In 2004, I compiled a timeline of events for March 1, 1932. Based upon the actual statements and testimony of the people living at the Lindbergh Estate in Hopewell and Mrs. Lindbergh's mother's estate in Englewood, the timeline is an attempt to show not only where everyone was and what they were doing at a specific time, but also to show the contradictions in their sworn statements and testimony. What the contradictions mean, I do not know; that is up for researchers to decide.
The descriptions given below are in the words of those who witnessed the events first hand. Major Lanphier is the only exception. His statement is based upon comments made to him by Colonel Lindbergh and is considered by most historians to be Lindbergh's unofficial account of the events.
It is hoped that this timeline will be of assistance to researchers, "Lindbergh kidnapping buffs" and potential authors as they try to figure out "who was where when". As you can see by the contradictory nature of the statements and testimony, that is not easy to figure out.
The limitations of this website made the layout difficult. A PDF version in a slightly different layout may be obtained free of charge my e-mailing me at mwfalzini[at]yahoo.com (replace the [at] with @). Please note that while the copyright for both the PDF version and this blog version is held by me students, authors and researchers are free to quote from this provided proper credit is given.
In addition to Charles and Anne Lindbergh, the following individuals are quoted throughout the time line:
Septimus S. Banks – butler at the Morrow estate
Henry Ellerson – chauffeur for the Morrow family
Betty Gow – the Lindbergh baby’s Scottish nanny
Henry “Red” Johnson – Betty Gow’s Norwegian boyfriend
Johannes Junge – husband of Marguerite Junge
Marguerite Junge – seamstress at the Morrow estate and the wife of Johannes Junge
John Kristofek – a neighbor of Lindbergh’s
Joseph Kuchta – a neighbor of Lindbergh’s
Major Lanphier – Lindbergh’s closest personal friend
Sebastian Benjamin Lupica – a teenage neighbor of Lindbergh’s
Elizabeth McDonald – Mrs. Morrow’s personal maid
Elizabeth Morrow – mother of Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Violet Sharp – waitress and maid at the Morrow estate who later committed suicide
Arthur Springer – head of household staff at the Morrow estate
Elsie Whateley – the Lindberghs’ English cook and wife of Olly Whateley
Olly Whateley – the Lindbergh’s English butler and husband of Elsie Whateley
Charles Williamson – Deputy Police Chief in Hopewell
Harry Wolfe – Police Chief in Hopewell
6:00 AM
Elsie Whateley (Testimony 1/4/35)
Elsie gets up and feeds the baby orange juice and rubs his chest with VICS
6:30 AM
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Elsie gets up and feeds the baby orange juice, a bit of toast, rubbed his chest and tucked him in bed.
9:00 AM
Anne Morrow Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne eats breakfast.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Anne eats breakfast
Arthur Springer (Statement 4/12/32)
Arrives at his office at Next Day Hill
9:30 AM[1]
Elsie Whateley(Statement 3/10/32)
Upstairs arranging beds.
Unknown Time in Morning
Elizabeth Morrow (Statement 3/16/32)
Receives phone message from Anne saying “…she would be glad to have Betty come down and help her with the care of the baby. She had been making inquiries about the train to Princeton, but I told her that Henry Ellerson…was free and there was no reasons why he could not bring Betty down.”
10:00 AM
Joseph Kuchta (Statement 3/2/32)
Sees a large, dark blue touring car with curtains drawn coming down the road very slowly towards Lindbergh’s driveway. The driver had a stout face and the passenger a long slim face.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Comes downstairs and Olly tells her that Mrs. Lindbergh asked him to find out the train schedule for Betty Gow.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Septimus Banks tells Betty “…he didn’t think it was necessary…to take the train, as one of [the] cars could be used.” Calls Henry Johnson; leaves message for him to call her at Next Day Hill.
Septimus Banks (Statement 4/15/32)
Arranges for Betty to be driven to Hopewell after she calls him in the pantry asking him to look up a train that would connect with Englewood Station and Jersey City with a 2:40 train leaving from Jersey City to Hopewell. “On consideration I thought perhaps there might be some missing of trains, I arranged for Henry Ellerson to take her in the car…”[2]
Anne Morrow Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne is very tired; decides to have Betty Gow come down to Highfields. Anne asks Olly to phone the train station for train times. Whateley calls Englewood and calls Betty Gow to the phone. She and Anne speak and Anne tells her to come down to Highfields. Betty Gow calls back and tells Anne that Henry was not busy and asks if it would be all right to come down with him in the automobile.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne asks Olly to phone the train station for train times. Whateley calls Englewood and calls Betty Gow to the phone. She and Anne speak and Anne tells her to come down to Highfields.
Whateley tells Betty the train schedule. Betty Gow calls back and tells Anne that Henry was not busy and asks if it would be all right to come down with him in the automobile.
