Gilpin observer., 1903-03-05
KILLS FIVE WOMEN
OHIO eLuEsEARp coNFEsSEa
WHOLESALE MURDER.
Albert Knapp Tells Police Of Hamii-
ton, O., He choksd His Victims to
Death With His Hanes-Two OF
Them Were His Wives.

Death With His Hanes-Two OF
Them Were His Wives.
| Hamilton, o., Feb. 81. Alfred
Knapp. the Indianapolis maz arressed
Wednesday. who confessed to the
murder of his third wife, has made
full confession Of five murders.
Among them is that of Ida Gebhard.
the West indianapolis girl who was
found murdered in stable in 1895
Knapp's confession. which was
sworn to before Mayor Bosch. is as
follows: "On Jan. 81, 1894, killed
Emma Littleman in a lumber yard in
Gest street. Cincinnati. On Aug. !,
1894. killed May Eckert in Walnut
street. opposite the Young Mems
Christian association. in Cincinnati.
On Aug. 7. 1894, killed my wife.
Jennie Connors Knapp, under the
canal bridge in Liberty street, Gin.
cnnati, and threw her into the canal.
In indianapolis in July, 1895, killed
Ida Gebhard. On Dec. %, 1902. I
killed MY wife. Annie Knapp, at 339
South Fourth street in Hamilton and
threw her into the river out by Lin
denwald. This Is the truth"
Knapp's confession stamps him as
the most depraved criminal run to
earth since the crimes of H. H.
Holmes were laid bare in 1895 Knapp
has served five prison sentences.
three for larceny and two for assault.
He has served two terms at Jefferson
vile, Ind, one at Columbus, O., one
at Joliet. ILL.,, and one at Michigan
City, Ind, to which prison he was
sent from Indianapolis in 1896 for as
sault on Bessie Draper, . child. Knapp
has paid no attention to the repeated
orders Of his attorneys and Of his sis
ter not to talk about his crimes.
Knapp not only told how he killed his
victims. but he acted 1t, and when he
iendishness. His fingers drew up
with tension and looked like the
talons Of bird Of prey.
'T always kill from behind" he said,
from between his closed teeth. "T get
them in front of me. Then I clutch
then by the throst. placing my knee
on the back and bend them over.
They struggle, but not long. They
look into my face, but I don't mind
that"
After talking on the crimes to fill
many pages. he was asked: Are you
sorry for the murders you have done?"
"Yes. am" he replied. slowly.
when think Of Hannah and the rest
I feel bad. I don't know why
killed Hannah. She was = good wife
to me. I don't know why did 1t.
always had a peculiar feeling Of salts
faction when killed q woman or a
child. No. cannot say that 1 ever
had feeling Of regret. Once or twice
worried over the fear OF being ar.
rested. Well. they have rot me. ana
guess that they will send me up for
life. Now don't try to scare me BY
saying that I will - 70 the chair
They won't do that to Re. will they?"
Even since silence has been en-
forced upon Knapp he seems to be
gloating over tho s6asatioa caused
by his confession Of the Hannah God
dard (wlfe Ne. - murder at Hamilton
! and his additional ceafessions Of the
murders Of Mary Ekhart. Emma Lit
tieman and Jennie Connor (wife No.
p in Cince1aeti and the murder of the
child. Ida dd6hardt ut IAdianapouis.
The ofncers believe Knapp has
"strangled" from the east to Kansas
City.
Every possible effort 10 being made
here to hnd the body Of Hannah God
dard Knapp. 50 as to establish her
death and the fafts for IN indictment.
Three indictments AGAINST Knapp will
be had at Cincinnati so as to make
sure Of . trial Of some one case in
the near future. Il Is conceded that
Knapp viii never b tried On more
than one, case. - either Of the cases
IN Cincinnati win take him to the
| electric chair.
a..