Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-07-22
KNAPP IS found GUILTY.
jury Returns Verdict of Murder in
First Degree in Case of Ohio
Wife-Slayer.
no RECOMMENDATION OF MERCY MADE.
conviction Probably Means Electro
cut1on of the Prisoner, Who Hears
sentence with CompOsure-Crimes
to Which the Convicted Man Has
Confessed.

Knapp was convicted of murder in the
first degree for the murder of his wife,
Hannah Goddard Knapp, by Judge Bel
den's jury here Thursday. The verdict
was reached at 7:30 o'clock, the jury
having been out since 1880 o'clock
Wednesday night. To the surprise Of
everybody there was no recommends
ton OF mercy and the famous criminal
must go to the electric chair. It was
thought that the long deliberation ar
gued that the degree Of the crime would
be reduced. The jury stood ten for con-
viction without mercy and two for con-
viction with mercy, being unanimously
for guilt. Repeated ballots were taken,
and shortly after seven o'clock it was
found that an agreement had been
reached. Judge Belden was sent for and
arrived about 1880. Knapp was brought
Into court by Sheriff Bisdorf There
were but few spectators present and
there was no excitement. Knapp took
his seat quietly and did not appear
alarmed. When the verdict was re-
turned convicting him without recon-
mendatfon of mercy he did not show
any sign of emotion or make any COM
ment. He seemed to have steeled him
self for the ordeal. Knapp was taken
back to Jail at once and Sheriff Bisdorf
will allow no outsiders to see him. The
result Of the trial is accepted with great
satisfaction by the public, as hope of a
conviction became low when the jury
remained out so long. Knapp's mother
and sister we're very much affected
when they heard the verdict.
The case will be carried higher on the
usual appeals, but it is generally be-
lieved that Knapp will now be electro
cuted.
A motion for a new trial was filed in
the afternoon by Knapp's counsel. It
will not be heard until next fall as At
torney Darby will go away to recuper-
ate. Knapp's relations visited him at
the Jail. The meeting was pathetic as
he tried to comfort his mother.
Crimes of Convicted Man.
The five cases to which Knapp con-
fessed February 26 to officials here are
as follows:
Emma Littelman, killed in lumber
yard at Cincinnati, June Fl, 1894.
May Eckert, murdered in room on
Walnut street, Cincinnati, August 1,
1894.
Jennie Knapp. thrown into canal at
Liberty street, Cincinnati, August 7,
1894.
Ida Gerhard, four, strangled at 1ndi-
annapolis In July, 1895.
Hannah Knapp, murdered at Hamil-
ton, September %, 1902. and thrown into
the river at Lindenwald.
Regarding the killing OF his wife,
Hannah Goddard Knapp, for whose
murder he has been convicted, he said:
When he awake the morning of the
crime he was seized with an impulse to
strangle his wife. After accomplish
ing her death he got box and nailed
her up. He hauled the body two miles
from here and threw the corpse into the
Miami river. The body was found
March in the river at New Albany,
Ind.
Knapp has spent two-thirds Of his
life in prison, but for the five murders to
which he confessed he had gone unsus-
pected until few unguarded words let
drop by him set the law upon him.
For years he had been stranger, he
admitted, bouncing upon innocent chill
dren and choking them to death. He
was twice in states prison for f1endish
assaults upon women.
Insanity was the only defense made
by his parents and sisters as we'll as by
attorneys. All of his victims were
strangled.
Knapp's first wife was Emma Stubs,
of Fort Wayne. She secured a divorce.
Knapp's fourth and surviving wife lives
at Indianapolis, where he was arrested
last February
No visitors were allowed to see Knapp
Thursday. Three hours after convic-
ton Knapp said: Il suppose it's all OF
with me-"
|: No Omcial News In London.
London, July 1.-THE foreign ONCE
here has no information of the reported
aoiz,1ro If Soma 20 is1anda 0fP tho