The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-03-06
MURDERER ARRESTED.
Albert Knapp Confes ea to tho
Ss3 NIurd er or Five Women.

|
fFiye mnrd ers, the victims OF which
we're all women, and three or them
MS @ives-such is the revolving re-
cofd OF Albert Knapp given Thursday
~ a sworn confession by the murderer
pelore Mayor Bosch or i Hamilton,
ONO. The murder Of Ills third wife.
Annic Goddard Knapp. which led to
knapp'sarrest WedncSdayin Indian
polls was done, II don't why.,, to
quote the prisoner.
Knapp'S confession. 'wllicl, was
sworn to before Mayor Bosch, is as
follows
On, Jan. 81, 1891, L killed Emma
Littleman in a lumber yard in Gest
street, Cincinnati; on Aug. /, 1884, Il
killed May Eckert. in Walnut street,
opposite the Y. N. c. a., In Cincin-
natl; on Aug. I, 1891, | killed my
wife, Jennie ConnorS Knapp under
the canal bridge in Liberty street,
Cincinnati, aud threw llel into the
canal: In Indianapolis, in July, 1895,
killed Ida Gebhard. On Dec. %,
1902. killed my wife, Annie knapp,
at 339 South Fourth street, in IIanlil-
ION, and threw her into the river
at .Lindcnwald. This is the truth.
lSigncd) Albert Knapp.
Il make this statement Of my own
free will and not by the request OF
any officer or any one else"
tSigneU Albert Knapp.
The confession clears up the mystery
at least Of one th-that Of, Jennie
Como Knapp, knapps second wife.
This wuman'S body was found in tile
sluggish water of Il canal near Gin
cinnati. Bruises were discovered on
the head but an Investigation I'D To
no definite conclusion concern Ing the
manner of her death
The most recent Of the murders to
which Knapp has cnnfcSsed- THAT of
his third wife, Annie Goddard Knapp
or Hamilton, led TO his arrest, ut the
home OF Ills Fourth bride in Indiana
polls. An uncle OF the victim, hearing
Of Knapp's marriage to Miss Gamble
III indianapolis few days after the
mysterious disappearance of his niece,
formerly Annie Goddard, started an
Investigation.
The police were prepared for a
grewsome story Thursday, Knapp
having admitted his guilt of the God
dard murder Wednesday night, but
they were dumbfOundcd ut the revcla-
tionS which the prisoner made when
put under oath.
After his confession Knapp ad-
nitted that he had repeatedly as
Saulted women He said:
| met the Littlcman child in the
lumber yard and cloked her to death
when she made an outcry. | went
into the room with the Eckcrt girl
and sat down with her. She cried
and l stranglcd her with towel and
hurried from the house
was mad at my wife, Jennie Con-
nors Knapp, when killed her. We
were walking along Liberty street.
sat her down under The bridge and
checked her to death. L deny that
poisoned her. never t,ld any one l
did. After she was dead thrcy the
body into the canal.
Ida Gebhard / killed, but my
memory is not clear as to what l did.
cannot tell what made me kill these
people. l could not help it. Some
kind Of Il desire to kill took hold of
me and could not resist the temptil-
tion to kill. am sorry for my Cline,
but tnow | hope they Will lie easy with
me-"
After the confession a formal
charge Of murder in the first degree
was filed.
Attorney G. +. Tcnncr OF Cihcin-
natl was allowed TO see Knapp and
told him to make no further state
mcnt. Knapp was surprised that
his people bad secured IL lawyer for
: Him.
Knapp talks much Of the Pearl
bryan murder and is afraid or being
lynchcd.
Knapp is now suspected of Strang-
ling three women at Evansville, Ind,
and OF killing women elsewhere. lTc
was in The Cincinnati house of refuge
when / years old.