Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-08
HAU BREAKS DOWN
Suicide of His Wife Forced a Confession From His
 Lips

hdTl f1du, WHO mas D0en uHueT dTTeoI here for some time charged with the murder of his mother-in-law, Frau Moliter, at Baden Baden, in Novem5 Der last, confessed to-day that he was guilty of the crime. Hau's confes- sion followed the news that. his wife had committed suicide by throwing I herself in a lake in Switzerland whither she had gone after the double afliction of the death of her mother and the arrest of her husband had be- fallen her.
 | Hau was told of her death to-day, and this eliminating tragedy appar- ently was too much for him as he broke down and confessed that he was guilty of his wife's mothers death, a crime he had hitherto strenuously denied.
 l Hau's case has attracted much at- tention in Germany, England and the Limited States. Although German by birth he had lived for some time in Washington, where he was well known both socially and in the legal lprofession. Money troubles prompt ed Hau's crime.
 Hau's confession was made to the governor of the prison.
 l The confession was taken down in writing, and will be used against him at his approaching trial. Hau was in such state of nervous prostration when taken back to his cell that the prison physician was sent for to at tend to him.
 | The crime of Karl Hau has attract ed great attention owing to the high standing of the prisoner, his intel lectual gifts and many peculiar as poets of the case.
 \ Hau was born In Germany about 27 years ago studied at the. universities of Frieburg and Berlin and later went to Washington with his wife and four-year-old daughter. He mar ried Lena Molltor when he was a stu dent of 19, against the wishes of her mother, Frau Molitor. Mrs Hau is understood to have had dover of $5O,000, which she entrusted to her husband. The latter graduated from George Washington university in 1904 after having passed his examinations brilliantly, resulting i'll his heing ap- pointed professor of Roman law. The same year he was admitted to the Dar and practieed hs profession in Wash ingtos up to the time of his going abroad with his family about year ago. Hau's father was former meme Der of the Reichstag aud his mother was a baroness.
 | After leaving the United States Hau first went to Constantinople and later to Baden Baden with his fau'ily to visit bis mother-in-law, Frau Mol itor. Towards the end of October Hau left Baden Baden to return to the United States, according to his an- nounced intention. On November ,, Frau Molitor received telephone message at her home In Baden Baden, asking her to go to the post office and get d parcel. Frau Molltor started for the post office and while passing through q quiet street was shot from behind and fell dead With a bullet through her heart. The assassin. q man who wore false beard, escaped to Frankfort, and from there went to London, to which city his fife had previously preceded him. He was ar rested in London November ., the in- vestigatlon of the police of Baden Baden having clearly connected Hau with the murder of his mother-in-law. due mainly to the fact that a servant at the latter's house, who received a telephone message calling Frau Mol rtoi to the opst office said she be- lieyed it was Hau who had spoken to her. Hau protested that he was in- nocent, but his extradition was grant ed and he left London January , and was placed in jail here January s.
 Soon after Hau was brought to Germany Mrs Hau went to Switze-- land, where she resided until her death Thursday. investigations dc veloped that Mrs Hau's father left considerable property to his wife and children, and that the larger part of the estate was to go to Mrs Hau upon the death of her nlonther. which seems to furnish the real motive for Hau's crime.
 | MES hdu CdLnt tO haiistuhc hso days ago and had a long talk with her husband, and It Is understood that he then told her that he intended to confess that be mad murdsrE Frau MoIltor, and 1t was no use ts continue the struggle agSInst the tes- timony any longer. Mrs Hau left the prison in a state of the utmost depIes- sion, and went to the village of Pfaefiken. where she drowned herself that night.