10:30 AM
Olly Whateley (Statement 3/3/32)
Anne Lindbergh tells Whateley to look up train times from Englewood to Hopewell. Olly calls Betty Gow and tells her to take a train that would bring her into Hopewell about 3:30 PM. Betty calls back and tells Olly that due to the delay in waiting for the train she had obtained permission from Mrs. Morrow to have one of the Morrow chauffeurs drive her down. Olly gives this information to Anne who approves it.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Betty Gow receives telephone message from Anne to go to Hopewell by train. Betty Gow gets in touch with Mrs. Morrow who suggests going to Hopewell by car. Betty leaves for Hopewell with Henry Ellerson “…at exactly 10:30.” “We didn’t make any stops, went straight here and arrived here at 2:00.” Betty and Henry Ellerson stop at a drug store after leaving Englewood. “I bought something for the baby’s cold that Mrs. Lindbergh told me to get.”[3]
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty Gow receives telephone message from Anne to go to Hopewell by train. Betty calls Anne and tells her of what Mrs. Morrow said and Anne approves. Betty calls Henry Johnson and leaves a message for him to call her at Next Day Hill.
11:00 AM
Major Lanphier (Statement 3/19/32)
Anne phones Englewood asking Betty to come to Hopewell.
11:30 AM
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Olly tells Elsie that he had “just received a phone call from Betty saying that Mrs. Morrow decided to let her come down by auto so that she would save time.”
Betty Gow (Testimony 1/4/35)
Betty Gow was notified to go to Hopewell.
Septimus Banks (Statement 4/15/32)
Betty Gow leaves for Hopewell with Henry Ellerson.
Violet Sharp (Statement 5/24/32)
Betty Gow leaves for Hopewell with Henry Ellerson.
11:45 AM
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty leaves for Hopewell with Henry Ellerson. They stop at a drugstore “…to buy something…”
Henry Ellerson (Statement 3/11/32)
Betty leaves for Hopewell with Henry Ellerson “…stopping at a drugstore for candy.”
12:00 Noon
Elizabeth MacDonald (Statement 4/13/32)
Elizabeth MacDonald (Mrs. Morrow’s personal maid) learns that Betty Gow had already left for Hopewell.
Marguerite Junge (Statement 3/7/32)
Betty Gow runs into sewing room at Next Day Hill “all excited” and tells Marguerite she has to go to Hopewell because “the baby is sick.” She leaves a message with Marguerite to be passed along to Henry Johnson when he calls.
1:00 PM
Arthur Springer (Statement 4/12/32)
Arthur Springer leaves for lunch.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne puts the baby down for his nap. Betty and chauffeur arrive at Highfields.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne puts the baby down for his nap. Nursery shutters closed; French window is open. Betty and chauffeur arrive at Highfields.
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/32)
Anne puts the baby down for his nap. Anne goes for a walk.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty and chauffeur arrive at Highfields.
1:20 PM
Betty Gow (Testimony 1/4/35)
Betty and chauffeur arrive at Highfields.
1:30 PM
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/35)
Betty and chauffeur arrive at Highfields.
Olly Whateley (Statement 3/3/32)
Henry, the chauffeur, has lunch and then leaves.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty goes into nursery; she washed, bathed and fed the baby.
1:45 PM
Henry Ellerson (Statement 3/11/32)
Betty and chauffeur arrive at Highfields.
2:00 PM
Arthur Springer (Statement 4/12/32)
Arthur Springer returns from lunch.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Betty and chauffeur arrive at Highfields. Betty sees Mrs. Lindbergh before having lunch. Betty and chauffeur eat lunch.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty and Chauffeur arrive at Highfields. Betty and chauffeur eat lunch.
2:30 PM
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Betty goes up to nursery, picks up baby and dresses him. Betty remains with baby until 5:00 PM. Anne comes from her room to join Betty in the nursery.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty goes up to nursery, picks up baby and dresses him. Betty remains with baby until 4:30 PM.
Betty Gow (Testimony 1/4/35)
Anne and Betty go together to the nursery and Elsie eventually joins them. While Elsie is in the nursery, Anne is outside throwing pebbles up to the window.[4]
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Betty picks up baby; gives him prune juice and tends to him.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne and Betty go together into the nursery. Betty tends to the baby and dresses him.
2:45 PM
Henry Ellerson (Statement 3/11/32)
Henry Ellerson leaves Hopewell; notices at the end of Lindbergh’s driveway a green Ford coupe in the road facing in the direction of Hopewell. It had one person in it, but it did not move when he honked his horn.
3:00 PM
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Betty is in the nursery.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Between 3:00 and 5:00 Anne goes for a walk down the driveway and back.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Between 3:00 and 5:00 Anne goes for a walk down the driveway and back.
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/32)
Anne walks under the nursery window, leaving footprints and throws pebbles to get Betty’s attention.[5]
4:00 PM
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Betty is in the nursery.
Betty Gow (Testimony 1/4/35)
Betty is in the nursery. Elsie goes downstairs for tea, shortly after watching the baby. Anne returns to the nursery and asks Betty to bring the baby downstairs.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Elsie and Anne visit the baby in the nursery and all three watched him playing. Elsie goes downstairs for tea, shortly after watching the baby.
Elsie Whateley (Testimony 1/4/35)
Elsie and Anne visit the baby in the nursery and all three watched him playing.
4:30 PM
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Elsie visits Betty in nursery and stays for a half hour.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Elsie and Anne enter the nursery. Anne and Elsie leave nursery. Betty follows shortly after with the baby.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty brings the baby downstairs into the living room where Anne was having tea. Betty, Elsie and Olly have tea in the servants’ sitting room.
Elsie Whateley (Testimony 1/4/35)
Elsie goes downstairs to make tea. Betty and Elsie have tea in the servants’ sitting room.
