Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-06-14
HAU CONFESSES
WHEN WIFE DIES.
AMERICAN BREAKS DOWN AND AID
MITs MURDER OF HIS MOTH
ER-IN-LAW.
WOMAN JUMPS iNTOLAKE
Spouse of Professor Ends Life Grieving
Over Misfortunes of Husband
Now in German Prison.

Karl Hau, who has been under arrest
here for some time charged with the
murder of his mother-in-law, Frau Mo
liter, at Baden-Baden in November last,
confessed today that he was guilty of
the crime
Eau's confession followed the news
that his wife had committed suicide by
throwing herself in lake in Switzerland
whittier she had gone after the double
atiliction Of the death of her mother and
the arrest Of her husband had befaIlen
her.
Breaks Down When Wife Dies.
Hau was told of her death today, and
this eliminating tragedy apparently was
too much for him. as he broke down
and confessed that he was guilty of his
WlfeS mothers death, Il crime he had
hitherto strenuously denied.
Hau's case has attracted much atten-
ton III Germany, England and the United
States. Although German by birth, he
had lived for some time in Washington,
where he was we'll known both socially
and in the legal profession Money
troubles prompted Hau's crime.
Confession Is Written Down.
uau, who has been in poor health ever
since his arrest, trembled when the gov
ernOr Of the prison Informed him that
his wife was dead and he appeared to be
on the verge Of collapse. He was told
that Mrs. Hau drowned herself yester-
day in a lake near Pfaeftikon, Switzer-
land. The news made Hau break down
completely and, taking advantage of the
situation, the governor questioned him
about the crime with which he was
charged. Then, i'll broken tones, Hau
admitted that he murdered his wife's
mother, which up to the present he had
denied. The confession of the prisoner
was then taken down III writing and will
be used against him at his approaching
trial Hau was in such a state of nerv-
BUSINESS when taken back to his cell that
the physician was sent for to attend
to him.
CrIme a Most Unusual One.
The crime of iau has attracted con-
siderable attention ewing 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 III desperate financial difficulties.
This however, has not been satisfactory
to many persons, who insist that he is
insane, although the official examination
OF the prisoner resulted in his being de-
clared absolutely sane on May IS.
Hau was born in Germany about TWEEN
ty-sevcn years ago, studied at the Uni
versities of Treiburg and Berlin and
went to Washington some four years
ago with his wife and 4-year-Old daugh-
ter. He married Lena Molitor when he
was student of 10, against the wishes
of her mother, Frau Molitor Mrs Hau.
who was about & years older than her
husband, is understood to have had a
dover of $4,000.
Hau's Father Wealthy.
The wife entrusted her dover to her
- a hn LOT ny Il, Il
George Washington university in 1904,
alter having passed his examinations
brilliantly and earning the degrees of
A. NJ, and l.. l.. D., and later he was
appointed professor of Roman law. The
same year he was admitted to the bar
and practiced his profession in Washing
ton up to the time of his going abroad
with bis family, about a year ago. Hau's
father was wealthy and Il former mem
Der OF the Reichstag and his mother was
baroness. The father of his wife was
court physician of the Grand Duke Of
Baden.
Plots Against Mother-in-Law.
After leaving the United States Hau
went to Constantinople with the intention
of obtaining q valuable concession from
the Turkish government i'll connection
with an oil depot at TshibukIi, but he APP
pears to have been unsuccessful. lie
then went to Baden-Baden with his fam
lily to visit his mOther-in-law, Frau Moli-
tor, and then best relations seemed to
exist between them. Towards the end
of October Hau left Baden-Baden to
return to the United States, according to
his announced intention, and sent his
mother-in-law 4 false telegram dated
Paris, asking her to go and see a married
daughter there. The Justification of the
message was discovered and inquiries
on the subject were still proceeding
when, on November D, Frau Molitor re
ceiyed Il telephone message at her home
in Baden-Baden, asking her to go to the
postoftice and get a parcel which had
reached there for her.
Shot in the Back.
Accompanied by her young daughter
Frau Molitor Immediately started for
the postoffice, and while passing through
u quiet street was shot from behind,
the bullet piercing her heart. The
assassin wore 4 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 preceded him. There
he was taken into custody November 7,
the investigation of the police of Baden,
Baden having connected him with the
murder of his mOther-in-law.
Soon after Hau was brought to Ger
many Mrs Hau went to Switzerland.
For some time past efforts were being
made to discover what had become of
her dover. about $4,000, which she had
entrusted to her husband. During the
course of these investigations it was dis
covered that his motheT-in-law left $120,-
600 and considerable realty to his wife
and children and that the greater part
Of the estate was - 20 to Mrs. Hau on
the death OF her mother. which seems to
furnish the real motive for Hau's crime.
Admitted Guilt to Wife.
Mrs. Hau came to Karlsruhe two days
ago and had Il long talk with her hus-
band and it is understood that he then
told her he intended to confess that
he had murdered Frau Molitor. as it was
no use 10 continue the struggle against
the testimony any longer.
Mrs. Hau left the prison in state of
the utmost depression and went to the
village of Pfaettikon, where she drowned
herself that night.
On arriving at Pfaeffkon Mrs. Hau
went direct to a bathing establishment
on d small lake and requested to be given
a separate dressing room. The attend
ants later saw her swimming out in the
lake but soon afterwards they observed
that she was no longer moving. 4 boat
man rowed out TO the spot and brought
the body ashore, where q physician who
was hurriediy sent for attempted in vain
TO revive her. 4 long farewell letter was
----><.r1-.-----zs---