| Murder. It's one act that seems to both horrify and | | | | became quite panicked himself at the child's absence. |
| fascinate almost universally. While reactions to the | | | | In searching the boy's room, a ransom note was |
| crime will vary, it inevitably piques the interest of people | | | | discovered near the window, and authorities were |
| whether they knew the victim or murderer or neither. | | | | quickly summoned. The note demanded $50,000 (a |
| This fact hasn't changed over time; in fact, it seems | | | | great deal of money in pre-Depression 1932) and no |
| that as the years pass, interest in learning all the gory | | | | involvement from the police or the public. Wanting only |
| details hasn't lessened, due in large part to the media | | | | the safe return of their son, the Lindberghs decided to |
| and their efforts to "get the scoop" and "break the | | | | gather the ransom money. Three days later, however, |
| story." Of course, new technology has also made this | | | | a second note appeared, this time demanding $70,000 |
| more possible for the news outlets. However, today's | | | | as punishment for the Lindberghs' initial contact with the |
| coverage of murders does share one common | | | | police. |
| feature with the coverage of long ago - there was | | | | About this same time, John Condon, a great fan of |
| plenty of it. Following are three famous murders in | | | | Lindbergh's, offered to serve as a go-between |
| American history, and thanks to detailed news stories, | | | | between the family and the kidnappers. Both parties |
| the facts remain clear.....but mysterious questions are | | | | agreed to this arrangement, and meetings were set up. |
| still unanswered. | | | | During this time, Lindbergh took sole responsibility for |
| Lizzie Borden - She's a cold-blooded axe murderer to | | | | finding his son and investigators were told, basically, to |
| some and an innocent spinster framed for the crime to | | | | back off. Condon met with the kidnapper on a couple |
| others. Whichever best describes Lizzie Borden, | | | | of occasions and even handed over some of the |
| there's no doubt that she was involved in one of the | | | | money, at which time he was given instructions on |
| most notorious unsolved murders in American history. | | | | where to find the baby. The instructions were bogus, |
| But the story begins long before that infamous day in | | | | however, and Lindbergh's search for his child remained |
| 1892 when the murders occurred. Lizzie, born in 1860, | | | | fruitless. The hunt for the boy finally ended on May 12, |
| and her sister, Emma, lived with their father Andrew | | | | 1932, when a truck driver discovered the child's |
| Borden and stepmother Abby Borden in a modest | | | | remains in a wooded area only four miles from the |
| home in Fall River, Massachusetts. The girls' mother | | | | Lindbergh's home. It was obvious that the baby had |
| had died years before, and their relationship with their | | | | been killed shortly after his kidnapping, and the |
| father had grown distant and unpleasant after his | | | | Lindbergh's were devastated at the outcome of their |
| marriage to Abby Borden. Andrew Borden was | | | | ordeal. For two more years, the police struggled to find |
| known as being a sort of dour man, frugal with his | | | | a suspect. |
| money and not very sociable, although he was | | | | Finally a break in the case came when police were |
| respected throughout the community. | | | | able to trace some of the ransom money to one |
| August 4, 1892 began hot and sweltering, but the heat | | | | Richard Hauptmann. After searching his home and |
| didn't stop Andrew from making his daily visits to the | | | | finding over $14,000 of the ransom hidden in his |
| bank and post office, returning home shortly before | | | | garage, Hauptmann was arrested for the kidnapping |
| 11:00 a.m. and completely unaware that his wife lay | | | | and murder of Charles Lindbergh, Jr. His trial was a |
| dead in an upstairs bedroom. In less than half an hour, | | | | sensational one, given the fame of Lindbergh and the |
| he too would be murdered. The first person to | | | | notoriety the case had received. Despite the theatrics |
| discover the bloodied body of Andrew Borden was | | | | of the defense, Hauptmann was found guilty and |
| Lizzie, who screamed to the housemaid to call the | | | | sentenced to die by electrocution. The execution was |
| doctor. Shortly thereafter, the body of Abby Borden | | | | carried out on April 3, 1936. Though Lindbergh, Jr.'s |
| was discovered. Authorities and the doctor were | | | | accused killer had been convicted and executed, doubt |
| called in, evidence was gathered, and autopsies | | | | remained in the eyes of many as to Hauptmann's guilt, |
| performed. Within the week, evidence would be | | | | and to this day, mystery still surrounds the case. |
| gathered incriminating Lizzie Borden, and she would be | | | | William Lyman - William Lyman's murder was made |
| formally charged with the murders of her father and | | | | somewhat famous by simply by the fact that his was |
| stepmother on December 2 of that same year. | | | | the first murder in the growing city of Rochester, New |
| Unfortunately for the prosecutor, however, was the | | | | York. Though his story never achieved notoriety like |
| lack of a murder weapon, blood-soaked clothing | | | | Lizzie Borden's or Charles Lindbergh's, his is still a tale |
| belonging to Lizzie, or any other real substantial | | | | worth telling. Lyman was a successful business man, |
| evidence pointing to the young woman. While the | | | | and by every account a loving father and husband to |
| authorities did find a hatchet widely believed to be the | | | | his wife Amanda and their four young children. A |
| murder weapon and Lizzie was caught burning a | | | | purchasing agent for a local mill by trade, Lyman made |
| dress a few days after the murders, there was just | | | | a comfortable living for his family and was well-known |
| not enough evidence for the prosecution to present a | | | | in the community as an upstanding citizen. So when he |
| strong case. Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the | | | | was shot point blank in the head on the evening of |
| murders after only an hour's deliberation by the jurors. | | | | October 20, 1837, the people of Rochester were |
| To this day, no one knows for certain who killed | | | | stunned. Not only were they completely unaccustomed |
| Andrew and Abby Borden, though a clever little song | | | | to dealing with a crime of that magnitude, one of their |
| remains in the memories of many, its lyrics telling what | | | | more prominent citizens had been murdered in cold |
| so many believed.... | | | | blood. |
| "Lizzie Borden took an axeand gave her mother forty | | | | Lyman's murderer escaped that night with a few |
| whacks. | | | | hundred dollars, and soon after was spotted bragging |
| And when she saw what she had doneshe gave her | | | | about the act and flashing the money in a local tavern. |
| father forty-one." | | | | Octavius Barron was the man's name, and at 18 years |
| Charles Lindbergh, Jr. - One of the most infamous | | | | old, he already had a reputation around town for being |
| cases of murder in American history is that of the | | | | a miscreant who was involved in prostitution, gambling, |
| young son of world-renowned aviator Charles | | | | and other vices. Barron's arrest for the Lyman murder |
| Lindbergh. Charles Lindbergh, Jr. was just 20 months | | | | came as a surprise to no one, and the trial was |
| old when he was kidnapped from his crib on March 1, | | | | scheduled to begin on May 28, 1838. Unfortunately for |
| 1932. About two hours after putting the baby to bed, | | | | Barron, the evidence against him was strong and |
| his mother, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, went up to check | | | | convincing, and he was sentenced to gallows on June |
| on her son. Initially she didn't panic when she | | | | 7, 1838. While the murder of William Lyman seems to |
| discovered that he wasn't in his bed, as Lindbergh, Sr. | | | | have been neatly wrapped up with justice served, |
| was known for playing practical jokes. | | | | many other questions arose following the killing....many |
| However, Lindbergh denied any joking around, and | | | | of which remain today. |