Unknown Time in the Afternoon
Elsie Whateley (Testimony 1/4/35)
Betty asks Elsie for a white thread but is given a blue thread as Elsie had no white thread.
5:00 PM
Arthur Springer (Statement 4/12/32)
Arthur Springer returns home after work.
Henry Ellerson (Statement 3/11/32)
Henry Ellerson arrives back in Englewood.
Ben Lupica (Statement 3/2/32)
Ben Lupica leaves Princeton Prep School.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Betty Gow is in the nursery. Anne enters the nursery. The baby wants to go downstairs and Anne approves. Betty takes the baby downstairs to Mrs. Lindbergh in the sitting room and leaves him there with her and the baby has tea with Mrs. Lindbergh.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty and Elsie have tea in the servants’ sitting room. Anne suggests taking the baby downstairs. Betty takes the baby downstairs to Mrs. Lindbergh in the sitting room and leaves him there with her and the baby has tea with Mrs. Lindbergh.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne returns from her walk and goes up to the nursery. Anne suggests taking the baby downstairs.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne returns from her walk and goes up to the nursery where she finds Betty, Elsie and the baby. Anne takes the baby to the living room alone and lets him run around downstairs. Baby runs into kitchen.
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/32)
Baby has tea with Mrs. Lindbergh[6]
5:30 PM
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Betty brings the baby back upstairs to his room and sits with him until she washes him for supper.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Elsie and Betty are in the kitchen. The baby comes into the kitchen and speaks to Elsie. He then runs around the table once or twice. Betty takes him by the hand and takes him upstairs. Betty reads to the baby.
Elsie Whateley (Testimony 1/4/35)
The baby comes into the kitchen and speaks to Elsie. He then runs around the table once or twice. Betty takes him by the hand and takes him upstairs.
5:45 PM
Betty Gow (Testimony 1/4/35)
Baby runs into kitchen, runs around the table a few times and speaks to Elsie. Betty then takes the baby to the nursery and leaves him alone for 1 minute while she gets his cereal.
6:00 PM
John Kristofek (Statement 3/2/32)
Lindbergh neighbor John Kristofek sees a large, dark colored touring car with curtains drawn going in the direction of Skillman.
Ben Lupica (Statement 3/2/32)
Ben Lupica sees a black Dodge sedan coming around the bend at Lindbergh’s driveway on Wertsville Road with ladders across the top of the seats.
Ben Lupica (Statement 4/4/32)
Ben Lupica sees a black Dodge sedan coming around the bend at Lindbergh’s driveway on Wertsville Road with ladders across the top of the seats.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty, Elsie and Olly in kitchen. Baby runs into kitchen and says “Hello, Elsie!” Betty chases him around the table and takes him upstairs followed by Anne.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Baby walks into kitchen.
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/35)
Baby runs into kitchen. Baby eats supper with Betty and she prepares him for bed.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Baby eats supper with Betty and she prepares him for bed. Anne enters nursery just as bay was finished with his supper. She remains until approximately 7pm when Betty asks her to go downstairs for some thread and scissors so she can make a little flannel shirt for the baby.
Betty Gow (Statement (3/10/32)
Betty leaves the baby for 2 minutes while she gets his cereal from downstairs.
Betty Gow (Testimony 1/4/35)
Baby eats supper with Betty and she prepares him for bed.
6:15 PM
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne returns to nursery; baby almost finished eating.[7]
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/35)
Anne returns to nursery; baby almost finished eating.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Anne returns to nursery; baby almost finished eating.
Betty Gow (Testimony 1/4/35)
Betty and Anne prepare baby for bed. Betty decides to give him a physic, which he spills on his nightclothes. She undresses him again and decides to make a “proper little flannel shirt to put on next to his skin.” Betty leaves nursery and asks Elsie for scissors and thread. Elsie gives her the scissors and brings the thread to her later.
6:15 – 7:20 PM
(times not specific in statements)
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
After supper but before tending to the baby, both Anne and Betty fasten shutters in the nursery.
Anne is in the nursery and gives the baby medicine and nose drops. She leaves the nursery at one point to get a needle and thread and flannel so Betty can sew a shirt for him.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne and Betty are with the baby in the nursery, straightening the room, closing the shutters and attending to him. Anne goes out of the room once to speak to Colonel Lindbergh on the telephone. He tells her he will be late coming home. Anne then goes to get needle and thread for Betty.[8]
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Anne and Betty are with the baby in the nursery, straightening the room, closing the shutters and attending to him. Betty and Anne both take care of the baby. They put drops in his nose, rub his chest and give him a physic and then change his nightdress. Betty and Anne both decide a shirt should be made for the baby to replace the flannel bandage already on him.[9] Anne leaves the room to get scissors and thread. Anne plays with the baby while Betty cuts and stitches the flannel shirt.
7:00 PM
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Betty asks Anne to go downstairs for some thread and scissors so she can make a little flannel shirt for the baby. Betty makes the flannel shirt for the baby.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Colonel Lindbergh calls and tells Anne that he will be a little late getting home.
