The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-03

Pleaded Not Guilty to the Charge of
killing Wife No. 3.

HAMILTON, o. March 2-Aifred A
Knapp, the ''strangler,' was arraigned to-
day in the Police Court for the murder of
Hannah Goddard and pleaded not guilty.
A crowd of people was at police headquar
ters and many reporters were on hand.
Knapp left the Jail in charge of Sheriff
Bisdorf and Chief Kuemmerlng in a cab
at 1855 He was not handcuffed and was
treated with consideration. Before the ar
raignment he sat quietly in Police Court
chatting with the officers. He was talkative
and told the story of how horse kicked
him on the head when he was five years
old He wore a neat brown suit and white
shirt and collar He was clean shaven and
looked far better than ever before. No
lawyer accompanied him to Police Court.
His sister. Mrs. Sadie Wenzel, of Cincin-
natl, was the only member of the family
with him. She had brought clothing for her
brother, so that the prisoner made a good
appearance. Knapp said his sister was
sticking TO him because she thought he
was crazy.
Knapp made known what his preliminary
plea would be late last night TO his sister,
Mrs. Wenzel, with whom he had long con-
ference in the county jail in the presence of
Jailer Clark and Mrs Bisdorf. the shcriff' s
wife. 1t was the second visit of knapp's
sister to the Jail. On her first visit Knapp
was allowed to see her In a private room
Last night, however, she was allowed to
see her brother in his cell. The statement
given out early this morning that the pris-
oner would not be arraigned to-day was
to prevent the gathering of the throng
that would have assembled had the fact
become known. Mrs. WenZel talked with
Knapp before he was arraigned and sat be-
side him during the proceedings and even
spoke in his behalf
Knapp stood up and Police Clerk Weber
read the affidavit charging him with chok-
ing Hannah Goddard. wife No. 3, to death.
Mayor Bosch explained to the prisoner his
rights and asked him TO plead. Not
guilty. he said. Asked If he wished pre-
liminary hearing. Knapp said, II suppose /
might we'll
Mrs Wenzel then arose and explained
that no attorney had been yet engaged for
Knapp and she would arrange for counsel
and notify the authorities here at once of
his plea. Knapp was taken back to the jail
as quietly as he left 1t. Mrs. Wenzel, after
a long private talk with Mayor Bosch. fol-
lowed the prisoner to the jail and there
had another confidential talk with him,
after which she left for Cincinnati to secure
the services of an attorney.
I'D wash my hands Of Alfred if did not
know that he is insane, she said but
now / cannot desert him.
Knapp conducted himself in a cool. mat
ter-of-fact way throughout his arraign-
ment. 1t is understood Mayor Bosch told
Mrs. Wenzel they must prepare for the
preliminary examination within few days.
Owing to the fact that Knapp pleaded not
guilty to-day, and that he has not secured
counsel, the date of his preliminary hear
ing has not yet been fixed. His sister, Mrs
Sadie Wentzel, is now seeking counsel in
Cincinnati. No local attorneys have been
employed. Prosecutor Gard and Judge
Belden had a consultation this afternoon In
reference to calling special grand jury.
but no conclusion was reached.
The developments to-day show that the
family of Knapp intend to press the defense
of insanity to the last. Fear of the elec-
trio chair, along with the pleading of his
relatives, who think they can prove that he
is insane and the failure of the police to
find the womans body, lent reason to
Knapp's plea of not guilty. 1t is thought
that whatever will be his punishment for
any of the murders in Hamilton Cincin-
natl and Indianapolis, he can gain a .Iong
respite ty lighting even in the face of his
own confessions.
Knapp was accorded the privilege of nam
ing the day for preliminary hearing. He
sat with his hands folded during the ar
raignment, and seemed TO be the most in
different person In the courtroom He
would have asked for immediate pre-
liminary hearing but for the objections OF
Mrs. WeIitZel, the sister, to whom he lis
tens in everything. He seems TO believe
that his folks VIII prove him insane, and
that the worst fate that awaits him is
commitment to an asylum