Born in 1899 in Germany, Bruno Richard Hauptmann had served as a teenaged machine gunner in the German infantry on the western front. He lost two brothers in the war. In post-war Germany, unemployment was rife; food was scarce. With only eight years of general education and two years of trade school – where he learned carpentry and machinery – Hauptmann was unable to secure gainful employment. In March of 1919, he turned to crime.
With the help of a friend, Fritz Petzold, Hauptmann burglarized three homes. In a more daring daylight robbery, the two accosted two women at gunpoint and stole their food coupons – the women were pushing baby carriages down a city street. In short order, Hauptmann was tried and convicted. Although he was sentenced to five years and one week in prison, he was paroled after four years. Soon after being released, he was arrested again and charged with stealing some strips of leather belting. While awaiting trial, Hauptmann escaped from prison. He left his neatly folded prison clothes on the front stairs with a note which read: “Best wishes to the police.”
Read Full Article »