh. It will explain everything. Don’t tell anyone about it. As soon we find out the press or police is notified, everyding are cansell—c-a-n-s-e-l-l, and it will be a further delay.

“After you gets the money from Mr. Lindbergh put them words in the New York American: money is ready. After that we will give you further instructions. Don’t be afrait. We are not out for your thousand dollar (dollar sign after the thousand). Keep it only act strictly. Be at home every night between 6-12. By this time you will hear from us.”

Together with that Exhibit S-43—you notice this exhibit has no symbol on it—inside the envelope S45 “Mr. Colonel Lindbergh Hopewell”: “Dear Sir: Mr. Condon may act as go-between. You may give him the seventy thousand $. Make one packet. The size will be about (here you will see the drawing of the size) 6 by 7 by 14 (the dimensions you see there). We have notifiet you already in what kind of bills. We warn you not use any trap in any way. If you or someone else will notify the police tere will be a further delay. After we have the money in hand we will tell you where to find your boy. You may have a air plane ready (redy). It is about 150 miles away, but before telling you the adr. a delay of 8 hours will be between.” Then the circles with the three holes and the red center.

Q. Now, when you received that envelope with the papers which have just been marked in evidence, what did you do, sir?

A. I came home late that night. I usually lectured in four places. One of them was the Silesian Order; it is a Catholic order in New Rochelle; the other the College of New Rochelle; third, at Fordham University and, last, at the Woolworth Building in the lower part of the city.

Q. Yes, Doctor. Well, at any rate, you came home—

A. Late.

Q. Late, you say?

A. Around ten, or between ten and eleven.

Q. And when you got home at ten o’clock—

A. I found my letters, as I usually asked them to be placed, by a Tiffany clock that we happen by chance to have.

Q. All right. Now, having found—did you find that letter on that particular night?

A. I found that letter on that particular night.

Q. And did you open it?

A. I opened it.

Q. And what did you do then, sir?

A. As soon as I read it, I thought it was strange, and I felt rather pleased to think that I was honored. So I took that over to 188th Street and Concourse in order that I might meet the man who had so kindly driven me so many miles in different places in our Borough, Alfred J. Reich.

Q. Well, all right, sir. Now, when you got to that place did you find Mr. Reich?

A. Mr. Reich, I was advised by Mr. Rosenhain—

Q. Well, he wasn’t there, was he, Doctor?

A. He was not there.

Q. All right. And then what did you do, sir?

A. I went to Mr. Rosenhain and I said, “Look here, I think I have—”

Mr. Reilly: Objected to; objected to, the conversation.

A. Yes. I beg your pardon. I know; I know better than that.

Q. Just a minute.

A. I know better than that.

Q. All right, sir. I know you do.

Q. When you got there?

A. When I got there.

Q. As a result of what you said to Mr. Rosenhain or anybody else, what did you do, sir?

A. I took the letter out of my pocket and telephoned its contents to a gentleman at the other end of the wire at a place called Hopewell.