HEADLINE: GRAND JURY REPORT IS DUE TOMORROW
Testimony in Taylor Kidnap-murder Case to be Completed Today
A federal grand jury hearing testimony in the government’s case against James P. Taylor, suspect in the kidnapping -- slaying of Kenneth E. Lindbergh was expected to report their findings Thursday.
Approximately 40 witnesses were questioned on Monday and Tuesday by George MacKinnon, US District Attorney, who is in charge of prosecution. Documentary evidence was to be added to this direct testimony Wednesday.
George MacKinnon, District Attorney, stated in an interview with the Times reporter this morning that he presented the elements of the evidence to the grand jury. There are still are the few tag ends to be brought in and we expect to complete our presentation this afternoon. We are working on the terms of the indictment that may be offered with the grand jury report as it is presented in federal court. We hope to get at least a partial report before the court sometime tomorrow.
Taylor has been held under a federal charge of the interstate transportation of stolen traveler’s checks since his arrest in Joplin, Missouri on December 8. He is believed to be the stranger who made a late appointment with Lindbergh on Saturday, November 12, the day Lindbergh disappeared.
Lindbergh’s battered body was found near Clear Lake nearly 2 weeks after his disappearance.
Taylor, had been released from prison only two weeks before Lindbergh disappeared. Fingerprints on some of the $14,000 in traveler’s checks taken from the bank led to his apprehension.
Fern Feddesly, 24 year old liquor store employee who had competed in any beauty contests and not been previously mentioned in the case, was among the witnesses.
Approximately 40 witnesses, including the slain cashier’s widow and at least 12 other TRF residents, were questioned before the grand jury.
Two surprise witnesses were Ben Bakken of Warroad and Elizabeth Richardson of Joplin, Missouri. The latter was a travel Bureau operator, who had taken Taylor into her home as a guest. He was arrested there by the FBI on December 8.
Bakken, a Warroad banker who confessed to embezzling funds from the Warroad bank were yet been cashier, served part of his term in Terre Haute prison from which Taylor was released on October 29 and was believed to have known Taylor there.
Among those who appeared before the grand jury were:
Charles Christianson of Roseau who was on the plane which supposedly brought Taylor to TRF under the alias of J. O’Malley.
Lowell Vraa and Mr. and Mrs. Christ Kierk, who observed the suspect at the airport.
George Rockstad, who gave the stranger a ride to town.
Fred Plotz and Mrs. Harry Winter of the Stewart and Pennington Hotels respectively where “Johnson” checked on reservations.
George Werstlein, vice president of the Northern State Bank who was introduced to the stranger by Lindbergh. Charles Bowman, janitor at the bank.
Arthur Christianson, who was said to have been in the bank when Lindbergh received one of the long distance calls from “Herbert Johnson.”
Others included airline employees from Louisville, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Bank officials from Detroit, Michigan, a desk clerk and bellboy from the Nicolet Hotel, a Minneapolis cabdriver, the father of the news boy who saw the car when it was abandoned, a Detroit Lakes hotel clerk, and a filling station attendant from the same town, who believes he serviced Lindbergh’s car on Saturday night of his disappearance.
Among those who appeared before the grand jury was the slain banker’s widow, Mrs. Kenneth Lindbergh.
Sheriff Arthur Rambeck and Thief River Falls Chief of Police, Elton Cummings were also among those who testified. All witnesses stayed in the ante road off the court chambers according to Arthur Rambeck and were called one by one. Most of the Thief River Falls people were questioned on Tuesday.
e
No comments:
Post a Comment