Overview
Renowned Detective Ellis H. Parker was known as "The Sly Fox," "America's Sherlock Holmes," and as a "Master Detective."
Detective Parker solved the "Crime of The Century" (the Lindbergh baby kidnapping) and presented a confession to the prosecution of Bruno Richard Hauptmann that David Wilentz was leading. The confession was signed by Paul H. Wendel, who admitted taking the baby from the Lindbergh mansion and dropping the baby from his arms, resulting in the death of Charles Lindbergh Jr.
Detective Parker also exposed the relationship of many years between Paul Wendel and Isidor Fisch, the man he believed accompanied Wendel to the Lindbergh home the night that the baby went missing.
Deathly afraid of Detective Ellis Parker, Prosecutor David Wilentz discredited Paul H. Wendel's confession. He then convinced Wendel that it would be in his best interests to rescind his confession and accuse Detective Parker of his kidnapping and torture. Wilentz then rushed Bruno Richard Hauptmann to judgment to cover up his misconduct and the fraudulent methods he used to falsify evidence and bribery. There was little doubt that Ellis Parker would have proven that Wilentz had framed an innocent man given his freedom. Denied a lie detector test he had requested, Hauptmann refused to change his plea to guilty even after an offer was made to spare his life.
Wilentz then supported his charges against Ellis Parker with more falsified evidence to get a conviction that would silence Parker forever. Fortunately for Wilentz, Ellis Parker died before he could work again. His family, especially his Son, Ellis Jr., feared continued confrontation with Wilentz after being released from prison.
Ellis Parker Jr. asked by his daughter to reopen the case, was quoted as saying, "A lot of people could get hurt." We suspect that he was threatened to remain silent so that David Wilentz could continue to be admired and celebrated for sending an innocent man, Bruno Richard Hauptmann, to his death.