Today in History revisits a story published in the Obituary on April 8, 1932, on the threee men from Norfolk, Virginia, including John Hughes Curtis, Rear Admiral Guy H. Burrage, and Rev. Dean H. Dobson-Peacock, and their continued efforts to negotiate the return of Charles Lindbergh Jr., following Colonel Lindbergh’s request. Curtis claimed to have recently made contact with the kidnappers and reported that the baby was well.
Meanwhile, law enforcement, led by Colonel H. Norman Schwarzkopf, intensified their nationwide search for Harry Fleischer, a known kidnapper, based on sightings since the Lindbergh baby’s abduction. Authorities denied any connection to various rumors, including activities involving Lindbergh’s butler and unidentified vehicles or yachts near the Lindbergh estate. Read the full story below.
Lindbergh Helpers Await Secret Call In Hunt For Child
Colonel Tells Virginia Trio to Continue Efforts in Search; Police Still Hunt Kidnapers.
Norfolk, Va., April 7, 1932 — (AP story as published in the April 8, 1932 edition of the Obituary) — A call which might send one or more of them on a trip to a destination known only to themselves was awaited tonight by three Norfolk men seeking to bring about the return of Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr.
Yesterday (April 6, 1932) John Hughes Curtis, one of the trio, returned after a four day absence and reported he had made contact and received an assurance that the kidnaped baby was well. He also said he had seen Colonel Lindbergh somewhere on his trip.
Today Rear Admiral Guy H. Burrage, making the only additional statement for Mr. Curtis, Rev. Dean H. Dobson-Peacock and himself, added that Colonel Lindbergh had requested the negotiators here to continue their efforts.
Admiral Burrage said they were holding themselves in readiness to leave at any time on another such mission as that undertaken by Mr. Curtis over last week-end.
POLICE INTENSIFY KIDNAPER SEARCH.
Hopewell, N.J., April 7, 1932. — (AP story as published in the April 8, 1932 edition of the Obituary) — Col. Charles A. Lindbergh and police greeted with silence today the announcement of three Norfolk (Va.) intermediaries that the colonel had asked them to continue efforts to recover his kidnaped son.
Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, state police head, disclosed the nationwide hunt for Harry Fleischer, a known kidnaper, had been intensified by reports he had been seen several times under suspicious circumstances since the Lindbergh baby was stolen.
“Investigators have followed each of these leads,” the police bulletin said, “and are still working on them.”
The rest of the bulletins contained only the usual daily grist of denials concerning the wild reports that continue to fill the air of the Sourland countryside, and the statement:
“Wheatley is out getting a haircut.”
This was in reply to a question raised when the Lindberghs’ butler, Ollie Wheatley, was reported to have left the estate on a mysterious mission.
In answer to a question about the activity of department of justice agents, who Schwarzkopf said last week were working on the case, the police head said:
“The department of justice has not reported to us any identification of any yacht nor have they reported to us any contact or any anticipated contact of any kind having anything to do with this case.”
Colonel Schwarzkopf eliminated speculation about an automobile seen in Featherbed lane, near the Lindbergh estate, last night, by saying “its operations had nothing to do with this case.”
Geese Lost in Fog Rouse Devils Lake People From Sleep
Devils Lake, N.D., April 7, 1932 — Devils Lake residents peacefully sleeping were suddenly awakened early Tuesday when a flock of wild geese, apparently lost in a thick fog that hung over the city, honked loudly as they swooped down several times near the tops of buildings. As daylight came hundreds of birds began “chirping” in all parts of the city. They are believed to have come in flocks the previous day.
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.