7:30 PM
Ernie Miller (Statement 6/11/32)
Ernie Miller picks up Elmer Johnson and then Katherine Minners.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Baby put to bed. Betty and Anne close and lock shutters except for the warped shutter. Both Betty and Anne leave the nursery and the baby was lying in bed and Betty closes the door. Betty washes-up in the bathroom.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty puts homemade t-shirt on baby and puts him to bed and then Anne and Betty both go around to the windows, shutting the shutters. Betty opens one window in the rear of the room. “This window opens inward. I opened the window half-way.”[10] Anne leaves nursery before Betty. Betty puts light out and closes the door tight. Both doors to nursery are closed. Betty goes into the baby’s bathroom and washes some of the baby’s clothes. She remains in there until 8:00 PM.
Betty Gow (Testimony 1/4/35)
Betty opens the French window. Betty and Anne close and lock shutters except for the warped shutter.
Anne Lindbergh (3/11/32)
Baby put to bed. Anne leaves the nursery before Betty and goes to her desk in the living room. She does not see which window Betty opens. Library lights are off. Connecting door between living room and library is closed.
Anne Lindbergh (3/13/32)
Baby put to bed. Anne leaves nursery and goes immediately to the living room and sits at her desk to await Colonel Lindbergh’s arrival. Connecting door between living room and library is closed. Library lights are off.
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/35)
Baby put to bed. Anne leaves nursery at sits at her desk in the living room for an hour.
Major Lanphier (Statement 3/19/32)
Baby is put to bed. Anne leaves nursery and sits at desk in living room for an hour.
7:30 – 8:25 PM
(times not specific in statements)
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne stays at her desk “listening for Colonel Lindbergh…looking at my watch all the time, waiting for him.”
Major Lanphier (Statement 3/19/32)
Anne waits in library for Colonel Lindbergh to arrive. Anne hears sound of car on gravel.
7:45 PM
Olly Whateley (Statement 3/3/32)
Olly has supper. Elsie prepares the family’s supper.
Elsie Whateley (Testimony 1/4/35)
Betty comes down to the kitchen and Olly suggests that she and Elsie eat dinner.
7:50 PM
Violet Sharp (Statement 4/13/32)
Violet receives phone call from a man [Ernie] asking her to meet him.
Marguerite Junge (Statement 3/7/32)
Marguerite Junge goes to her husband’s room at 96 Engle Street and finds Red Johnson there.
Johannes Junge (Statement 4/14/32)
Marguerite Junge goes to her husband’s room at 96 Engle Street and finds Red Johnson there.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty re-enters nursery. She pins the covers to the mattress, puts out the bathroom light and her bedroom light and goes downstairs to the cellar to hang up some of the clothes she had washed in the bathroom sink. Betty returns to the servants’ sitting room and eats supper with Elsie.
8:00 PM
Johannes Junge (Statement 3/9/32)
Henry Johnson arrives at Johannes Junge’s room at 96 Engle Street, Englewood, NJ.
Johannes Junge (Statement 4/14/32)
Henry Johnson arrives at Johannes Junge’s room at 96 Engle Street, Englewood, NJ.
Ernie Miller (Statement 6/11/32)
Ernie Miller arrives at the gate to Next Day Hill and waits for Violet Sharp.
Violet Sharp (Statement 3/10/32)
Violet Sharp receives phone call from a man [Ernie] asking her to meet him.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Betty finishes washing up in the bathroom and re-enters the nursery, finding the baby asleep.
Betty leaves the nursery and tells Mrs. Lindbergh that the baby is fast asleep. She then goes to eat supper with the cook, Elsie Whateley, in the kitchen. Elsie leaves Betty alone while she eats. Betty turns on the radio after supper and sits alone, reading a book for 5 minutes. The butler, Olly Whateley, calls Betty to the phone. Betty returns to the sitting room where she sat alone for 10 minutes before being joined by Elsie. Elsie suggests that Betty go upstairs with her to look at new clothes.
Betty Gow (Testimony 1/4/35)
Betty comes downstairs and tells Anne that she looked in on the baby, pinned him into the bed and that he had gone to sleep immediately and was breathing easily. Betty eats dinner with Elsie while Olly is in the pantry.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Betty comes downstairs and tells Anne that she looked in on the baby, pinned him into the bed and that he had gone to sleep immediately and was breathing easily.
Olly Whateley (Statement 3/3/32)
Betty comes down from the nursery into the sitting room and eats dinner with Olly and Elsie.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Olly and Elsie prepare dinner for the Lindberghs in the kitchen. Betty goes into the sitting room and reads and puts on the radio. Wahgoosh is in the sitting room in his basket..
8:05 – 8:10 PM
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne thinks she hears the sound of car wheels on gravel.
8:15 PM
Ernie Miller (Statement 6/11/32)
Tired of waiting for Violet Sharp, Ernie Miller drives his car up to the Morrow house and stops by the pantry entrance.[11]
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Olly suggests that Betty and Elsie eat their dinner.
Major Lanphier (Statement 3/19/32)
Colonel Lindbergh arrives home and blows his horn.
8:20 PM
Olly Whateley (Statement 3/3/32)
Olly, Elsie and Betty sit around until Colonel Lindbergh arrives. Olly and Elsie prepare and serve dinner for the Lindberghs.
Elsie Whateley (Testimony 1/4/35)
Colonel Lindbergh arrives.
8:25 PM
Charles Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Colonel Lindbergh arrives home.
Charles Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/32)
Colonel Lindbergh arrives home.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne hears Colonel Lindbergh’s car and horn.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne hears Colonel Lindbergh’s car and horn “at least fifteen minutes” after hearing the sound of car wheels on gravel.
