Bruno Hauptmann

Bruno Hauptmann Historical Figure Nationality: Germany (born in Kingdom of Saxony), illegal resident of United States Year of Birth: 1899 Year of Death: 1936 Cause of Death: Execution by electric chair Religion: Lutheran Occupation: Carpenter Spouse: Anna Schoeffler Children: Manfred Richard Hauptmann Military Branch: Imperial German Army (World War I) Fictional Appearances: Joe Steele POD: 1878; Relevant POD: July, 1932 Novel or Story?: Novel only Type of Appearance: Contemporary reference

Bruno Richard Hauptmann (November 26, 1899 – April 3, 1936) was a German-born carpenter and criminal who was convicted of the abduction and murder of the 20-month-old son of Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The Lindbergh kidnapping became known as "The Crime of the Century". Hauptmann was executed in the electric chair at the New Jersey State Prison in 1936, proclaiming his innocence to the end. Since his execution, the case against Hauptmann has been re-examined, and his actual guilt has become a matter of debate.

Bruno Hauptmann in Joe Steele

The Bureau of Investigation arrested Bruno Hauptmann for the 1932 Lindbergh kidnapping just days before the Supreme Court Four were tried for treason. While Hauptmann was in the country illegally, and while he did have a criminal record in his native Germany, even Charlie Sullivan, a supporter of the Steele Administration wondered if Hauptmann was really responsible for the kidnapping.