Bruno Hauptmann was a man who was found guilty of the kidnapping and killing of a young boy, Charles Lindbergh Jr. All throughout his trial, there were many flaws that were not considered toward Hauptmann to try and prove him innocent. Charles Jr. was a 20 month year old child who was kidnapped on the night of March 1, 1932 in Hopewell, New Jersey, from his own bedroom. There had been a handwritten letter left by forced open widow. The note requested $50,000 to be given to the kidnappers in return for the baby. There was a ladder that was left by the window, with a broken step. Also, investigators found a set of two footprints that were left in the mud beside the house.
The money had been given to the kidnapper, a person known as John, and in return they had given the location to where the baby was; on a boat between Horseneck Beach and near Elizabeth Island. Lindbergh flew around trying to find the boat, but there was no luck. Soon after, a couple truck drivers had discovered the body of the baby, who had been dead since the night of the kidnapping buy the condition he was in. The police had no leads except for the ransom money. One was cashed, which lead police to Hauptmann. Hauptmann said that a man, Fish, had given him the money. Soon after, he was accused of the murder and kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh Jr.
The whole case had many flaws in it. Hauptmann pleaded his innocence throughout the case, but the court sought differently. The evidence had been tampered with. The police had found two sets of footprints in the yard, but only said they had found one set in court. The ladder that was found by the baby's window was also different than that of the scenes. Hauptmann had an attorney, Reilly, who had an interest in Lindbergh and was on his side. Reilly had concluded that there was no way that the kidnapping could have taken place by just one person, but did not mention that to the court. Hauptmann's appeals to his case were denied, and the attempts to prove him guilty were not looked into.
The jury found Hauptmann guilty. He was then sentenced to the death penalty. Hauptmann was executed on April 3, 1936 by the electric chair. He stuck to his innocence and would not budge, even being offered money for his family or any other bribes. Still today people wonder whether Hauptmann was innocent or not.
Hunterdon County Democrat, . (n.d.). Crime of the century. Retrieved from http://www.nj.com/lindbergh/
Linder, D. (2000). The bruno hauptmann trial: a cronology. Retrieved from http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/Hauptmann/chrono.html
Linder, D. (2002, February). The trial of bruno hauptmann. Retrieved from http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/trials26.htm
Monday, March 28, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Illinois Abolishes the Death Penalty
Illinois has recently, within the month of March, abolished the death penalty. Illinois is the 16th state who has given up the death penalty for a punishment to criminals. There has been more than a dozen people who were put to death, then found to be innocent afterward; this is what took them over the edge. Governor Quinn stated, "Since our experience has shown that there is no way to design a perfect death penalty system, free from the numerous flaws that can lead to wrongful convictions or discriminatory treatment, I have concluded that the proper course of action is to abolish it", as he signed a bill to abolish capital punishment. Not only did Quinn abolish the death penalty, he saved 15 death row inmates from receiving it, in which they were supposed to. They still serve life in prison.
The state of Illinois also declared that they will be saving money buy getting rid of the death penalty all together. This gives the state more money to be put into other criminal facilities, or for any other use that they have in mind. Governor Quinn recognized the families who lost innocent love ones due to the death penalty. He also said that he would never bring back the death penalty or any form of the death penalty. The bill does not actually go into effect until July 1, 2011, but until then, Gov. Quinn will commute the sentence of anyone who is supposed to receive the death penalty between now and then.
There had been no executions carried out since 1999 due to a ten year moratorium that was put into effect in 2000. The legislature passed the bill in January, to abolish the death penalty in Illinois, but Gov. Quinn had spent two months after reflecting the decision between others and himself. Many agree with his decision and say it was only a matter of time for this to happen. It saves the innocent, but doesn't let the guilty off easy. Criminal charges still come into effect, just not to the extent of the death penalty.
Evans, B. (2011, March 9). Illinois has abolished the death penalty. Retrieved from http://blog.amnestyusa.org/deathpenalty/illinois-has-abolished-the-death-penalty/
Illinois abolishes the death penalty. (2011, March 10). Retrieved from http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/illinois-abolishes-death-penalty-2011-03-10
NPR Staff and Wires, . (2011, March 9). Illinois abolishes the death penalty. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2011/03/09/134394946/illinois-abolishes-death-penalty
The state of Illinois also declared that they will be saving money buy getting rid of the death penalty all together. This gives the state more money to be put into other criminal facilities, or for any other use that they have in mind. Governor Quinn recognized the families who lost innocent love ones due to the death penalty. He also said that he would never bring back the death penalty or any form of the death penalty. The bill does not actually go into effect until July 1, 2011, but until then, Gov. Quinn will commute the sentence of anyone who is supposed to receive the death penalty between now and then.
