Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23

From sketch made in London for 1.-The News OF
the World
only to find that the telegram was hoax
At the moment any explanation seemed to
be impossible. but it has since been thought
that this telegram had some connection
with the murder itself. On the day of the
tragedy Mrs. Molitor received a telephone
message at her house at Baden-Baden ask
ing her to go straight to the post office
and meet some friends there who wished
to transact some business with her. With
out delay Mrs Molitor started off. She took
with her young unmarried daughter and
the two set out on the walk to the mother s
death.
The way to the post office lay through the
Kaiser Willelmstrasse They were walking
quietly and unsuspectingly along this we'll
known street when a shot was fired from
behind. and without a sound Mrs. Molitor
fell dead. The shot went through the
heart. and death was instantaneous. Pass
ersby caught just glimpse of the man
who fired the shot. In appearance he seem
ed of medium height. about thirty years of
age. and he wore a beard which was
thought to be a false one. There can be
no doubt that the sender Of the telephone
message was either the assassin or the per-
son who hired him.
The Hunt for Hau.
On inquiry the police discovered that the
no business which the lady could possibly
have to transact Immediately the detec-
tives started on the quest of the murderer
suspicion fell on Karl Hau. the son-in-law
of the murdered woman. 1t was known
that she wealthy. that he was rathei
pushed for money and that they had not
been particularly good terms recently.
Other family Incidents confirmed the police
of their suspicious. All over Germany they
pursued the man. and one small town after
another was searched. Finally they came
to London and Immediately made their way
to the Hotel Cecil. where Hau and his wife
and family were staying.
The detectives were in evening Dress and
when they lounged into the hotel nobody
took any particular notice of them. There
were three of them. and in the most casual
way they inquired whether Mr.. Hau was in
He came to them and they told him they
were police officers and read the warrant to
him. Hau replied:
This is all misunderstanding
Later he asked the detectives: Don't
you know where the murder was commit
ted?"
The detective replied: 1.-THE telegram
came from Baden-Baden."
Hau then remarked
Il have Just arrived from there, but what
you say accounts for the two kilograms
my wife received today saying her mother
was dying. Good God! Am accused Of
numbering her?'
Hau was then taken to Bow street police
station and when he was charged he made
no reply Upon being searched the detec-
tives found on him $500 francs in French
notes. two G5 Bank of England notes,
e3 in gold and sixty francs in gold and a
gold watch. In kit bag and dressing case
found at the Hotel Cecil were 80 marks
in gold and a revolver loaded in five
chambers. On being questioned by Hau's
counsel at Bow street the detective had to
admit that not single chamber Of the re-
volver had been fired.
When arrested Hau's wife and children
were without any money and in addition a
bill of $50 was owing at the Cecil. At the
police court an application was made to the
magistrate that some of the money in Hau's
possession should be handed over to his
family. The magistrate agreed that 24O
should be allowed to them. Later Hau
applied for E100 to be allowed, G70 Of which
Is needed to pay debts owing in Washing
ton. At the first hearing Hau made a
suggestion to the magistrate that for thu
sake of expediting matters he was willing
to waive any extradition proceedings and
to return to Germany there and then and
to face the thing right through but Sir
Robert de Rutzen, the magistrate could
only regret that he had no power to do this.
Evidence is Slender.
So far as can be judged at present the
evidence against the prisoner is extremely
slender, and 1t is believed here that unless
the German authorities are able to quickly
bring forward some very vital proofs there
Is no doubt that there Is not sufficient evil
dence upon which to convict. The only
reason for even assuming his guilt is the
motives that might be attributed to him.
It seems apparent that the mother-in-law
was well-to-do and was not disposed to
help the son-in-law. who, from a monetary
point of view, was doing none too well at
his profession. The German authorities
seem to assume that because Hau would
no doubt have liked to have secured part
Of the wealth of his mother-in-law direct
motive for the crime is at once furnished.
The case, however, seems to promise many
more deep and mysterious features than
this.
In appearance Hau is well-built man of
middle height, clean shaver and well dress
ed and about thirty-five years of age. A
queer feature of the case Is this: Although
Hau has long been resident in America and
has been naturalized there, UP to the pres
ent he has not in this country claimed his