Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-08
KARL HAU KILLED
MOTHER-|N -LAW
IN BADEN BADEN
When Told of His Wife's SuiCife
He Breaks Down and Makes
a Confession.
MRS. HAU BROWNS HERSELF
After an Interview With the Prisoner,
During Which He Threatened
to Tell ALL
HAU HAD MANY RARE GIFTS
Because of His High Standing and
Intellectual Attachments His Ac-
quaintances in This City
Would Not at First Be-
leve Him Guilty.

KARLSRUHE, Germany, June S.-Karl
Washington University, Washington, D. c.,
who Is in prison here charged with the
murder of his mother-in-law. Frau Molitor,
was visited by the governor of the prison
today and asked 10 prepare himself for some
bad news. The prisoner, who has been in
poor health ever since his arrest, trembled
and when the governor informed him that
his wife was dead he appeared to be on the
verge of collapse. He was then told that
Mrs. IIau drowned herself yesterday in a
lake near Pfaefhkon, Switzerland. The
news made Ifau break down completely,
and, taking advantage of the situation, the
governor questioned him about the crime
with which he was charged. Then, in
broken tones. Hau admitted that he muir
dered his wife's mother, which up to the
present he had strenuousy denied. The
confession Of the prisoner then taken
down in writing, and will be used against
him at his approaching trial Hau was in
such a state of nervous prostraton when
taken back to his cell that the prison ply
stefan was sent for to attend him.
Declared Sane
The crime Of Karl Hau has attracted con-
siderable attention. owing to the high
standing of the prisoner, his intellectual
gifts and many peculiar aspects of the case,
which up to the present have only been
explained by the fact that Hau was In
desperate financial difficulties. This. how
ever. has not been satisfactory to many
persons, who insist that he is insane, al
though the official examination of the pris-
oner resulted in his being declared absolute
ly sane or May is.
Hau was born in Germany about twenty
seven years ago. studied at the UNIVERSE
ties Of Freihurg and Berlin, and went to
Washington some four years ago with his
wife and four-year-o daughter. He mar
ried Lena Molitor when he was a student of
nineteen. against the wish of her mother.
Frau Molitor. Mrs. Hau, who was about
six years older than her husband is under
stood to have a dover of $4,000. which
she intrusted to her husband. The latter
graduated from the George Washington
University In 1904 after having passed his
examinations brilliantly and earning the
degrees of AN and LID. and later he
was appointed professor OF Roman law.
Admitted to the Bar.
The same year ne was admitted to the
bar and practccd his profession in Wash
jngton up TO the time of his going abroad
with his family about a year ago. Haus
father was wealthy and former member
OF the recastag, and his mother a
baroness. The father of his wife was
court physician of the Grand Duke of
Eadeu
After leaving the United States Hau went
t. Cuus,antinople with the object OF oh
tanning a valuable concession from the
Turkish government in connection with
an oil depot at TshibukN, but he appears
to have been unsuccessful. He then went
10 Baden Baden with his family to visit
his mother-in-law, Frau Molitor. and the
best relations seemed to exist between
them. Toward the end of October Hau left
Baden Baden To return 10 the United States,
according TO his announced Intentions and
sent his mother-in-law a false telegram,
dated Paris. asking her TO go and see
married daughter there. The Justification
Of the message was discovered and in
Guiries on the subject were still proceed
tng when, on November .. Frau Mol!tor re-
Ceived n telephone message al her home in
Baden Baden asking her 10 go TO the post
office and get parcel which had reached
there for her.
Identified at Frankfort.
Accompanied by her young dduG liter,
Frau Molitor Immediately started for
the post office and while passing through
a quiet street was shot from behind the
bullet piercing her heart. The assassin
wore a false beard, and the police claim
he was the person who called up Frau
Molitor on the telephone. Hau appeared
next in Frankfort, and from there went
to London, to which city his wife had
previously preceded him He was taken
into custody in London. November Z, the
Investigation by the police of Eaden
Baden having connected him with the
murder of his mother-in-law. When ar
ralgned at the Bow street police court
Hau protested his innocence, but lis eX-
tradition was granted, and he was placed
in Jail here January s. Later he was
taken to Frankfort, where he was iden-
titled as the man who wore the false
beard on the day of the murder. AS
many people claimed he was insane, Hau
was examined by Prof. Hoche and others
At the University Clinic at Frieburg in