HEADLINE: JAMES P TAYLOR OFFERS SURPRISE GUILTY PLEA IN K. LINDBERGH CASE
Federal Judge Nordbye May Let Jury Consider Imposing Death Penalty.
Residents of Thief River Falls community heaved a collective sigh of relief Friday afternoon when word reached the city that James P. Taylor, Detroit, Michigan ex-convict, had pleaded guilty in Minneapolis federal court to charges of slain Kenneth E. Lindbergh, cashier of the Northern State Bank after having kidnapped the banker here on November 12, 1955.
Taylor, who had steadily insisted since his arrest in Joplin, Missouri, December 8 that he was innocent of the crime, had been scheduled to go on trial in Minneapolis next Monday, April 16.
The only local men who advanced notice of Taylor’s impending change were County Attorney L. W. Rulien, Sheriff Arthur Rambeck, and City Attorney Robert Wurst who had been notified by United States District Attorney George MacKinnon that Taylor would enter a plea Friday at 1:30 p.m. and all three were in court at that time.
Taylor, Monday gave FBI agents he’s detailed story of the crime, and his account will be turned over to federal judge Gunnar Nordbye , who will decide whether to sentence Taylor or to turn this case over to a jury for consideration of a possible death penalty.
In federal court last Friday, Taylor pleaded guilty to killing the 44-year-old father of four near Clear Lake, Minnesota on or about November 13, the day after Lindbergh disappeared from the Northern State Bank.
Stealing some $14,000 worth of travelers checks from the bank plus some $1750 in cash.
Transportation in interstate commerce from Minneapolis to San Francisco up for travelers checks to which the name Herbert F. Johnson had been forged.
Transporting the stolen checks from Minneapolis to cities that included Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, IME, Fort Lauderdale, New York, San Francisco, Joplin, and other places.
The indictment containing 4 counts, was returned by a grand jury on February 2. Taylor pleaded innocent a few days later and was scheduled to stand trial April 16.
Taylor’s attorneys declined comment on what prompted the change in plea; they said it would be inappropriate to discuss the subject while a present investigation is in progress.
Lindbergh’s body was found by three farm children on a snow-covered pasture November 25. Taylor, a good-looking six footer who carried 34 aliases, was picked up at Joplin after passage of stolen checks were traced to him.
Judge Nordbye reminded Taylor that he was making his plea without reservation and invited him to make a full and complete statement of details to investigating officers.
No time limit was set on the investigation.
Nordbye said a decision on whether to send the case to a jury for a sentencing would be based mainly on the investigation report. Both government and defense attorneys will be given a chance to see their report.
Under the law Nordbye said, he himself could sentence Taylor to not less than 10 years and up to life in prison.
“If I determine that the death penalty as to Count one shall be submitted to the jury for its determination, government consul and your console shall be afforded full opportunity to present all relevant, confident, material, and evidence before the court and the jury on that issue“, Nordbye told Taylor.
Taylor, his court appointed attorneys, Irving Nemerov and Walter Riodan and MacKinnon said they were in accord with the judge’s statements.
In entering your plea of guilty, Nordbye told the defendant, there can be no reservation as to the full import of your plea in these counts. More over, it must be understood that I reserve the absolute right in my discretion to determine whether I shall call a jury for the purpose of determining the death penalty.
MacKinnon, winding up the private proceedings that were viewed by about 75 court spectators and his men said he wanted to make it clear that the government had offered nothing to Taylor in return for his guilty plea.
HEADLINE: Mrs. K. LINDBERGH VOICES RELIEF AT TAYLOR GULITY PLEA
On learning Friday afternoon that James P. Taylor of Detroit, Michigan had pleaded guilty in Minneapolis federal court to the kidnap, murder of her husband, Mrs. Kenneth E. Lindberg, widow of the late Northern State Bank cashier, commented as follows:
I am thankful and relieved the one who caused her tragedy has pleaded guilty. Nothing can amend the loss we feel in our home but truth is better than doubting and a justice of the courts decide the penalty.
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