The Washington herald., 1907-07-18
KARL HAU ON TRIAL
First Day of Proceedings Is
Bats for the Professor.
WOMAN'S HEART II COURT
Prisoner, Wen Clad and Cheerful,
Makes Contradictory Statements in
Truth of Some of the Evidence
that Is Presented Against Him.

Karlsruhe, Germany, July T.-The trial
of Kari Hau. charged with the u .sr
of his mother-in-law. Frau AIolitor. In
Baden-Baden on the evening Of No
vember g. 1906 began In this city to-day
Hau was at one time professor Of
Roman law in George Washington Tui-
versity, Washington. d. c. he practiced
law in Washington up 20 the time Of
his going abroad with his family. about
"a year ago. After the alleged murder
he fed To London, where he was taken
into custody. Later he was returned 10
Germany and as many people claimed
he was insane the question Of his men
tai condition was thoroughly investi-
gated, with the result that he was for
mally declared 10 De ia his right mind.
Mrs. Hau committed suicide by drown
ing in June Of this year, leaving a fare
well letter, in which she said she could
no longer bear the sorrow Of living apart
from her husband.
It was once reported that Hau had
confessed 60 the murder OF Frau AIolitor
but this was later denied
The trial promises to be the most dra-
matk of the year. The circumstantial
evidence against the prisoner Is very
strong.
Wounded Heart an Exhibit.
Hau entered the courtroom to-day ten
minutes before the session opened. He
was accompanied by his counsel. DR..
Dletz and two gendarmes.
While he chatted cheerfully with his
counsel the newspaper men present
crowded around the green table fronting
the judges bench 10 inspect the grewsome
exhibit Of Frau Molitor's heart in a glass
vessel filed with alcohol There is a
gaping wound IN the center.
The selection of a jury from a venire
Of twenty-eight men, of which each side
could reject seven, occupied only ten
minutes. Afterward a list OF more than
seventy witnesses and ten experts to be
called was read. The presiding Judge
examined Hau for three hours The pris-
Oner pleaded not guilty TO the charge
against him, but he admitted having been
in Baden-Baden on the night of the trag-
edy.
The examination took a wide range.
including Hau's life in Washington and
his visits 10 Constantinople in an unnsuc-
cessful effort to negotiate concessions
from the Porte for certain American
firms. On his return Hau visited his
mother-in-law in Baden-Baden for a
week. and then went to Paris, accom-
panied by his wife and his sister-in-law.
Olga Molitor.
The judge here showed the prisoner a
telegram, sent from Paris. signed "Olga.
asking her mother to come to Paris i'm
mediately. and which was not sent bv
Olga. Hau refused 10 say whether he
had written this telegram or not. Han
also declined 20 say whether or not he
had a disa greement in Paris with his
wife owing TO her jealousy of her sister
Olga
Admits Wearing False Hair.
The judge then called Hau's attention
to the fact that on his arrival in London
on his way TO the United States he had
received a telegram recalling him to the
Continent. and selecting Berlin as a meet
ing place with an unidentified person
Hau had shown this telegram to his wife
to justify his trip, and he admitted hav
ing sent the message himself. A letter
from Mrs. Hau TO her mother was then
read, showing that Hau had impressed
upon her the necessity OF absolute silence
regarding his trip back to the Continents
He admitted going to Karlsruhe on the
day Of the murder. wearing a false beard
Continued on Page 3, Column 9.