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/35)
Anne hears Colonel Lindbergh’s car and horn.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Elsie gets up to attend to Colonel Lindbergh’s supper. Betty finishes eating alone.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Elsie hears Colonel Lindbergh’s horn. She returns to the kitchen to hurry-up the dinner and Whateley assisted her.
8:30 PM
Violet Sharp (Statement 3/10/32)
Violet notices a man [Ernie] outside the pantry door.
Violet Sharp (Statement 5/24/32)
Violet notices a man [Ernie] outside the pantry door.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty hears Colonel Lindbergh blow his horn.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne and Colonel Lindbergh go upstairs to their bathroom for 5 minutes where he washes his hands.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne and Colonel Lindbergh go upstairs to their bathroom for 5 minutes where he washes his hands.
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/35)
Anne and Colonel Lindbergh go upstairs to their bathroom for 5 minutes where he washes his hands.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty remains in the sitting room listening to the radio.
Johannes Junge (Statement 3/9/32)
Henry Johnson leaves Johannes Junge’s room to call Betty Gow.
Johannes Junge (Statement 4/14/32)
Henry Johnson leaves Johannes Junge’s room to call Betty Gow.
8:35 PM
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne and Colonel Lindbergh eat supper. After supper, Anne and Colonel Lindbergh enter living room. Anne sits on sofa “for a very short time [not] more than a minute or two.” Colonel Lindbergh takes a bath.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne and Colonel Lindbergh eat supper. After supper, Anne and Colonel Lindbergh enter living room and sit by the fire for not more than 5 minutes. Anne and Colonel Lindbergh go upstairs into their bedroom for 10 – 15 minutes, talking. Colonel Lindbergh takes a bath.
8:40 PM
Marguerite Junge (Statement 3/7/32)
Henry Johnson leaves Johannes Junge’s apartment to call Betty Gow.
8:45 PM
Henry Johnson (Statement 3/8/32)
Henry Johnson calls Betty Gow in Hopewell.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Olly calls Betty to the phone. Betty returns to the servants’ sitting room telling Elsie who was on the phone and then turns on the radio.[12] Elsie and Olly join Betty in the sitting room. Elsie asks Betty to join her upstairs to look at dresses.
9:00 PM
Joseph Kuchta (Statement 3/2/32)
Lindbergh neighbor Joseph Kuchta hears his dog barking. “I followed the sound of his bark and he seemed to be running toward the Lindbergh estate near the chicken coops. He barked for about 4 or 5 minutes and there were sharp yelps as though he was chasing somebody.”
Joseph Kristofek (Statement 3/2/32)
Lindbergh neighbor Joseph Kristofek hears his dog barking down towards the Lindbergh estate for 5 – 10 minutes.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
The telephone rings and Whateley answers and calls Betty to the phone. Betty tells Henry Johnson was on the phone and why he called. Anne and Colonel Lindbergh finish their dinner a little after 9:00. Elsie and Olly clear the table, wash and dry the dishes. Olly and Elsie finish washing dishes and join Betty in the sitting room and sat talking until 9:15. Betty remains in the sitting room.
Elsie Whateley (Testimony 1/4/35)
Betty is in the servants’ sitting room. Elsie and Olly clear the dinner table, wash and dry the dishes.
Olly Whateley (Statement 3/3/32)
Olly and Elsie finish washing the dishes and join Betty in the sitting room and sat talking until 9:15.
Charles Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne and Colonel Lindbergh finish dinner and enter living room. Colonel Lindbergh hears a noise.
Charles Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/35)
Anne and Colonel Lindbergh finish dinner and enter living room. Colonel Lindbergh ears a noise.
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/35)
Anne and Colonel Lindbergh finish their dinner a little after 9:00
9:10 PM
Marguerite Junge (Statement 3/7/32)
Henry Johnson returns to 96 Engle Street after talking with Betty Gow on the telephone.
Johannes Junge (Statement 3/9/32)
Henry Johnson returns to 96 Engle Street after talking with Betty Gow on the telephone.
9:15 PM
Charles Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne and Colonel Lindbergh go upstairs to their bedroom.
Charles Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/35)
Anne and Colonel Lindbergh go upstairs to their bedroom.
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/32)
Anne and Colonel Lindbergh go upstairs to their bedroom.
Olly Whateley (Statement 3/3/32)
Elsie and Betty go upstairs to Elsie’s room to try on dresses. Olly remains in living room reading a newspaper. Elsie and Betty go upstairs to Elsie’s room to try on dresses.
9:20 – 9:40 PM
Marguerite Junge (Statement 3/7/32)
Henry Johnson, Marguerite and Johannes Junge go to a coffee house.
Johannes Junge (Statement 3/9/32)
Henry Johnson, Marguerite and Johannes Junge go to a coffee house.
Johannes Junge (Statement 4/14/32)
Henry Johnson, Marguerite and Johannes Junge go to a coffee house.
9:30 PM
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Colonel Lindbergh enters the library. Anne remains upstairs and draws a bath.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)[13]
Colonel Lindbergh enters the library. Anne remains upstairs and draws a bath.
9:45 PM
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne walks down hall to get toothpaste from baby’s room. She does not turn on the lights and she returns immediately to her bedroom.
