The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-28
LOCAL END OF HORROR.
Knapp's Murdered Wife Worked in
This City-Other DEVELOPMENTS


1t was said by Captain Sam Gerber and
other members of the Indianapolis police
department yesterday that Alfred A.
Knapp, the self-confessed murderer of
three wives, was one of the men arrested
in this city for the murder of little Ida
Gerhard who was murdered in West In
dianapolis. Captain Gerber said he was
sure Knapp was one of the humber of sus-
poets arrested at that time, but little evil
dence was adduced to hold him on the
charge. The tramp named John r. Linson,
who was thought to be the real murderer.
was released, and Knapp was next taken
into custody. He was reticent during the
trial and proved an alibi. The Indianapolis
police could not implicate Knapp in the
crime and he was subsequently released.
The police say it was no wonder that
Knapp took life so easy and did not be-
tray the slightest emotions after commit
ting his many dastardly crimes.
Captain Kruger, who arrested Knapp at
his home Wednesday morning, was the first
man that broke down the great barrier of
self-control of the prisoner and caused him
to weaken and tell the stories OF his crimes
that have caused such wide CONSERVATION.
Captain Kruger, after having a short talk
with Knapp In a private office at the police
station, caused the prisoner to cry. AT
times Knapp threatened TO tell the captain
something and when any allusion was
made to Captain Lenehan, of Hamilton,
Knapp woulc close up and refuse TO tell
anything. He promised Captain kruger
that he would write and tell him some
startling matters.
LETTERS FROM RELATIVES.
Captain Kruger has secured a number
of letters written by Knapp's sister and
mother, which give the impression that
the parents of the man knew of the muir
der of his third wife and warned him not
to return to Hamilton. The letters are
lengthy and asked Knapp to remain away
from Hamilton. as the police were looking
for MIN. 1t was evident from what the sis
ter wrote that Knapp had expressed a de-
sire to return to Hamilton and see his
father and mother. The sister continued
by telling Knapp that he had disgraced
his parents by some awful crime commit
ted in December. The police, after read
ing the letters, came to the conclusion
that the relatives and parents of Knapp
were cognizant OF his murder of his third
wife and shielded him from the police.
The sister said she had been forbidden to
write to him by her husband, but her
great love for him caused her to write in
secret and tell him ''how the land lay in
that neighborhood since his last escapade.
In each of the letters written by the sister
she mentions the great trouble in which
Knapp had become entangled and warned
him to remain away from Hamilton. Knapp
at times since his marriage to Anna Gam
BILE insisted on visiting his relatives and
parents in company with his wife. but to
this the sister and mother objected, again
aluding to his crime.
Another letter obtained was that written
by Emma Webb, who Knapp's first
wife. This letter was written by the girl
TO Knapp. while the latter was serving a
term in the Michigan City penitentiary.
All these letters were taken by Captain
Kruger to the police station and will be
kept for a few days to see II the Ohio
authorities want them.
In the bottom of knapp's trunk, where
the letters were found, were a number of
medical books. advertisements and letters
from different detective agencies In one
of the letters were receipts and rules from
the Webster detective agency In this city.
Knapp had recently taken employment with
the Webster agency and when arrested had
his badge pinned his vest This was
taken from him and given to his wife. who
asked for IL. In the letters found ii ap-
peared that he had given the subject of
being a detective considerable thought as
he had correspondent with several agencies.
THIRD WIFE WORKED HERE
Since the arrest of Knapp several men
in this city. especially those connected with