The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-27

ment of Jones were kept secret in the hope
that evidence might be secured on which
could be based prosecution for the crime.
CONFESSION NOT SUFFICIENT.
Sheriff Womack submitted the confession
to Judge Frank McCray. of the Criminal
Court, Charles Wiltsie. prosecuting attor-
ney, and his deputy, Fremont Afford. now
Judge of the Criminal Court. He suggested
that Knapp be pardoned by the Governor
for the crime for which he was undergoing
Imprisonment in Michigan City and that he
be brought to Indianapolis for trial on the
charge of murder.
vised that nothing be done until Knapp was
released from prison. They thought that
If he was released from the one crime he
might escape entirely by refusing TO in
and his confession could not be introduced
against him. For this reason the case was
dropped without the confession being made
public. 1t was decided to wait until Knapp
was released from prison and then arrest
him, but whea his release came In 1902 moth
ing was done. as no persons interested in
the case knew of the confession.
Knapp's conviction and sentence to the
penitentiary caused a monetary loss TO A.
A. Womack and Mr.. Boardman. two farm
ers of the county. Boardman was one OF the
Jurors that convicted Knapp and Womack
was instrumental In securing his convic-
ton. A few weeks ago Womacks barn.
on the Allisonville pike, was burned. caus-
ing loss of 5000 and about the same time
Boardman,s barn, In Broad Ripple, was
burned. The fires were of incendiary origin
and Womack Immediately remembered
Knapp's threats and because of the motive
the man had surmised that Knapp had set
fire to the place. He sent TO Michigan city
and found that Knapp had been released
from the penitentiary. but was unable 10
trace him to Indianapolis. Since the dis
covery of the mans many crimes Mr.. Wo-
mack thinks 1t likely that he set ire 10
both his barn and Boardman's.
The crime for which Knapp was sent TO
the Indiana penitentiary in June. 1896, was
that of criminal assault on Bessie DRAPER.
Knapp was rig-picker and while working
In the southwest part of town met the
DRAPER girl on West Chesapeake street. He
asked her TO come to his home at West and
girl for his child. She agreed and accom-
panied him. but when he took her by the
place where he said he lived she became
afraid OF him. Her suspicious were cor
rect. for on passing an alley Knapp grab
bed her and despite her screams and strug-
giles carried her into the alley. The strug-
gle attracted attention. but Knapp escaped,
but later was captured by Sheriff Womack.
who, with Matron Buchanan, OF the police
station. led him into a trap by using the
and convicted he promised womack faith
fully that he would live to regret his con-
nection with his Imprisonment.
Another local connection of tho Knapp
murders was the visit OF Knapps third
wife, the woman murdered in Hamilton, to
Mrs. Knapp called on Reinhold In October
last and asked him TO secure for her a
divorce from Knapp. stating that she was
afraid to live with him, because of his
threats against her life. II was impossible
to apply for the divorce, because Mrs.
knapp was not a resident of the county.