The Washington herald., 1906-11-10

4 canrbt believe that Carl Hau can
be guilty of the crime that has been
charged against him" said President
Charles ". Needham, last night. in dis
cussing .he detention of member OF the
George Washington University faculty in
London, charged with the murder Of his
motherIn-law, pending the arrival Of the
German authorities from Baden-Baden.
Press Dispatches have told Of the crime.
and beyond this news Or. Needham
knows nothing of the case.
Il happen to know that Hau is so fixed
financially that there can be no truth in
the report that he murdered his mother
in-law for money" continued President
Needham. "A year ago, he came to me
and said that he did not need the salary
paid 10 him as instructor of Roman Law.
and suggested that he would like to turn
it into Two scholarships in Jurisprudence. /
These scholarships were accepted by the
trustees and are now in the catalogue of
the university. and he pays for them
Il also know that Mr.. Hau declined q
very lucrative position that would have
attracted many men. because of the inn
AltF--1c -riltf9s aLt1tlltt4 10 4A-
Trustees 20 Take No Action.
Our reports of the case have been so
meager that we know nothing more than
has been published in the papers. The
university viii take absolutely no action
concerning his position as a member of
the faculty until official information
comes to our hands.
I have known Mr.. Hau for seven /
years. since he became q member of my /
classes here, and he always impressed me /
as a gentleman. high born. and intel /
lectually exceptional lie came here we'll 1
educated, and particularly well versed in 1
Roman law, something unusual as the 4
good instructors in that line of study .
can be counted on the fingers Of one /
hand. He worked hard. moved up rap
idly, and succeeded with his classroom (
work Through ali my dealings with him
] Found him honest. sincere. and a gen
tlemar 50 that the story that comes 60 as
is incomprehensible. and I cannot account
for it in any way
DIR. LOrenzen says IL Is Absurd
1t is absurd 20 assert that Karl Hau
killed his mother-in-law for money or for
any other reason said Dr. Ernest Lo-
renzen. a fellow professor at the George
Washington University
Il have been associated with him dur
ing the past two years. and he is a man
of huch fine instincts that he would be
incapable of committing such crime as
he is charged with" continued Dr. Lo-
renzen.
Prof. Hau himself is a man of wealth.
and the reported story that his wife's
mother had a fortune of 100000 marks is
untrue. That is but $4,000. and as Prof.
Hau's wife would have to share that
with seven other children. her portion
would be only $4,000
AS TO the stories that Frau Molitor
and Mr. Hau We're on bad terms. if is
false. I happen to know they were the
best of friends. and Prof. Hau must feel
her death as keenly as any other member
of the family"
Or. Lorenzen stated that the courts act
more eXpeditiously in Germany than in
this country. and he expects something
definite in a few DAYS
Mr. Hau was the agent Of several big
American corporations and has made
number of business trips to Turkey with
view 10 securing oil concessions for his
companies Il was this that took him
10 Turkey on his last trip abroad.
Washington Refuses to Believe IL.
The charge against Mr. Hau. now q
leading topic in the newspapers of the
world, is commanding the interest and at
tention Of every person i'm Washington
where Mr.. Hau and family have made
their home for the past five or six years.
His friends refuse 10 believe him guilty
When twenty years Of age Mr.. Hau was
married to Lena Molitor. Of Baden-Baden
Germany. Hers was one Of the leading
families of that famous resort Of Europe.
her father being one Of the most promi-
nent physicians in Germany. Immediately
after their marriage they came to Wash
ington, where Mr.. Hau took up the study
of law at George Washington University
His entire career has been "a remarkable
and brilliant one. Before ne came to this
country he graduated with honor from the
University Of Berlin, the University Of
Freiburg. and the University Of Bologna.
In q competitive examination at the
Acadamie Of France bis record was al
most unprecedented in its briIliancy. and
for it he was awarded highest honors
Mr.. Haus father was a commissioned ,
officer Of the German army and was deco
rated with the Iron Cross by the EN-
peror for bravery on the battlefield Of
Metz He was later a member Of the
Reichstadt. and is a man of prominence
and wealth. Mr.. Hau's mother was a
German baroness, and from her he in
herited estates which make him finan-
cially independent
Upon being graduated in law by George
Washington University in this city he
was invited TO become a member Of the I
faculty, and became professor of Roman
law. which position he still holds Last
fau Mr. Hau was admitted TO the Wash
ington bar. after passing most credita-
bIe examination. /
Domestic Life Very Happy.
For some time he has lived at the
Highlands. where he was accustomed TO
entertain his friends very frequently
His domestic life seemed always most
pleasant, and he was devoted to his wife
and little girl. Olga. To know him was
CONTINUED on THIRD PAGE.