An old Newark Police, Desk Log Book, with roots dating back to the 1930's found itself serving multiple purposes in its lifetime. At some point in time the book became Det. Morris Kirwin's personal scrapbook. I believe he took the book into retirement, handed it down to family members, and it eventually find itself being thrown out as garbage. Fortunately it was rescued from the trash in Massachusetts.
Kirwan pasted news clippings of his involvement in numerous cases, into "his" scrapbook. The collection started in 1929. Looking at these notes, I turned page after page, until I saw multiple articles relating to the kidnapping of Aviator Charles Lindbergh's son. This was an event that shocked the Nation, and held its' interest until the execution of Bruno Hauptmann, at Trenton State Prison, April 3, 1936.
Detective Kirwan was one of several Newark Police that were assigned to assist with the investigation into the Lindbergh Kidnapping. Charles A. Lindbergh Jr. had been taken from his nursery on Tuesday, March 1st 1932. The home was on an estate owned by the family in Hopewell N.J.
A ransom of $50,000 was asked, in what was the first of 15 ransom notes. In his notes Detective Kirwan recorded the names of those Newark Officers, including Chief James McRell, that had responded to the Lindbergh Estate in Hopewell, N.J. See pictures below.
A Photo of the Lindbergh House
Det. Kirwan's note: "Mrs Lindbergh"
Det. Kirwan's Note
"Newark Police at Lindy's"
Chief McRell Newark Police, Col. Schwarzkopf (NJ State Police), and
Chief Thomas Wolfe (Jersey City)
Col. Lindbergh eventually paid the ransom. The famed aviator believed this was the only way to rescue his baby. The money was delivered by John Conlin, an intermediary, to the kidnappers on April 2, 1932 in a Bronx, NY Cemetery.
After the payment of the ransom the Lindbergh's were given instructions on how to locate their child. These instructions did not produce the missing baby. Searches continued around the Lindbergh Estate with no success
Pictured below is Col. Lindbergh, and to his right Mrs. Lindbergh, and several pictures of their son. These photos are part of Detective Kirwan's notes.
Kidnapped Baby, Charles Lindbergh Jr,
and Mr. and Mrs Lindbergh
A Detective examines Ladder used to remove Baby from Second Floor Nursery
On May 12, 1932, over a month after the delivery of the ransom money, Truck Drivers found the body of the missing child. The case now became a homicide investigation.
For a solid year there were no arrests in the case. Then a series of events seemed to just fall in place. The first was actually in May of 1932 when the United States went off the Gold Standard. Our present day currency quietly came into existence. With Gold Certificates no longer legal tender, it was possible for these certificates to be rejected by Banks.
Eighteen months following the discovery of the baby's body an individual went into a gasoline station in the Bronx. He paid for his gas using a Gold Certificate. The Station Attendant feared not being able to collect on this certificate wrote the cars license plate number. The plate belonged to Bruno Richard Hauptmann. He was arrested September 19, 1934.
The last item to note, found in Detective Kirwan's scrap book, is an "Envelope Front" with canceled stamp, and addressee's name showing. The letter went through the U.S. Post Office in Norristown, P.A. It was stamped 12:00 PM - March 2nd - the day after the kidnapping. It was addressed to "Mr. or Mrs Charles Lindbergh, Hopwell, N.J.
Many thoughts go through my mind concerning this "Envelope." Was it evidence from the case? Did it contain one of the 15 ransom notes? Why did Detective Kirwan keep it all these years? Yes, it was part of his memorabilia, but what did it signify to him.
Front of Envelope Found in
Detective Kirwan's Scrap Book
I have been told that there are many unanswered questions about this case, and subsequent trial. Now I have a few of my own that I'll just add to the pile of memories that I collect.
