The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-18
SURPRISES THE COURT.
Karl Hau Anticipates the Testimony of
the Experts.

Karlsruhe. Germany, July 18.-The
trial of Karl Hau, formerly professor of
Roman law in George Washington uni
verstty, Washington, d. c., on the
charge of having murdered his mother
in-law, Frau Molitor, in Baden-Baden
on November 6, of last year, was resum-
ed today.
Hau appeared as cheerful and conf
dent as yesterday. = He surprised the
court by making important admissions
concerning incidents of which he had
hitherto refused to speak, When the
presiding judge called hand writing ex-
perts to identify Haus writing in the
dispatch sent from Paris calling Frau
Molitor to that city, Hau anticipating
the testimony, arose and said that in
order to expedite the case he would ad-
NIT that he wrote this dispatch. The
Judge inquired whether he had sent it
off, but this Hau declined to answer
He also refused to say whether his wife
was aware that this message had been
sent.
Philip Uhlig. merchant of Frank
fort-on-tile- Main, testified he saw man
on November g. in the Frankfort rail-
way station wearing a false beard and
moustache The judge here asked Hau
to put on similar disguises and Uhlig
then recognized him as the same man.
Anna Lerch, who left Washington
with Mr. and Mrs Hau in the capacity
of a maid servant, testified that when
Hau left London to return to the con-
tinent he cautioned his wife to keep his
London address secret The wife asked
if she might write to her mother and
Hau replied, "Of course"
c. A Bratter, a newspaper man of
Constantinople testified that while Hau
was in the Turkish capital he played the
role of a man of wealth. spent money
lavishly, chartered yacht, organized
revels at a hotel with dancing girls, and
boasted of his wild life as a student.
He claimed to have an immense income
and showed a passion for collecting
precious stones.
Frau Mueller, a sister of Hau's STEP
mother, testified that she accompanied
Hau, senior to London. Upon hearing
of the arrest of Hau she sought an in
terview with him in prison. She found
him much altered and in a state of great
mental excitement. He gave her the i'm
preston of a crazy man, holding his
arms rigidly to his sides and then touch
ing his forehead in singular manner.
She said to him: Are you guilty,
Karl?''
To this the prisoner answered: mo, I
did not do it,
Hau boarded with Frau Mueller while
attending the classical preparatory
school at Treves She said he was
good boy and a model student, but that
he commenced to show signs of anna
tory alterations as soon as he left the
school Referring to Hau's elopement
with Lima Molitor, the witness said the
couple went to Switzerland where they
were visited by Mr.. Hau, senior. They
soon after ran out of funds and were in
despair. She was informed, the witness
continued, that the couple intended to
commit suicide and that Hau had shot
at Lima but missed her. Lima then re-
ouested Hau to shoot a second time, but
the mans courage failed him.. They
then planned to end their lives by
poison. but this project also was aban-
doned. Upon hearing of his sons trou-
BILE Mr.. Hau. senior, decided that the
couple must marry go to America and
start life anew. He undertook to assist
them financially.