The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-27
Self f-COnfessed Murderer Tells. Horrible Story of AfO-
 CiOuS Grimes
CLEARS UP MYSTERIES IF
 SEVERAL YEARS STANDING
Most of Ills Victims Were Strangled and Some of Them Thrown In Streams-He Committed Ere
 quent Criminal Assaults.

Indianapolis, February 26.-Albert A. Knapp, arrested in this city yesterday. who lies in the Butler county jail at Hamilton, Ohio, sef-confessed as the most depraved criminal run to earth since the deeds of H. H. Holmes, which were laid bare in 1885, has the following crimes st his door, by self-confesslon, with the exception of the barn burning: Emma Littleman, killed in Cincinnati lumber yard January 21 1894.
 Mary Eckart. stranglsd to death op- posite the Cincinnati Y. M. c. A, August 1, 1894.
 Jennie Connors, Knapps second wife, murdered in Cincinnati and thrown into the canal there August 2, 1894.
 Ida Gebhardt a child, assaulted and murdered in Indianapolis Jufy 19, 1895, and body found several days later in "a barn in West Indianapolis.
 Hanna Goddard Knapp, his third wife, murdered at Hamilton, Ohio, and here the body was thrown Into the Miami river December 22, 1902.
 Knapp has served five prison sentences, three for larceny and two for assault. He has served two terms at Jeffersonvllle, Ind; one at Columbus, Ohio; one at Joliet, Ills, and one at Michigan City, Ind, to which prison he was sent from Indianapolis in 1896 for assault on Bessie Drapier, a child.
 Since his return to this city in Decem- Der he has, the police feel sure. been guilty of two barn -burnings. When he was convicted for the Draper assault he threatened to get even with everyone con- cerned in his conviction.
 Sheriff Gained His Enmity.
 Sheriff Womack gained his enmity. His barn was recently burned and several thousand dollars worth of fine horses and imported cattle were roasted to death.
 The barn of one of the jurors who con- victed him was burned six or seven weeks ago.
 Hanna Goddard Knapp. the murderer's third wife. called at the office of an h. dianapolis attorney last October and asked him to bring divorce proceedings for her. She said she feared her husband would murder her, as he had made threats. He told her she had not lived in Indianapolis long enough for divorce. Anna Gamble, Knapp's fourth wife. re- ceived letter from her husband today,
 
 the Hamilton authorities last night. From it's tone Knapp expects to be sent to the penitentiary for life. It reads as follows: My Dear Little Wife-I will drop you few lines to let you know how l am getting along. 1t looks very dark for me, and so we will have to expect the worst l don't know what they will do with me, but I expect 1t will be life In prison at Columbus, O., as they are on the track of r. but may find her by the time you get this letter I won't write much this time, but as soon as you answer this l will write more.
 But, oh, my darling sweetheart 1t Is hard to be parted from you. But be a good girl for Allie, and take care of yourself You know what I mean. Don't you? Now write me a nice long letter. Don't forget your kid, and he will never forget his little sweetheart as long as he lives. l will tell you all in my next let ter. Write as soon as you get this How is daddy? With love and kisses, I will close. Your loving husband.
 ALBERT"
 "P. S.-Get our marriage certificate from the police. Write at once. Allie to Annie. Address Albert A. Knapp, Butler coun- ty jail. Hamilton, O."
 Wife Still Loves Him.
 Mrs. Knapp said she did not know any thing about the Hannah mentioned in the letter. as her husband had never spoken to her of the woman.
 "He spoke of having a wife at one time" she said, but l did not ask him any questions. It did not bother me" Mrs Knapp abused her husbands fam fly and said they had objected to the marriage.
 "They wrote to him." she said, land told him that if he did not give me up they never wanted to see him again That was after we were married Allie told them he had married me and in- tended to stick by me through thick and thin. He loves me and I love him"
 She did not think Knapp was insane.
 knapp's Confession.
 Hamilton, O., February 26. = Albert Knapp the Indianapolis man arrested yesterday, who confessed to the murder of his third wife, today made full con fession of five murders. Among them Is Ida Gebhart the West Indianapolis girl who was found murdered and ragged in a stable July 3, 1895
 Knapp's confession, which was sworn to before Mayor Bosch. Is as follows
 "On January 21, 1894, I killed Emma Littleman in lumber yard in Gest street Cincinnati. On August 1. 1894. l killed May Eckert on Walnut street. opposite the Y. M. c. A., in Cincinnati. On An- gust '. 1894 killed my wife. Jennie Con ners Knapp, under the canal bridge on Liberty street. Cincinnati and threw her into the canal. In Indianapolis, In July, 1895 I killed Ida Gebhart. on December 22 1902. I killed my wife, Annie Knapp at 33e South Fourth street, m Hamilton. and threw her into the river out by Lin- denwald. This Is the truth.
 (SignedD ALBERT KNAPP 'I make this statement by my own free will, and not by the request of any off, cer or any one else.
 (signed) ALBERT KNAPP"