The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-05
Has a Conference with the Murderer
I'm Jail and Learns that His
Confessions Are True.
MOTIVE OF THE MURDERER
WANTED TO DISGRACE THE RELA-
TIvES OF WIFE NO. 3,
Therefore He Tried to Make Himself
rs Notorious ms POssible-His
Latest Accusation.

HAMILTON, o., March 4.-Aurora Gam
BILE Knapp. of Indianapolis. fourth wife of
Alfred A. Knapp, saw her husband to-
day. When she arrived from Indianapolis
she was driven direct to the Jail. In COM
pany with the deputy sheriff and jailer
she was admitted into the presence of
Knapp. She cried bitterly and showed that
she was greatly moved. She asked Knapp
if his confession of the horrible murders
was true, and he answered that it was.
Knapp pleaded with her to remain in HAM
ilton, but she refused to do so, saying that
she would return at once to Indianapolis.
She would not belive the confessions un-
til Knapp himself told her they were true.
The reason for the making of all of his
confessions was given by Knapp to his
sister. Mrs. Sadie Wenzel, to-day. The
prisoner harbors i'll will against his sister.
Mary King, and her husband, and does not
attempt to conceal 1t when he charges that
they betrayed him. They told on me-"
he said, $50 / just thought L would tell
everything, and If they were looking for
disgrace they could have the disgrace of 1t
all. 1 hope they are satisfied now. L would
like to have had the money to bury Han
NAH" said Knapp to-day when told that
there was question of the identity of
the body, but as the Kings have butted
in and say they are going to bury her they
can do it," 1t is believed the body will be
turned over to the Kings at Cincinnati
1t was decided not to confront Knapp
with the body of Hannah Goddard wife
tor Gard. He did not approve of putting
the prisoner, now on the verge of serious
breakdown, through the ordeal. Il cannot
see how 1t would benefit the prosecution.
and it might result seriously said Mr..
Gard Miss Ida Sterritt, of this city.
half-sister of Hannah Knapp. was to-day
shown the jewelry. She at once declared
woman. Another half-sister afterward
also identified the jewelry. making the
fourth relative to identify these articles.
of murder. The woman l killed. he said.
was no better than 1 am. She committed
murder and l know 1T. because she told
me so herself. Maybe 1 oughtn't to say
nevertheless. 1 don't mean the Eckhart
case, although she helped me kill Mary
Eckhart But in Cincinnati, in May, 1894.
said it was an accident. The baby was
only few months old and she had to get
rid of it. One night she ran up to the City
her arms. 1t was still breathing, but almost
dead. and 1t died in a short time. She told
the hospital people that she had found it's
head buried under the covers of the bed
when she woke up and did not know how
il occurred. Her word was never ques-
toned, and she was never suspected of the
murder. Hannah told me all about 1t her
self"
The funeral of the murdered woman will
take place from the morgue tomorrow
afternoon.
The relatives of Knapp have employed
Pulison, Heintz a. Darby and John M.
Thomas, jr.. of Cincinnati. to defend him,
and the case as it now stands will be siren
uously fought out in the court here No
time has yet been fixed for Knapp's prelim-
mary hearing. but it may be set for next
Tuesday.
Prosecuting Attorney Gard said tonight
that he had decided not to allow Knapp to
see the body of his last victim. Knapp was
shown the ring and other jewelry found on
the body and identified 1t as having be-
longed to his wife,