The Lindbergh Kidnapping Hoax 

 J.J. Faulkner 

Ellis Parker Interview with Steinweg  1935  

On May 2, 1933, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found 296 ten-dollar gold certificates, and one twenty-dollar gold certificate, equaling $2,980. These certificates were all ransom certificates. Deposit slips were examined, showing that J.J. Faulkner, 537 West 149th Street, deposited the money. A woman named J. Faulkner had  once lived at that address. The police were suspicious about an automobile that had been  stolen in Lakehurst, New Jersey that had  turned up across the street from the house once occupied by J. Faulkner.

But who was Faulkner? An investigation proved J. Faulkner was Jane Faulkner. She was married on May 21, 1921 to Carl O. Geissler.  Police found Geissler and the former Faulkner living in Larchmont, New York.  Geissler was part owner of a flower shop. An investigation proved that the couple were not connected with the $2980 deposit through numerous handwriting samples.

 Police began to  believe that the name was only chosen by the depositer who may have hated Ms. Faulkner and wanted to make trouble for her. Another investigation led police to believe that a notorious forger, Jacob Novitsky, had possibly been the depositer of the rensom loot. But it could never be proven where or how he may have gotten the money.  Did an investigation even occur to see whether Novitsky was guilty or not? After Hauptmann was arrested all investigations into other possible perpetrators stopped completely.

 During the appeal stage for Hauptmann, in January of 1936, a letter was sent to Governor Harold Hoffman signed " J.J. Faulkner."

The letter was investigated. It resembled the same signature as the one that appeared on the receipt slips for the $2980 of Lindbergh ransom money found on May, 1933. However, experts deemed the letter a hoax

steve romeo
history tidbits on duane bacon
Tue Feb 26 2002

FBI FILES --- the New York City police in their investigation of the apt house at 537 west 149th street, found on the dumbwaiter shafts in the basement of the apt, a number of old name cards; among those was a card bearing the name "Faulkner." This card was in full view of the various superintendents who have worked at the apartment house, inasmuch as the supers spent considerable time in the basement. 

It was learned that Bacon, a former superintendent, worked at the apt under the alias of Duane Baker from 4-1-31 to 4-15-32, when he was discharged for dishonesty, inefficiency, and borrowing money from tenants. While the super, he conducted gambling games in the basement on frequent occasions. It does not appear that Bacon was acquainted with the Faulkner family or any of their relatives as the Faulkners were out of the building long before Bacon became super. One of Bacon's employers was the Armour Co. at  52 West 14th Street, New York City as chauffeur in 1924. Charles Henry Ellerson, Morrow chauffeur, worked there in 1923.

Neither Dr. Condon or Joe Perrone were able to identify Bacon,and his handwriting was found to be dissimiliar to the ransom notes and Faulkner's deposit ticket, by expert Albert Osborn.

steve for bob mills
plymouth apts
Fri Mar 1 14:09:57 2002

FBI FILES---It was learned that prior to 1920 a woman by the name of Jane Faulkner, and her daughter Jane Emily, leased apt 64 in the building. There is no record of male members occupying the apt. then. 

Mrs Jane Faulkner died in 1923. her daughter Emily Faulkner married carl oswin giessler. it appears theyresided in apt 64 from 1921 to 1925. They moved after that to Larchmont, New York.

Clubbeaux
More on Faulkner
Tue Feb 26  2002

Interestingly, a $5 bill, serial number B48613534A [sic] with the initials “E.D.W.” penciled on the back was found on February 1st, 1934 at the Corn Exchange Bank in a deposit from the Globe Coat and Apron Supply Co. of 526 W. 48th Street. A driver named John Haberlin had received the bill the previous day from Joseph Frederick Faulkner, who worked in the employees’ cafeteria on top of the De Pinna Clothing Store at 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue. Faulkner stated that he took the bill from the register, while Haberlin, who frequently made change for the cafeteria, told the FBI Faulkner took it from his wallet.

bob mills for clubbeaux
faulkner's fin
Wed Feb 27 2002

Is it claimed that this $5. was ransom money? I've always understood the ransom was in $10 and $20 denominations. If it wasn't ransom money, what connects it to the case? Is there a known link between J. Frederick Faulkner and the two Jane Faulkners who once lived in the apartment house?

Clubbeaux
$5 bills
Wed Feb 27 2002


$15,000 of the ransom was paid in non-gold bills, $35,000 in gold bills - $10 denominations or higher. There never was a $5 gold note, so while those were a large chunk of the ransom they weren’t gold bills. According to FBI agent William Seery, 115 of the passed bills recoved were $5s.

Amazing to think that Lindbergh didn’t even want the serial numbers recorded. I can’t even begin to fathom the logic behind that one.

I don't know if there's any connection between all the Faulkners running around here, but it sure makes for a strange lot of coincidences.

Michael Melsky - The LKH Forum 
Fisch/Faulkner
Sun Jan 13  2002

Here's an alternative to Hauptmann's Fisch explanation provided for by "JJ 
Faulkner"....

New York Daily News 1-10-36 (In part):

To his Excellency the Governor of the State of N.J. Mr. Harold G. Hoffman.

(omit)

All the poor bum is guilty of is his money madness, whch made him risk a 
thousand dollars or so of his own good money, in the belief and greedy notion, 
that he could get independently rich and by hiding this cheaply acquired hoard 
he brought himself in all this trouble, nearly causing him to lose his life, 
which I hope will now be spared.

(omit)

I am closing most respectfully,

J.J. Faulker

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