New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-03-04
Alfred Knapp, Arrested at indiana
apolis, Confesses to Whole
sale Murder.
SAYS ALL HIS VICTIMS WERE WOMEN,


of Indianapolis, has confessed that he
has murdered four women and girl.
Two of this modern Bluebeard's VIC
tins were his wives. He, is suspected
of other murders and it is possible that
he wild yet clear up the fate of another
wife.
The mayor and police are industri-
ously looking up Knapp's record They
find that he has pursued strange
course of crime since he was mere
youth. During all his adult life he
seems to have had a peculiar mania. for
attacking women and girls; and the
strangling of three women at Evans
vile, Ind, is now laid at his door.
The Confession.
Knapp's confession, which was.
sworn to before Mayor Bosch, us as fol-
lows:
..s ION January 81, 1894, I killed Emma
Littleman in a lumber yard In Gest.
street, Cincinna til.
"On August /, 1894, I killed May
Eckert in Walnut street, opposite the
Y. NJ. C.. A., in Cincinnati.
son August z, 1894, I Killed my wife
Jennie Gonnors Knapp, under the
Canal bridge in Liberty street. Cinein-
matt, and threw her into the canal.
@ ssIn Indianapolis,in July. 1895, I killed
Ida Gerhard #
ssOn December 20, 1902, I killed my
wife Annie Knapp, at 339 South Fourth tn
street, in Hamilton, and threw her into
the river at Lindenwald.
.sThis is the truth. / make this state
ment Of my own free will and not by
the request Of any officer or anyone
else" 8
Adds, Some Points,
Knapp made statement last might
at the JAIL He adhered to his written
confession and added some points. OF
these the most interesting relates to
the fate of his first wife, Emma. Stubbs.
Knapp declares she is still alive. and in
Louisville, KY. He says she. got a di-
vorce from him. Another chapter was
added when he asserted he was impli-
Gated in several hold-ups hereslast De-
cember.
Te1as of His Cximes..
Knapp was asked why he committed
his various crimes and how he felt
when he was choking a woman to
death. He said:
81 can't tell. was seized with an ir-
resistible desire to choke them and
j can't help it. Icould not let go when
once I began even if wanted to.
never feel any remorse, only a feeling
of satisfaction when Know that they
are dead. I used my hands IN every
ease except that of Mary Eekert.
ehoked that woman with a towel. but
Icould have done it with my hands.
Every dbctor who has seen Knapp
here agrees that he is moral pervert,
similar to "Jack the Ripper, except
| that he finds satisfaction in choking
womem and children.
Say He Is insane.
The parents of Knapp tonight said
Alfred was insane. and his confession
should not be believed. Alfred had
given them so much trouble they be
lieyeaL he would be better dead Mrs.
Sadie, Wenzel, his sister, said when
five years old he was kicked by colt
at Twenty Mile Prairie, Ill, and later e
struck by lightning at Terre Haute,
and but for her parents she,would have
had him adjudged insane. She said
Hannah Knapp separated her from her
husband, who lives in Chicago.
| RECORD ut Indianapolis.
Indianapolis, Ind, Feb. 81 .-Since.his
return to this city in December Alfred
Knapp has, the police feel sure. been
| guilty of two barn burnings. When n.l he
was convicted of the DRAPER assault
he threatened to get even with every
7 one concerned in his conviction. For
mer Sheriff Womaek gained his en-
nifty. His barn was recently burned
/ and several thousand dollars worth
of fine horses and imported cattle