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne walks down hall to get toothpaste from baby’s room. She does not turn on the lights and she returns immediately to her bedroom.
10:00 PM
Ernie Miller (Statement 6/11/32)
Violet Sharp and her friends leave the Peanut Grill.
Marguerite Junge (Statement 3/7/32)
Henry Johnson, Marguerite and Johannes Junge go for a car ride around Hudson Drive.[14]
Johannes Junge (Statement 3/9/32)
Henry Johnson, Marguerite and Johannes Junge go for a car ride around Hudson Drive.
Johannes Junge (Statement 4/14/32)
Henry Johnson, Marguerite and Johannes Junge go for a car ride around Hudson Drive.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/3/32)
Elsie and Olly are in the kitchen. Betty checks on the baby at approximately 9:57 PM. She enters the bathroom and puts on the heater. She then opens the door to the nursery and walks over to the window and closes it. She turns on the heater in the nursery and walks over to the crib, discovering that the baby is missing. Betty walks into Anne’s room through the bathroom door and asks if she has picked up the baby. Betty runs downstairs to Colonel Lindbergh and asks “…if he knew where the baby was.”
After Colonel Lindbergh is alerted, Anne enters the nursery. Meanwhile, Colonel Lindbergh runs past Betty, upstairs and into the nursery. He felt all over the crib, looked around the room and then entered his bedroom.
Betty Gow (Statement 3/10/32)
Colonel Lindbergh is sitting at his desk. Betty looks at her watch and exclaims: “It is nearly 10 o’clock, I have got to go to the baby!” She enters the bathroom and lights the light and puts the heater on. She does not enter the nursery yet. First, she goes to find Anne to ask if she would like to see the baby. Elsie meets her in the hallway and tells her that Anne is preparing for a bath. Betty says, “All right, I won’t disturb her. If she wants to see the baby she can go through the connecting door.”
Betty returns to the nursery, opens the door, crosses the room and closes the French window. She plugs in the electric heater and crosses back to the crib. She feels all over the crib for the baby. [Finding the baby not there], Betty walks into Anne’s room through the bathroom door and asks if she has picked up the baby. She then asks Anne if she knows where Colonel Lindbergh is, but she gets no answer – only a ‘bewildered look.’ Betty then runs to find Colonel Lindbergh. Betty says to Colonel Lindbergh, “Colonel Lindbergh, have you got the baby? Please don’t fool me!” Colonel Lindbergh runs past Betty and goes into the nursery and then into the bedroom and gets his rifle. He re-enters the nursery with Betty where he finds Anne and says, “Anne, they have stolen our baby.”
Lindbergh tells Betty to get Olly. Colonel Lindbergh, Anne, Betty, Elsie and Olly search the house for the baby. When he is not found, Lindbergh then tells Olly to call the police.
Betty Gow (Testimony 1/4/35)
Betty looks at her watch and says: “I must go to the baby.” Betty enters the nursery, opens the door, crosses the room and closes the French window. She plugs in the electric heater and crosses back to the crib. She feels all over the crib for the baby. Betty goes into the hallway and sees Anne there. She asks if she has the baby. When told no, Betty says, “Maybe Colonel Lindbergh has him” and asks Anne where the Colonel is. Anne replies, “Downstairs in the library.” Betty runs downstairs to Colonel Lindbergh and asks “…if he knew where the baby was.”
Colonel Lindbergh runs past Betty and goes into the nursery and then into the bedroom and gets his rifle. He re-enters the nursery where he finds Anne and says, “Anne, they have stolen our baby.” Lindbergh then tells Betty to get Olly.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Betty looked at her watch and said: “Oh, it’s 10 o’clock, I have got to go to the baby.”
Anne rings for Elsie who goes to Anne’s bedroom and is asked to go get a ‘hot lemon’. Anne also informs her that she intends to take a bath. Elsie sees Betty as Elsie comes out of Anne’s bedroom and is asked, “Is Mrs. Lindbergh there?” Elsie tells her no, that she is taking a bath. Betty says, “I wonder if she wants to see the baby?” Elsie replies, “I guess if she does she will go through the connecting door.” Betty then returned to the nursery and Elsie went down to the kitchen.
Betty comes downstairs into the kitchen very excited and deathly pale. She grabbed Olly by the shoulder and said, “Whateley, quick, go to Colonel Lindbergh. The baby is gone!” He ran upstairs and Elsie says to Betty, “What is the matter, pull yourself together.” Elsie then runs upstairs leaving Betty in the kitchen.[15]
Colonel Lindbergh, Anne, Betty, Elsie and Olly search the house for the baby. When he is not found, Lindbergh then tells Olly to call the police.[16]
Elsie Whateley (Testimony 1/4/35)
Betty looked at her watch and said, “It’s 10 o’clock, I must go to the baby”
Elsie goes to Mrs. Lindbergh. As she comes out of Anne’s room, she sees Betty who says, “I wonder if she wants to see the baby?” to which Elsie replies, “Well, if she wants to, she is going through the other way, because she had gone through that door.”
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Anne rings for Elsie who goes to Anne’s bedroom and is asked to go get a ‘hot lemon’. Anne also informs her that she intends to take a bath.
Betty comes into Anne’s room asking if Colonel Lindbergh has the baby. Anne tells Betty that she does not know where Colonel Lindbergh is.
