The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-02
Friend Withheld His Suspicious
~ From the Police Because
of Appeals.
MAY HAVE SAVED FOURTH WIFE.
Believed That Confession of
Crimes Was Made in Letter
10 His Mother, Who Iii
vul.ed the Secret. ''"'

Cincinnati o., March is Since i. has been
determined to arraisn Alfred A. Knapp at
Hamilton Tomorrow. cali a special Grand
Jury there and have trial as soon as pos
sible for the murder of Hannah Goddard
wife No. = the efforts OF the 'cftyIs ana
county officials here have Hot Fbeen relaxed
IN securing evidence regarding the murders
nf Emma Iittleman. Mary f. Eckhart and
Jennie Conner. wife No. .. the three crimes
which Knapp confessed TO committing in
Cincinnati 80
Scott Holmes. Prosecutor of the Cincin-
natl Police Court: Chief OF Police Casey and
Harry Hofhrimer. Prosecutor of Hamilton
County. say. they will be ready for any
emergency IN this ease and viii offer any
assistance that Warren Gard. Prosecutor of
Butler County. may want in the hearing
INSANITY DEFENSE.
While neither parents nor the brother
and Mrs Wenzei OF Hamilton. are under
surveillance here the officers are incident
ally Keeping track of them.
II seems that the family all agree in their
statements about Alfred being insane. but
says Alfred would be better OF. dead than
alive. but his mother worries over such an
ending.
His brother Cyrus and his sister Mrs
Wenzel are dcine all they can for defense
and have created so much sympathy in the
neishborhood for their. aged parents that
visitors and filed with flowers.
Al the same time the Kings have aided
In the apprehension of the prisoner. After
killing his third wife In Hamilton on the
morning of December 90. Alfred Knapp. on
the night of that date. called on his brother
in-iaw. E. F. King. in Cincinnati. and iu-
auired If his wife had been there.
king had suspected Alfred of former muir
ders. but on account OF the appeals OF the
family was Tsssrai1ed from calling the at
came TO disappearance of wife No. 3. neither
Mr. nor Mrs. King could suppress their
suspicious.
Hannah Goddard had lived with them and
was regarded as daughter. Il will be
one week tomorrow since King. ,accompa-
MED by Detective Eugene Rankin Of Gin
cinnati. went to Hamilton. and after seeing
Mr.. Goddard and others communicated with
Captain Lenehan of the Hamilton police.
who arrested Knapp in Indianapolis the
ncXt day. and the same night Knapp con-
fessed to choking Hannah Goddard and two
days later to stranglfne four Others.
CONFESSED TO MOTHER :
It is now generally believed ..hene thai
by Knapp's r.other. who 4ttsta -lsttssn from
her son, telling, her about his .orimefa ana
hs! rhe AIRED 1Sed fSsm snse5 80
wife who Is now in, Indian 4Asis.s- All pos.
sible efforts were made here TO. set this
letter and others. but II Is believed that
Mrs. Wenzel is correct In, insisting that AL
fred's letters were burned -. i,~-
Mrs Sadie Wenzel says Mr.. King came
she had put the Hamilton police. on the
trail before Alfred had robbed him. King
says that Alfred took his revolver and other
thinss when he visited them. Airs. Wenzet
blamed her sister. Mrs. King. with urging
her husband to have Alfred arrested.
COUNTER STATEMENTS.
She also blamed Hannah Goddard Knapp.
chicago. and herself. Mrs. King, in, her, in,
ttrview. stated that Alfsedt WROTE - Mrs
Wenzei. some time ago that HsIirah was
now out of the way. -ssNTe~tsS -,
Mrs. .Wenzel denies receiving such a let-'
ter. The counter; statements Gf the, sisters
are attracting much attention here. and
IL is thought that one OF them may be
called to Hamilton by the prosecution.
while there is no doubt of the other being
called for the defense -. ~