There had been no executions carried out since 1999 due to a ten year moratorium that was put into effect in 2000. The legislature passed the bill in January, to abolish the death penalty in Illinois, but Gov. Quinn had spent two months after reflecting the decision between others and himself. Many agree with his decision and say it was only a matter of time for this to happen. It saves the innocent, but doesn't let the guilty off easy. Criminal charges still come into effect, just not to the extent of the death penalty.
Evans, B. (2011, March 9). Illinois has abolished the death penalty. Retrieved from http://blog.amnestyusa.org/deathpenalty/illinois-has-abolished-the-death-penalty/
Illinois abolishes the death penalty. (2011, March 10). Retrieved from http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/illinois-abolishes-death-penalty-2011-03-10
NPR Staff and Wires, . (2011, March 9). Illinois abolishes the death penalty. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2011/03/09/134394946/illinois-abolishes-death-penalty
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Hilton Crawford
Hilton Crawford was sentenced to death on July 24, 1995 due to the crime of capital murder. He had committed the kidnapping and killing of a 12 year-old boy, one year earlier. The young boy's name was Samuel McKay Everett. Crawford was not just a random person, but happened to be a family friend of the Everett's.
One evening in 1995, Sam's parents had been out for a meeting and left Sam home alone. Crawford was also supposed to attend the same meeting, but never showed. After a little while, Crawford made an appearance at the Everett's home. Sam suspected nothing, so he opened up the door. He had considered to Hilton as Uncle Hilty.
During the night, Sam's parents tried to call, but there was no answer. Due to this, his father, Carl, drove home to see if everything was fine. It was then, he found no sign of Sam and the door to their home cracked open. While Carl was home, a women called the house and demanded $500,000 in exchange for the safe return of their son. The only lead the police had on this case was a neighbor of the Everett's saw a car quickly pull in the drive way and leave that night. The car was described similar to Crawford's, and when searched, found a small portion of blood in the trunk. This blood did not prevail that Sam was murdered but, the police had their suspect. Soon after, Crawford drew a map to the location of Sam in Whiskey Bay, Louisiana. There they had found Sam's body, which had shown he had been shot twice in the head.
Police were able to see what Crawford was up too that night because of his credit card transactions. This case was solved rarely quick. Crawford had tried to accuse another person for the actual murder, R.L. Remmington. Police investigated, but could not find this man nor find anything about him. So they concluded that Remmington was not real. Finally, in the year of 2003, Crawford had been executed by lethal injection for this tragic murder of a young boy. Also, Irene Flores, who was the voice on the phone, received 25 years in jail. Crawford was one of the older people in Texas, age 64, to be executed by the death penalty.
Carson , D. (2003, July 3). Hilton crawford. Retrieved from http://www.txexecutions.org/reports/306.asp
Death row facts. (2011, January 4). Retrieved from http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/drowfacts.htm
Facts of crime. (2003, June 27). Retrieved from https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagNews/release.php?id=57
One evening in 1995, Sam's parents had been out for a meeting and left Sam home alone. Crawford was also supposed to attend the same meeting, but never showed. After a little while, Crawford made an appearance at the Everett's home. Sam suspected nothing, so he opened up the door. He had considered to Hilton as Uncle Hilty.
During the night, Sam's parents tried to call, but there was no answer. Due to this, his father, Carl, drove home to see if everything was fine. It was then, he found no sign of Sam and the door to their home cracked open. While Carl was home, a women called the house and demanded $500,000 in exchange for the safe return of their son. The only lead the police had on this case was a neighbor of the Everett's saw a car quickly pull in the drive way and leave that night. The car was described similar to Crawford's, and when searched, found a small portion of blood in the trunk. This blood did not prevail that Sam was murdered but, the police had their suspect. Soon after, Crawford drew a map to the location of Sam in Whiskey Bay, Louisiana. There they had found Sam's body, which had shown he had been shot twice in the head.
Police were able to see what Crawford was up too that night because of his credit card transactions. This case was solved rarely quick. Crawford had tried to accuse another person for the actual murder, R.L. Remmington. Police investigated, but could not find this man nor find anything about him. So they concluded that Remmington was not real. Finally, in the year of 2003, Crawford had been executed by lethal injection for this tragic murder of a young boy. Also, Irene Flores, who was the voice on the phone, received 25 years in jail. Crawford was one of the older people in Texas, age 64, to be executed by the death penalty.
Carson , D. (2003, July 3). Hilton crawford. Retrieved from http://www.txexecutions.org/reports/306.asp
Death row facts. (2011, January 4). Retrieved from http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/drowfacts.htm
Facts of crime. (2003, June 27). Retrieved from https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagNews/release.php?id=57
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)