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Chapter 23: The Bull of Brooklyn
- The Kent State University Press
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The Bull of Brooklyn | 201 | The Bull of Brooklyn Thefollowingmondaymorning,ameetingwasheldinthechambersofJudgeThomas W. trenchard, the man assigned to preside over hauptmann’s trial. trenchard was in his early seventies and had white hair and glasses. he was known as a compassionate man with a reputation for fairness and considered to be an excellent judge. at the meeting, Judge trenchard met with david Wilentz, anthony hauck, and James Fawcett, the attorneys for new Jersey’s biggest trial. two decisions were reached at this meeting. First, hauptmann would be arraigned that Wednesday morning, october 24, 1934. second, the trial would begin on January 2, 1935. The parties had roughly seventy-two days to prepare. on tuesday, lieutenants Keaten and Finn interviewed a man named Gus Kassens . he had been hired the same day as hauptmann by reliance property management . he confirmed that while he and hauptmann had been hired in February 1932, work at the majestic hotel was not available for them until after march 15. any questions about hauptmann working on the day of the crime seemed to be fading.1 The following day saw another encounter between Bruno hauptmann and John “Jafsie” Condon. disappointed with Condon’s actions at the initial lineup, the police and the prosecution hoped that a second meeting at the Flemington jail could shore up his identification. By this point, Condon was really the only potential fly in the ointment. What actually occurred at this meeting is the subject of some conjecture. We have three different versions: hauptmann’s, Condon’s, and trooper hugo stockburger’s. in hauptmann’s account, Condon ends up screaming, “no! i cannot testify against this man! i will not testify against this man!”2 in a conversation with his wife the next day, which was overheard by a German-speaking state trooper,3 hauptmann recounted the entire meeting. he made no reference to Condon, insisting he would not testify. in fact, hauptmann told his wife that Condon kept calling him John.4 if Condon had actually screamed that he would not testify, hauptmann would have mentioned it to anna. Condon was the only person who actually saw the| 201 || 23 | | 202 | hauptmann’s ladder kidnapper and any statement by him of Bruno’s innocence would have virtually assured his freedom. it is inconceivable that hauptmann would not have excitedly told his wife about such wonderful news. There was a second conversation between Bruno and anna on november 3, 1934. This was also overheard by trooper stockburger. Bruno made this astounding statement: “i have no enemies except one, Condon.”5 if Condon truly expressed an unwillingness to testify, there would be no reason for hauptmann to consider him an “enemy.” hauptmann’s version should be rejected as a lie. John Condon’s rendition of the meeting is equally unbelievable. according to Jafsie, the two men had a long talk in German and Condon appealed to Bruno’s sense of justice and fair play. hauptmann supposedly began to cry and Condon “brushed from his face a tear that clung there.” Just as hauptmann was about to break down and confess everything, a jail guard interrupted. had this not occurred, Condon wrote, he might have confided the truth to him.6 For rather obvious reasons, Condon’s account of the meeting must also be rejected . it is simply too much to believe that hauptmann wept at Condon’s words, and Condon wiped away the tears. We are thus left with trooper stockburger’s report detailing the confrontation. There is no inherent problem with this version, and it is likely the closest to the truth. according to stockburger, Colonel schwartzkopf, david Wilentz, and anthony hauck were all present when Condon approached the prisoner. Condon: you have seen me before? Hauptmann: i saw you once, this is the second time. Condon: do you remember the word d-e-u-t-s-C-h? Condon asked for paper and wrote two words in German before presenting it to hauptmann. Condon: do you remember these two words i wrote in German letters, they made trouble for me. The new york police called me wacky and screwey [sic], do you know what that means? i have never found it in the dictionary. Hauptmann: (no answer) Condon: The night i met you on the bench in the park i told you i was under oath. do you know what that means? am i talking too fast for you? you had your coat collar turned up and i asked you why and...