The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1907-06-13
HAU admits KILLING
, HIS M0THER-M-LAW
PROFESSOR BREAKS DOWN WHEN
INFORMED OF WIFE's
SUICIDE.
MURDER MYSTERY is
SOLVED BY CONFESSION

Greed Was Motive of Crime, as Wife
Was to Receive Large Sum at
Mothers Death-Prisoner Now In
German Cell.
Karlsruhe, Germany, June 10.-Karl
Hau, professor of Roman law at the
George Washington university, Wash
ington, D. c., who is in prison here
charged with the murder of his
mother-in-law, Frau Molitor, at Baden
Baden last November, confessed Sat
urday that he was guilty of the crime.
His confession followed receipt of the
news that his wife had committed sui
eide by throwing herself in a lake
near Pfaehkou, Switzerland, whittier
she Went after the death Of her
mother and the arrest of her husband.
Hau was told of his wife's death,
and this eliminating tragedy appar-
broke down and confessed that he
was guilty of numbering the mother of
his wife, a crime he had hitherto
strenuously denied.
Crime Arouses Keen Interest.
The crime of Karl Hau has at
tracted considerable attention owing
to the high standing of the prisoner,
his intellectual gifts, and many pecu-
liar aspects of the case, which up to
the present have only been explained
by the fact that Hau was in desper-
ate financial diff culties
This, however, has not been salts
factory to many persons, who insist
that he is insane, although the official
examination Of the prisoner resulted
in his being declared absolutely sane
on May Is,
Hau was born in Germany about
81 years ago, studied at the universe
ties of Freiburg and Rhelin and went
to Washington some four years ago
with his wife and f~our-year-old daugh-
ter. He married Lena Molitor when
he was a student of 10, against the
wishes of her mother, Frau Molitor.
Mrs. Hau, who was about six years
older than her husband, is understood
to have had 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
A. M. and LID, and later he was
appointed professor of Roman law.
Practiced Law in Washington.
The same year he was admitted to
the bar and practiced his profession
in Washington up to the time of his
going abroad with his family about a
and a former member of the reichstag
and his mother was a baroness. The
father of his wife was court physician
of the grand duke of Baden.
After leaving the United States Hau
went to Constantinople with the in
cession from the Turkish government
in connection with an oil depot at
Tshibukli, but he appears to have been
unsuccessful. He then went to 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 to the United
States, according to his announced in
tention, and sent his mother-in-law a
false telegram, dated Paris, asking
her to go and see a married daughter
there. The Justification of the mes
sage was discovered and inquiries on
the subject were still proceeding when
on November S, Frau Molitor received
a telephone message at her home in
Baden-Baden, asking her to- go to the
postoffice and get a parcel which had
reached there for her.
~ Woman Shot on Street.
Accompanied by her young daugh-
ter, Frau Molitor Immediately started
for the postofhce, 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 declare 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 on
November Z, the investigation of the
police of Baden-Baden having con
nected him with the murder of his
mother-in-law.
Soon after Hau was brought to Ger.
many Mrs. Hau went to Switzerland.
Fol- some time past she has been max.
ing efforts to discover what had be.
come of the $4,000 which she had
inrusted to her husband:
During these Investigations it de.
veloped that Mrs. Hau's father left
$125,000 and considerable realty to
his wife and children, and that the
greater part of the estate was to go
to Mrs. Hau on the death of her
mother, which seems to. furnish the
veal motive for Hau's crime.
Creates Sensation at Washington.
Washington, June 10.-Prof. Hau's