John Condon a.k.a. "Jafsie"
John Condon was a well known retired school teacher with a Bronx personality, and he was otherwise known as Jafsie. He simply wanted to help with the Lindbergh case in any way that he could, and he added $1,000 of his own money to the reward.
Condon then received a letter from the kidnappers themselves, and it authorized Condon as their go-between with Charles Lindbergh. The letter asked “Jafsie” to place a classified ad in the newspaper stating: “Money is Ready. Jafsie.” Condon then waited for further instructions from the
kidnappers, and eventually a meeting between “Jafsie” and a representative of
the kidnapping group was scheduled. The representative said his name was John, and he claimed he was a part of a gang including three men and two women.
He told Jafsie that the Lindbergh child was being held on a boat
unharmed, but the kidnappers were still not ready to receive the ransom. When
Jafsie doubted that “John” actually had the baby, he wanted proof. The
kidnapper said he would soon send him the baby’s sleeping suit.
When the New York Police saw the ad about “Jafsie” in the newspaper, they
wanted to know who he was and what he was doing. Lindbergh refused to tell them
anything. On March 16, 1932, Condon received the toddler’s sleeping suit in the
mail along with a seventh ransom note. It told Condon to make a new ad for the
newspaper, stating “Money is ready. No cops. No secret service. I come alone,
like last time.”
Finally, about a month after Charles Lindbergh Jr. was kidnapped, Condon got
a letter from the reported kidnappers stating that they were ready to accept the
payment.
Condon then received a letter from the kidnappers themselves, and it authorized Condon as their go-between with Charles Lindbergh. The letter asked “Jafsie” to place a classified ad in the newspaper stating: “Money is Ready. Jafsie.” Condon then waited for further instructions from the
kidnappers, and eventually a meeting between “Jafsie” and a representative of
the kidnapping group was scheduled. The representative said his name was John, and he claimed he was a part of a gang including three men and two women.
He told Jafsie that the Lindbergh child was being held on a boat
unharmed, but the kidnappers were still not ready to receive the ransom. When
Jafsie doubted that “John” actually had the baby, he wanted proof. The
kidnapper said he would soon send him the baby’s sleeping suit.
When the New York Police saw the ad about “Jafsie” in the newspaper, they
wanted to know who he was and what he was doing. Lindbergh refused to tell them
anything. On March 16, 1932, Condon received the toddler’s sleeping suit in the
mail along with a seventh ransom note. It told Condon to make a new ad for the
newspaper, stating “Money is ready. No cops. No secret service. I come alone,
like last time.”
Finally, about a month after Charles Lindbergh Jr. was kidnapped, Condon got
a letter from the reported kidnappers stating that they were ready to accept the
payment.