Anne runs into the nursery and finds the French window closed, the heater turned on and the lights turned on. She then runs back into the hall to find Colonel Lindbergh.
Anne returned to her bedroom to dress, followed by Elsie. She threw open a window “…and looked out wildly; I thought I heard a cry, but it was very windy.”
Anne Lindbergh (Statement 3/13/32)
Anne rings for Elsie who goes to Anne’s bedroom and is asked to go get a ‘hot lemon’. Anne also informs her that she intends to take a bath. Betty comes into Anne’s room asking if Colonel Lindbergh has the baby. Anne tells Betty that she does not know where Colonel Lindbergh is but that it is quite likely [that he has the baby]. Betty then runs to find Colonel Lindbergh.
Anne runs into the nursery and finds the French window closed, the heater turned on and the lights turned on. She returns to her bedroom where she meets Colonel Lindbergh.
Anne returned to the nursery again, looking through the bedclothes and closets. She then rushed back to her bedroom, followed by Elsie. Anne throws open a window and leans far out. “I heard what sounded like a cry over to the right and in front of me in the general direction of the woodpile. Before I could speak to Elsie she said quickly, ‘That was a cat, Mrs. Lindbergh.”[17] Anne then dressed and began searching the house with the others.
Anne Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/35)
Anne rings for Elsie who goes to Anne’s bedroom and is asked to go get a ‘hot lemon’. Anne also informs her that she intends to take a bath.
Betty comes in to Anne’s bedroom, entering through the hall door and asks if Colonel Lindbergh has the baby. Anne sends her downstairs while Anne goes into the nursery and looks hastily at the bed. She then re-enters her bedroom where she met Colonel Lindbergh and Betty Gow.
Charles Lindbergh (Statement 3/11/32)
Betty says to Colonel Lindbergh, “Colonel Lindbergh, have you got the baby? Please don’t fool me…you must have the baby, he is gone!”
Lindbergh tells Betty to get Olly. Olly is told by Lindbergh to call the sheriff immediately while Lindbergh waited upstairs. Colonel Lindbergh then called Colonel Breckenridge in New York and the State Police in Trenton. Lindbergh then issued orders not to enter the nursery nor to walk around outside until the police arrived.
Charles Lindbergh (Testimony 1/3/35)
Betty calls to Colonel Lindbergh in a rather excited voice asking if he had the baby. Lindbergh ran into the nursery and found the crib clothing still standing stiffly; the clothing had not collapsed and it was still attached by pins. He sees a note on the windowsill.[18]
Olly is told to call the sheriff immediately while Lindbergh waited upstairs. Colonel Lindbergh then called Colonel Breckenridge in New York and the State Police in Trenton.
Colonel Lindbergh goes outside after the police and Colonel Breckenridge are called and walks 100 yards down the driveway.
10:10 PM
Olly Whateley (Statement 3/3/32)
Betty comes rushing into the room and tells Olly that Colonel Lindbergh wants him. Lindbergh tells Olly to hurry and call the police in Hopewell.
10:15 PM
Charles Williamson (Statement 3/9/32)
Olly calls Hopewell police deputy Charles Williamson.
Olly Whateley (Statement 3/3/32)
Olly returns back upstairs after calling the police and Colonel Lindbergh tells him to search the house. He then joins the Colonel outside searching the grounds for 10 – 15 minutes.
Major Lanphier (Statement 3/19/32)
Anne prepares her bath. Betty tells her that she thinks Colonel Lindbergh has taken the baby and hidden him again. Anne is annoyed, goes to the top of the stairs and calls to Colonel Lindbergh, asking why he had taken the baby. Apparently not hearing her, Lindbergh comes out of the room where he was sitting and asks Anne what she had said. She repeats it and he then tells Anne not to move and he runs up to the nursery.
10:30 PM
Arthur Springer (Statement 4/12/32)
Arthur Springer is home and goes to bed.
Harry Wolfe (Statement 3/16/32)
Charles Williamson calls Harry Wolfe and tells him of the kidnapping. He rushes to the Lindbergh estate where he is met by Olly at the end of Lindbergh’s driveway.
Elsie Whateley (Statement 3/10/32)
Elsie finds Anne in the nursery and tells her to get dressed. “She seemed to be in a sort of daze. She said, ‘All right, get the clothes and I will dress in here.’ Then she said, ‘I will dress in my room, Elsie’ and she and I went through the bathroom and into her room where she got dressed.”[19]
While helping Anne dress, Anne says, “’I think I hear a noise’ and she opened her bedroom window wide and she said, ‘I guess it must have been a cat.’ We looked out and couldn’t see anything.”[20]
Charles Williamson Statement (3/9/32)
Hopewell Police (Charles Williamson and Chief Wolfe) arrive at Highfields. Lindbergh meets them at the front door accompanied by Mrs. Lindbergh. Lindbergh tells Williamson and Wolfe that he heard a noise but that it didn’t impress him due to the windy night. Lindbergh shows the nursery to Williamson and Wolfe. Williamson and Wolfe go back downstairs and out the front door into the yard. They examine the ground under the nursery window. They see holes allegedly left by the ladder and footprints. They see a 3-sectioned ladder about 75 feet away from the house. One section of the ladder appeared broken. One dowel was lying on the ground near one section of the ladder which was about 8 to 10 feet further away from the other two sections. Near the farthest ladder section and dowel was a wood chisel.
