What he is less known for is a crime that was committed on march 1st 1932. his 10 month old son was kidnapped.
while a 10 week nation wide man hunt took place their were also negotiations taking place through an intermediary known as Jafsie. the negotiations led to the pay out of 50,000$ in 10$ and 20$ gold certificates.
Although payment was made on May 12th the body of Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr was found just two miles from the families home. Tracing the certificates led authorities to Bruno Richard Hauptmann. With more then 13,000 of the notes stashed in his garage he was convicted of kidnapping, extortion, and first degree murder. Hauptmann maintained through the trial and right through to the carrying out of the death sentence that he was innocent.
One thing that came from this tragedy is the Lindbergh Act making it a federal offence to kidnap a child and either cross state borders or else use any service that crosses the state boarder. including mailing ransom letters.
The loss of a child is devastating, do you think that making the crime carry a more severe punishment deterred anyone from committing it?
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