The Washington herald., 1907-07-21
HAU WITNESS GONE
Man Who Threatened Frau
MOlitOr Disappears.
DIETZ SEEKS TO FIGHT DUEL
Prosecutor Who Is Challenged Re
fuses 60 Receive SecOnds-FclION-
prisoner of Accused Professor Has
Secret Which He VIII Not Divuise.
Public Sympathy Is Turning.
From Employees of the Panama Canal.

Karlsruhe, Germany, July 2o.-The pen
dulum is RAPIDLY swinging toward Karl
Hau Public sympathy. SO long directed
against the former Washington college
professor, accused Of numbering his
mother-ln-law. Frau Moitor, because Of
the damaging pre-trial statements attack
ing him. instigated by the prosecution, IS
turning in his direction.
Sensational developments in the trial
to-day, throwing an altogether different
light on the case, are responsible for this
change.
The appearance in the case to-day Of
a new witness who IS believed to have
evidence that win help materially to-
ward clearing Hau, has been the strong
est factor in bringing him public SYM
pathy As the opinion Of jurors can gen
orally be judged by the sentiment of the
public. it is safe 10 say that his chances
Of acquittal generally are better than at
any time since the trial began.
Hau's Lawyer Challenges to Duel.
The bringing out by the defense. too.
that former servant in the Molitor
home, discharged by Frau Molitor only q
few hours before the murder, had threat
ened her and has disappeared completely
since the crime, was another strong point
in his favor
Backing up these evidences Of innocence
is the challenge Of his attorney, Herr
Dietz, to Prosecutor BleiCheT 70 fight
duel That Dietz is willing 10 risk his
life in his clients cause is regarded as
significant Of the impression Of Hau's in
nocence which the man most closely con-
nected with him bears.
The new witness in the case who prom
iscs to give sensational testimony which
may so far to clear Hau, is an artist
named LeuCk. He was prisoner with
Hau for a time in the Karlsruhe lookup,
and it is said that Hau cOrhded freely IN
him, especially just after Mrs. Hau's sui
eide.
Witness Refuses to Tell Secret.
Lenck was called to the stand to-day
for a few minutes. He declined to talk
unless Hau would give him permission 10
tell of their condolences. This Hau re-
fused to do. and even in the face Of
threatened imprisonment for contempt
Lenck refused TO testify.
Lenck's manner and bearing on the
stand were Indicative that he could tell
much that would benefit Hau. and he is
guarding as zealously as the defendant
the secret which most spectators believe
Hau is keeping back. That this hidden
fact contains the real key 70 the mystery
is generally believed.
While Lenck to-day escaped answering
it is believed he will soon reveal Haus
confessions. Already steps have been
taken to force him to testify. Il is be-
licved that before many days Lenck will
furnish the greatest sensation cf the trial.
Declines TO Receive Dietz's Second.
In bringing out the facts regarding a
servant threatening Frau MolitOr because
he had been discharged. Hau's case was
greatly strengthened. His attorney will
insist that until Wieland. the former en-
ployee, is brought into court 10 explain
where he was at the time Of the murder,
the prosecutions case is weak.
With a duel in prospect between Prose-
cutor BleicheT and DietZ. Haus defender.
interest in the trial has been further
aroused. Bleicher refused TO receive
Dietzs seconds. but the latter says he
will send a challenge by mail. and that
Bleicher must fight, OF he will brand the
prosecutor as a coward throughout Ger
many.
Han Had Come 30 See Olga.
At the evening session the judge decided
to impose a fine on Lenck for refusing 10
testify. Thereupon Hau arose and said
rather than see Lenck punished he de-
cided to make an explanation. He had
returned to the continent he said, to see
Olga, for whom he had conceived a viO-
lent passion. He wanted to meet her be-
fore he returned to the United States.
She knew nothing OF his intention. and
( he had assumed disguise in order TO
carry out his purpose until recognized,
Hau admitted the correctness Of the tes-
timcny OF all the witnesses regarding his
actions in Baden Baden. and said that he
telephoned with the sole purpose of get
ting Frau Moltor away from the house.
When later he saw Olga leave the house
with her mother he was so disappointed
over the Illustration Of his plan that he
went 10 the station at full speed and had
heard no shot fred.
Afiidavits from Prof. Schoenfeld. OF
George Washington University, and Geo-ge
McClanahan, a lawyer. Of Washington,
were read Prof. HOche. of Freiburc.
and Prof. AschaffenbTrger, Of Cologne.
testified as to Hau'5 mental soundness
but they declared that he was eccentric.
The court adjourned until Monday,