Revenge Theory Not Given Much Credence—Ransom Most Likely
By MARK BARRON
TRENTON, N. J., May 17 (AP)—Police, blanketing the entire Atlantic seaboard in their search for the kidnapper- murderers of the Lindbergh baby, find their investigation handicapped through inability to definitely determine the motive for the crime.
"It is like looking for some one in an impenetrable tog," one official working on the case explained here today. "If we knew the actual motive, then we wouldn't be conducting the search so blindly.
"Clues that we now have would be of much more value and seemingly unimportant evidence might take on a much more valuable aspect — if only we had the motive of the crime to hook up with them."
Dozens of theories have been advanced and many of them are extremely logical. The one given most credence by the police is that the crime was committed by gangsters solely for ransom. This is the theory held by Governor A. Harry Moore of New Jersey. He discounts entirely the theory that the baby was kidnapped for reasons of revenge.
No Known Enemies
Though Col. Lindbergh has no known enemies, it is pointed out that a national figure of his prominence may have some foes who might have been brooding over a fancied wrong or slight. Rut the New Jersey chief executive doesn't believe anyone would have risked such an atrocious crime merely through personal animosity.
His views largely coincide with those of Police Commissioner Mulrooney of New York, in that both believe that kidnapping suddenly became the new popular racket with gangsters and racketeers who have suffered financially from prevailing economic, conditions. The flood of gold that poured into their pockets from illegitimate activities in liquor, dope and gambling is not pouring in in such voluminous quantities, so, it is believed, many of them have turned to kidnapping as a quick means of getting easy money.
Ransom money, and only for that, is the motive belief held by Governor Moore. His theory has strong support in the revelations of the contacts made with the alleged kidnappers by Dr. Condon in the Bronx and the intermediaries at Norfolk, Va. While he has never publicly expressed his opinion, it is believed that the views of Colonel H. Norman Schwarzkopf, head of the New Jersey police investigation, coincides with those of the governor.
While the ransom motive points to New York gangsters, there are other possible motives which point to someone who lives in the vicinity of that Lindbergh estate at Hopewell. Prosecutor Erwin E. Marshall, of Mercer county, where the body was found, said that it is "a possibility" that the crime might have been committed by someone living nearby.
On the night of the kidnapping a quick checkup as made of the activities of the inmates of the state home for epileptics, which is only a few miles from the Lindbergh home. It was thought that one of them might have been responsible. Investigation also was made of the "Jackson Whites", a primitive clan who lived back in the Sourland mountains. Although these two theories have not been discarded, they are being treated as minor to the gangster ransom motive.
Thu May 17, 2012 6:29 pm