The Trial
The trial was held at Hunterdon County Courthouse in Flemington, New Jersey. Reporters flocked to the town and every hotel room was booked. Hauptmann’s attorney was Edward J. Reilly.
It was discovered that Hauptmann had $14,590 of the ransom money, and there was also evidence that Hauptmann’s handwriting matched that of the handwriting on the various ransom notes. There were even handwriting experts at the trial, and they pointed out all of the similarities between the two.
Hauptmann and Lindbergh both testified that Hauptmann was “John”, and a
witness testified that they saw Hauptmann near the scene of the crime at the Lindbergh home.
Hauptmann was convicted of the crime and sentenced to death. He turned down an offer worth $90,000 for a confession, and he also refused a last minute offer to convert his execution to a life sentence in prison for the replace of a confession. On April 3, 1936, about four years after the kidnapping had happened, Bruno Hauptmann was electrocuted.
It was discovered that Hauptmann had $14,590 of the ransom money, and there was also evidence that Hauptmann’s handwriting matched that of the handwriting on the various ransom notes. There were even handwriting experts at the trial, and they pointed out all of the similarities between the two.
Hauptmann and Lindbergh both testified that Hauptmann was “John”, and a
witness testified that they saw Hauptmann near the scene of the crime at the Lindbergh home.
Hauptmann was convicted of the crime and sentenced to death. He turned down an offer worth $90,000 for a confession, and he also refused a last minute offer to convert his execution to a life sentence in prison for the replace of a confession. On April 3, 1936, about four years after the kidnapping had happened, Bruno Hauptmann was electrocuted.