The handwriting evidence against Hauptmann was overwhelming. Forming the heart of the state's case againt Hauptmann, the testimony of the eight forensic document examiners lasted four days and produced a transcript of 800 pages. The questioned documents included:

1. The nursery note
2. The fourteen extortion letters
3. The "Boad Nelly" note
4. The address on the mailed sleeping suit package
5. John Condon's phone number written on a board in Hauptmann's closet

The handwriting evidence totaled 1,400 words.

The known, conceded writing consisted of hundreds of words in Hauptmann's notebooks; his car registration signatures; insurance papers and other personal documents.

The request samples involved handwriting elicited from Hauptmann through Albert S. Osborn's carefully worded paragraph.

Much of the handwriting evidence may be viewed on this web site. Below are links to photos of the evidence which will be opened in separate windows. The approximate file size for each photo is listed. Some of these files are large and may take some time to download.

Questioned documents:

1. Nursey note (33.7 kb)
2. Ransom note 1 front (45.5 kb)
3. Ransom note 1 back (46.3 kb)
4. Ransom note 2 front (47.2 kb)
5. Ransom note 2 back (55.5 kb)
6. Ransom note 3 designating Condon as go-between (45.3 kb)
7. Ransom note 4 (44.2 kb)
8. Ransom note 5 front (56 kb)
9. Ransom note 5 back (56.5 kb)
10. Ransom note 6 front (56.2 kb)
11. Ransom note 6 back (22 kb)
12. Ransom note 7 (silver nitrate fingerprint test made on this sheet)(50.6 kb)
13. Ransom note 8 front (silver nitrate fingerprint test made on this sheet) (54.3 kb)
14. Ransom note 8 back (silver nitrate fingerprint test made on this sheet) (32.6 kb)
15. Ransom note 9 front (40.5 kb)
16. Ransom note 9 back (30.5 kb)
17. Wrapper from the package containing the child's one-piece sleeping suit (28.9 kb)
18. Note received by Colonel Breckinridge (20.4 kb)
19. Note picked up by Condon at the Bergen Greenhouse (35.5 kb)
20. Directions found by Condon at frankfurter stand (24.6 kb)
21. The "Boad Nelly" note given to Condon by "John" (23.3 kb)
22. First note received by Condon (Jafsie) (55.9 kb)

Conceded writings:

1. Promissory note (37.2 kb)
2. Letter to Governor Hoffman (75.5 kb)
3. Insurance card (22.5 kb)

Requested writings:

1. Requested writing 1 (42 kb)
2. Requested writing 2 (42.6 kb)
3. Requested writing 3 (48.4 kb)
4. Requested writing 4 (40.6 kb)
5. Requested writing 5 (38.7 kb)
6. Requested writing 6 (41.3 kb)
7. Requested writing 7 (38 kb)
8. Requested writing 8 (40 kb)
9. Requested writing 9 (40 kb)
10. Requested writing 10 (41 kb)

Comparisons:

1. Comparison 1: ransom notes & Hauptmann's letter to Governor Hoffman (31.8 kb)
2. Comparison 2: ransom notes & Hauptmann's letter to Governor Hoffman (16.1 kb)
3. Comparison 3: ransom notes & Hauptmann's letter to Governor Hoffman (39.6 kb)
4. Comparison 4: ransom notes & Hauptmann's requested & conceded writing (23.9 kb)
5. Comparison 5: ransom notes & Hauptmann's requested & conceded writing (29.4 kb)
6. Comparison 6: ransom notes & Hauptmann's requested writing (25.8 kb)
7. Comparison 7: ransom notes & Hauptmann's writing (28.9 kb)
8. Comparison 8: ransom notes & Hauptann's writing (21.9 kb )
9. Nursery note composite along side nursery note (61.7 kb)
10. Sample of Isidor Fisch's writing (29.4 kb)

On August 24, 2003, Jim delivered a speech, The Lindbergh Case: A Look Back to the Future, discussing the writing evidence in the Lindbergh case to the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners. The transcript of that speech is available by clicking here.

This page was last updated on: Wednesday, January 9, 2008