For 75 years, the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's infant son hasgone unsolved. In this meticulous and authoritative account of the crime, thetrial, and the times of the Lindbergh kidnapping, Zorn clears away decades ofungrounded speculation.
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For 75 years, the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's infant son hasgone unsolved. In this meticulous and authoritative account of the crime, thetrial, and the times of the Lindbergh kidnapping, Zorn clears away decades ofungrounded speculation.
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Seller's Description:
Library of Congress Classification label on the dust jacket spine. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 317 p. Contains: Illustrations, black & white, Maps. Audience: General/trade. LCCN 2012288142 Type of material Book Personal name Zorn, Robert E. Main title Cemetery John: the undiscovered mastermind of the Lindbergh kidnapping / Robert Zorn; foreword by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. Published/Created New York: Overlook Press, 2012. Description 317 p. : ill., maps; 24 cm. ISBN 9781590208564 1590208560 LC classification HV6603. L5 Z67 2012 Summary For seventy-five years, the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's infant son has gone unsolved. Evidence, opinion, and logic have discredited the notion that Bruno Richard Hauptmann--electrocuted in 1936--acted alone. In this meticulous and authoritative account of the crime, the trial, and the times of the Lindbergh kidnapping, Robert Zorn clears away decades of ungrounded speculation surrounding the case. Inspired by his father's relationship with the actual accomplices--including the mastermind--he presents the clearest ever picture of a criminal partnership, which would shake every class and culture of American society. Using personal possessions and documents, never-before seen photographs, new forensic evidence, and extensive research, Subjects Lindbergh, Charles Augustus, 1930-1932--Kidnapping. Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974. Hauptmann, Bruno Richard, 1899-1936. Knoll, John Robert. Knoll, Walter. Kidnapping--New Jersey--Hopewell. Notes Includes bibliographical references (p. [285]-310) and index. Dewey class no. 364.15/409749/65
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
The Trial of the Century may have missed a few things. According to author Robert Zorn, convicted murderer Bruno Richard Hauptmann had a few accomplices in the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's 20-month-old son, (brothers John and Walter Knoll). The one brother was dubbed `Cemetery John' by Mr. Zorn, because he is presumed to be a man identified by intermediary Dr. John F. Condon in the Woodlawn Cemetery, (in the Bronx), to negotiate and receive payment for the return of the stolen child, (who was presumed by the victim's family to still be alive at that point).
What kept this story from surfacing was the fact that the author's father, Gene Zorn, had only a suspicion that a man from a childhood relationship, John Knoll, actually tied into the murder. On thinking back to 1932 the elder Mr. Zorn had always wondered why his neighbor invited him for an outing to Palisade's Park in New Jersey, only to leave him there to fend for himself in getting home. He recalled Mr. Knoll meeting with a guy who may have been Hauptmann, and Mr. Knoll's brother Walter. Mr. Knoll also lavished gifts on Mr. Zorn in the form of first-run stamp issues, (depicting the feats of Charles Lindbergh). Remember, this was at the height of the Great Depression.
In 1972, after living with this for over 40 years, and after watching media stories on the anniversary of the tragic event, he tried to contact Charles Lindbergh with the information, and with his suspicions. Mr. Zorn sent a letter through a respected colleague, only to be rebuked by Mr. Lindbergh, who died shortly thereafter. The elder Zorn almost carried this to his death. But he had the sense at one point to tell his son, Robert, who decided to help. He promised his father, who was on his death bed, that he would pursue the matter, and the result is this book.
The story that unfolds will get the conspiracy theorists licking their chops. The incompetence of the investigators, and the impatience of the prosecutors, led to a hasty trial and execution. So with Hauptmann dead there was no way to get any more information. (A plea deal to a lesser charge, or life imprisonment, could have been used as barter.)
Mr. Zorn the younger had an array of modern techniques at his disposal, including criminal profiling. He did his homework concerning the life of John Knoll. There is a picture of Mr. Knoll and his wife aboard a cruise ship headed for Germany, (after the time of the murder). He bought two first class tickets. This was after the ransom money was paid, ($50,000.00), and after Hauptmann was set to go on trial. The tickets cost $700.00, ($12,000.00 at today's rates). That's not bad for a deli clerk. After Hauptmann's electrocution Knoll returned to the United States and opened a few businesses. He died here later, after suffering injuries from a fall.
Robert Zorn also points out that a picture drawn at the time of the kidnapping taken from the recollection of Dr. Condon in no way looked like Bruno Hauptmann, but it was uncannily reminiscent of Mr. Knoll. Dr. Condon recalled noticing a hand defect which Robert Zorn found in an old photograph of Mr. Knoll. There are more details in the book.
The thing to take away here is that in the hysteria that went along with this high profile case, objectivity was lost, and the truth was buried.
The author does a fine job of reopening the discussion. He admits that the book is only a start, that there is more work to be done. It makes you wonder about other lies that may be hidden in the historical record. If a case that had this much publicity could turn out this badly, maybe it is time to reexamine everything. Just what can we believe anymore?
