New-York tribune., 1907-07-18
HAU'S TRIAL BEGINS.
FRET DAY AGAINST HIN
VII Not Anslcer Vital Questions
Sister-in-LazC on Stand.

ton University. Washington, was brought before
the bar to-day the charge Of having murcereu
his mother-in-law. Frau Molitor. a wealthy resi-
dent Of Baden Baden, in that city on November
last The selection of a jury occupied only ten
minutes after which the presiding Judge put Hau
through a searching examination that lasted sew
eral hours
IIau was unable. or unwilling. explain many
of his actions such as the wearing Of disguises
and their secret disposition and the sending OF
kilograms 70 himself. He declined 10 explain MS
connection with a telegram asking his Wl1eS
mother to come to Paris and refused also to an
swer various questions regarding his domestic re-
lations. although repeatedly warned by the judge
that he jeopardizing his case
Altogether. the testimony to-day was considered
unfavorable to the defendant, the judge saving
that one provision OF the will left by Hau's wife
who recently committed suicide. which he read,
and which provided that her little daughter should
assume another name. indicated that Mrs Hau was
convinced of her husbands guilt
Olga Molitor. who was with her mother when
the murder was committed, told Of the shooting
which was done by man who away so quickly
that she unable to recognize him In the dark
The collar of the mans coat was turned up nut
the she recognized one similar TO that worn
by Hau. She did the mans face This wit
ness, who has been mentioned as having been so
intimate with fau TO cause Jealousy on the part
OF Mrs. Hau. emphatcalIy denied this story
Various other witnesses testified TO having reeoS-
nized Hau in the false beard that he wore at times
The case will be continued tomorrow
After the alleged murder Hau fed to London
where he taken into custody Later he was
returned to Germany, and as many people thought
he insane the question Of his mental condition
was investigated with the result that he was
formally declared to be in his right mind Mrs
Hau committed suicide by drowning in June OF this
she could longer bear the Of living apart
from her husband It reported that Hau
had confessed but this denied.
HAU EXAMINED BY JUDGE.
Hau.s general appearance to-day was that Of
young clergymen of unusual ability and force for
his twenty-stx years.
While he chatted cheertuly with his counsel the
newspaper men crowded around the green table
fronting the Judges bench inspect the exhibit Of
Frau Molitor's heart in glass vessel filled with
alcohol There IS a gaping wound IN the centre.
The presiding judge examined Hau for three
hours. He pleaded not guilty. but admitted having
been in Baden Baden the night OF the tragedy. The
examination took wide range, including Hau's
life in Washington and his visits TO Constanunople
in unsuccessful effort to negotiate concessions
from the Porte for certain American firms.
Hau admitted that while returning from Turkey
in October he stopped in Vienna and collected 5000
on letter OF credit. and that he had subsequently,
written letter from Frankfort-ou- the-Main 10 Gis
London banker saying this letter Of credit had
been lost He denied however that he had tried
TO get a renewal of this letter Of credit
Hau then visited his mother-in-Iaw in Baden
Baden for q week and then went TO Paris accom-
panied by his wife and his sIster-in-law. Olga
Molitor
The judge here showed the prisoner telegram
sent from Paris signed Olga asking her mother
10 come to Paris Immediately. which was not sent
by Olga Hau refused 10 say whether he had writ
ten this telegram or not. Here the Judge warned
him u the risk he Incurred in making denias. Hau
also declined say whether he had had
disagreement in Paris with his wife owing 20 her
Jealousy Of her sister Olga
The Judge then called Hau's attention to the fact
that on his arrival in London on his way to the
United states ne had received a telegram recalling
him to tho Continent and selecting Berlin as a
meeting place with unidentified person. Hau
had shown this telegram to his wife Justify hts
trip and he admitted having sent the message
himself letter from Mrs Hau 10 her mother
was then read showing that Hau had Impressed
upon her the necessity Of absolute silence regard
Ing his trip back the Continent.
Hau then admitted 10 having had a wig and &
false beard made by the barber OF well known
hotel IN London. and that the explanation Of this
procedure previously givcn-that he was going "a
a spy 10 Turkey and needed the wig and beard 10
protect him against attempts at aesa asslnatioD-
was incorrect. He said to-day he throw the wig
and beard from the window after leaving Char
ing Cross and that his only object in using them
mitted. however 10 having had a second false
beard made at Fraukf0rt-on- thc-Mair He had 4
business conference IN Frankfort. but refused 70
say with whom. He admitted going 70 Karlsruhe
on November 6. the day OF the murder. wearing a
false beard. He said he left his valiscs IN the
baggage room there Asked why he did not TAX"
his baggage 70 Baden BADEN, Hau said he had no
definite plan in doing this The judge reminded him
that many persons at the Karlsruhe station had
observed he wore a false beard and that he evi-
IDENTITY was evadlng observation.
REFUSES TO ANSWER.
When the judge brought tie Investigation down
% the incident AT Baden-Ba Hau announced his
intention to give no information whatever concern
Ing what happened there lie refused to say why
he had teIephoned Frau Nolitor TO come 20 the rail-
road station Asked whether he had heard
the shot fred he refused TO answer. He also re
: used to say whether he carried a pistol He ad-
mltted having left Baden Baden by the 6 i train
and that he arrived at Karlsruhe without his false
heard, lie explained that he had thrown It of
the car window between Baden Baden and karls-
ruhe. He admitted having sent the following telc-
gram from Frankfort 70 his wife at London. The
place of meeting has been changed 10 Frankfort
Observe absolute discretion toward everybody 7
return Thursday or Friday"
The judge then returned TO the subject OF the
I throsinG away OF the false beard after he left
Bader-Badea. This act. he said, resembled flight.
and he poiut"dy insisted that II looked exceedingly
| suspicious. The prisoner admitted the suspicious
look Of this incident iut refused 70 say why he
threw the beard away.
The Judge read extract from the will Of Haus
wife left by her with her farewell letter before
committing suicide one provision OF this docu-
is that her little daughter should take an
Other name The judge said this indicated that
Mrs Hau convinced of her husbands guilt.
Hau replied with much feeling that he had not had
Il single opportunity while in prison 10 have a
private talk with his wife, and that if he had she
. never could have got such conviction. This was
the only instance during the long inquiry where
he spoke with any show of excitement
The judge. before closing the morning session.
confronted Hau repeatedly with the most grave
evidence against him. but he only elected refuslls
to answer. The general impression was strongly
unfavorablc 70 the prisoner
At the afternoon session Olga Molitor gave the
testimony already summarized the autopsy and
the condition OF the woman's body described.
and the introduction OF the testimony about HaU,' :
/ movements began The will be continued to-
morrow.
SUIT TO ANNUL PRINCES MARRIAGE