The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-03-05
FIEND'S CONFESSION
Knapp Admits AssW1t and Mur.
der Of ManyWomen.
NAMES FIVE OF HIS VICTIMS
Mysterious Murders that Baffled All
Efforts to Solve Revealed by De-
praved Criminal Now In -
Laws Clutches.

Albert Knapp, arrested In Indian.
apolis Wednesday and who Is now con-
fined In the Butler county jail at Ham
ilton, Ohio, self-confessed as the most
depraved criminal run to earth since
the deeds of H. H. Holmes were laid
bare In 1895, has the following crimes
at his door, by self confession, with the
exception of the barn burning: ~
Emma Littleman, killed in Cincin.
natl lumber yard January 21, 1894. e.
Mary Eckert, strangled to death op-
posite the Cincinnati Young Mems
Christian Association, August l, 1884,;
Jennie Connors Knapp, his second
wife. murdered in Cincinnati and
thrown into the canal there, August
Z, 1904.
Ida Gebhardt, child, assaulted and
murdered in Indianapolis, July 19.
1895, her body found>several days lat
er in barn in West Indianapolis.
Hanna Goddard Knapp, his third
wife, murdered at Hamilton, Ohio, and
her body thrown into the Miami river,
December %, 1902.
His Prison Record.
Knapp has served five prison sem
tences, three for larceny and two for
assault. He has served two terms at
Jeffersonville, Ind; one at Columbus,
Ohio; one at Joliet, Ills, and one at
Michigan City, Ind, to which prison
he was sent from indianapolis in 1895
for assault on Bessie Drapier, a child.
Since his return to Indianapolis In
December, he has, the police feel sure,
been guilty of two barn burnings.
When he was convicted for the Dra-
pier assault he threatened to get even
with every one concerned in his con.
viction.
Former Sheriff Womack, then sher-
If, gained his enmity. His barn was
recently burned and several thousand
dollars worth Of fine horses and I'M
ported cattle were roasted to death.
AL Boardman was one Of the jurors
who convicted him. His barn was
burned about six or seven weeks ago.
Almost every hour adds to the long
list of crimes laid to the mans door.
Hannah Goddard Knapp, the mur.
der's third wife called at the Office
of an indianapolis attorney fast21cto-7
Der and asked him to bring divorce
proceedings for her. She said she fear
ed her husband would murder her, as
he had made threats. He told her she
had not lived in Indianapolis long
enough for divorce. 0
His Sensational Arrest.
Knapp was routed from his bed at
the home of his bride, formerly Anna
Nav Gamble, at $50 Indiana avenue,
Wednesday, by the police and taken TO
Hamilton on the charge Of murder.
Kuopps confession, which was
sworn to before Mayor Bosch, Is as
follows:
"On January 21, 1894, l killed Emma
Littleman IN lumber yard IN Gest
street, Cincinnati.
"On August /, 1894, killed MAY
Eckert in Walcut street, opposite the
Y. M. C. A., in Cincinnati.
"On August Z, 1894, l killed my
wife. Jennie Connors Knapp, under
the canal bridge in Liberty street, Gin,
cinnati, and threw her into the eana.
"In Indianapolis, in July, 1899, =
killed Ida Gebhardt.
"On December %, 1902, killed my
wife, Annie Knapp, a. 3SS soutn
Fourth street, in Hamilton, and threw
her into the river out by LindenwaN.
This is the truth.
(Signed) ALBERT kNAPP.
az make this statement OF my own
free will and not by the request OF any {
officer or anyone else.
(signed) ALBERT KNoPP. g
"sworn to before me this 26tn oay
Of February, 1903.
(signed) &c. F. BOSCH. Mayor"