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| 116 | hauptmann’s ladder From Bad to Worse a press conference was held later that afternoon to discuss the death of the morrows ’ young maid. Colonel schwartzkopf informed the media of Violet’s suicide and said, “The suicide of Violet sharp strongly tends to confirm the suspicions of the investigating authorities concerning the guilty knowledge of the crime against Charles lindbergh, Jr.”1 schwartzkopf continued by pointing out the inconsistencies in sharp’s story, the fact that she would not reveal her date’s name, and that she knew the lindberghs would be remaining in hopewell that evening. When he had finished, the media had many questions. They wanted details on Violet’s death and its effect on the investigation. schwartzkopf gave few details, but made sure not to mention Violet’s illness or the methods used by the police to question her. There was no mention of her breakdown the evening prior to her death. after answering the questions of the press with carefully worded answers that did not reveal anything, schwartzkopf ended the conference with the hope that this would prevent any controversy. he could not have been more wrong. immediately after the press conference, Colonel schwartzkopf ordered the arrest and interrogation of ernest Brinkert. he was not about to let a good lead die with Violet sharp. if Violet would not talk, maybe ernie would. While the police were searching for ernest Brinkert, John Condon was summoned to the police station in White plains. The police theorized that if ernie Brinkert was the kidnapper, he might also be Cemetery John. When Condon arrived , lieutenant Keaton handed him a photo of Brinkert. he examined it for a moment and declared that while the man resembled John, the picture was much too light to be sure.2 Condon was sent home. until Brinkert was captured, they would simply have to wait. a few hours later, the police arrested Brinkert. he was found sitting in his car outside a store on sickles avenue in new rochelle, new york. Brinkert had actually called the police from that store, promising to turn himself in. The police were unwilling to wait. They traced the phone call and sent an army of officers and detectives after their quarry. Brinkert offered no resistance.3| 116 || 13 | From Bad to Worse | 117 | he was brought to the new rochelle station and interrogated. he adamantly denied even knowing Violet sharp, let alone dating her. he even had an alibi for the night of the kidnapping. he and his wife mary had spent the night in Connecticut playing cards with a man named Frank page. he was hundreds of miles from hopewell that night.4 The police did not believe him. promising to verify the alibi, the police confronted Brinkert with his business cards found in Violet sharp’s room. he had no explanation, but insisted he never met her. pressed on the matter, Brinkert stated, “That would be impossible for me to account for as i never knew the addresses of all the fares i rode and it could be possible that this card came from me while she was a fare in my cab or after i sold the cab. if this is so, i have no knowe [sic] of it because i never kept a record of the people the cards were distributed to.”5 The police were still not convinced. They began delving into their suspect’s criminal record. Brinkert readily admitted to an arrest on a charge of petit larceny and a conviction for attempted assault in the second degree, which resulted in a jail sentence of eight months and twenty days.6 he even admitted that he was legally married to two different women, though neitherwomanknewoftheother .7hemarriedhissecondwife,marymorrisroeBrinkert, on Thursday, september 17, 1931, in Greenwich, Connecticut. mary thought he was divorced.8 There is no mention of the name of Brinkert’s first wife, although there is a reference to her employment at Genung’s department store in White plains.9 ernest was freely admitting to his criminal past and his current bigamy. he continued to insist that he never met Violet sharp. The police also questioned mary Brinkert that evening. she confirmed that the couple had been in Connecticut on march 1 playing cards, but was quite surprised when the police told her that ernest was still married to his first wife.10 Brinkert’s alibi seemed to be gaining strength while his second marriage was taking a beating. after Brinkert...

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