10:45 PM
Olly Whateley (Statement 3/3/32)
Hopewell police arrive at Highfields.
10:46 PM
Arthur Springer (Statement 4/12/32)
New Jersey State Police issue teletype alarm regarding the kidnapping.
N. J. State Police (Station Record 3/1/32)
New Jersey State Police issue teletype alarm regarding the kidnapping.
11:00 PM
N.J. State Police (Station Record 3/1/32)
First newspaper calls State Police headquarters concerning the kidnapping report.
Violet Sharp (Statement 3/10/32)
Violet Sharp returns to Next Day Hill and Ernie walks her from the car to the house.
Violet Sharp (Statement 5/24/32)
Violet Sharp returns to Next Day Hill and Ernie walks her from the car to the house.
Marguerite Junge (Statement 3/7/32)
Marguerite Junge returns to Next Day Hill.
Johannes Junge (Statement 3/9/32)
Marguerite Junge returns to Next Day Hill.
Johannes Junge (Statement 4/14/32)
Marguerite Junge returns to Next Day Hill. Marguerite and Johannes Junge and Red Johnson see “a small Ford car of an old type” parked between the house and the garage and a man and a woman walking to the house. The man returns to the car alone.[21]
11:15 PM
Violet Sharp (Statement 3/10/32)
Violet teases Marguerite about being out late.
Arthur Springer (Statement 4/12/32)
Standard News Bureau (NYC) calls Arthur Springer at home and wakes him up, and tells him about the kidnapping.
11:30 PM
Charles Williamson (Statement 3/9/32)
Trooper Wolf arrives at Highfields and questions the family.
11:45 PM
Charles Williamson (Statement 3/9/32)
Trooper Kane arrives and joins Trooper Wolf.
March 2, 1932
Midnight
Henry Ellerson (Statement 4/12/32)
Henry Ellerson calls Next Day Hill after hearing of the kidnapping on the radio.
3:00 AM
Harry Wolfe (Statement 3/16/32)
Chief Wolfe drives an unidentified State Trooper into Hopewell to meet with Mr. Hulfish, foreman of Matthews Construction Company that built Highfields.
4:00 AM
Charles Williamson (Statement 3/9/32)
Williamson and Wolfe leave Highfields.
Harry Wolfe (Statement 3/16/32)
Williamson and Wolfe leave Highfields.
NOTES
[1] Time is approximate. It is between 9:00 and 10:00 AM.
[2] Septimus banks received the phone call from Hopewell requesting Betty, however he does not state at what time this call came in.
[3] This obvious contradiction to the previous comment that no stops were made appears in the same March 3, 1932 statement by Betty Gow. The first statement about no stops is in her narrative and the statement about the drugstore appears during follow-up questioning.
[4] The exact timing of Anne throwing pebbles is not given in Betty’s testimony; however it is stated that it is while Elsie is in the nursery and also that Elise is still in the nursery when Anne returns at 4:00. It should be noted, too, that there is no mention of the pebble incident in any of the statements of Anne, Betty or Elsie taken in 1932. The story is not told until the trial in 1935.
[5] It is unclear at what time this occurred. In Anne’s testimony, it reads as if she went for the walk at 1:30. It should be noted, too, that there is no mention of the pebble incident in any of the statements of Anne, Betty or Elsie taken in 1932. The story is not told until the trial in 1935.
[6] The statement reads as if the baby was having tea. However, Betty Gow’s March 10th statement says that she took the baby down into the living room where Anne was having her tea. It would also make more sense if Anne and Elsie left the room much earlier than Betty and the baby, if she was already having her tea by the time Betty gets into the living room with the baby. [7] This is stated as “shortly after 6:00” in Betty Gow’s March 10th, 1932 statement.
[8] Based upon the time span covered in this statement and the statement of Elsie Whateley, the phone call probably came in right around 7:00 PM.
[9] It is interesting to note that in all accounts, the baby already had Vics rubbed on his chest and was completely dressed and ready for bed when it was then decided to stitch a flannel shirt to replace the flannel “bandage” that was already on him covering the Vics.
[10] This is the French window.
[11] The statement of Katherine Minners has these events happening at 7:45 PMand 7:50 PM.
[12] She later tells Elsie why Henry Johnson called, according to this statement. See Elsie Whateley’s statement of 3/10/32.
[13] The exact time is not specified in the March 13th statement.
[14] This may have been 15 minutes later, at 10:15 PM; it is unclear from the statements.
[15] The time that this occurred is not given in Elsie’s statement.
[16] Elsie thinks the timing of this search was around 10:30.
[17] cf. Elsie’s statement, 10:30 pm.
[18] Lindbergh states, “I am not at the moment certain whether I saw that note at [that] time or the next time I entered the room…but either the first or second time; I came back very shortly…not over 5 minutes.” (Charles Lindbergh, Testimony, January 3, 1932.)
[19] Elsie states that she is unsure of the time she helped Mrs. Lindbergh dress. “As far as I recall I think it was in the neighborhood of 10:30…”
[20] Note that here Elsie states it was Mrs. Lindbergh declaring the sound was a cat, yet in Mrs. Lindbergh’s statement she claims Elsie told her it was a cat.
[21] This is assumed to be Violet Sharp and Ernie Miller.
