The Washington herald., 1907-07-22
BURTON DEFENDSHAU
Believes Prisoner Has Not
Been Given Square Deal.
TORTURED BY AUTHORITIES
Police Use News of Wife's Suicide
I'm Efforts 10 Obtain Confession.
AntagOnistIc Attitude OF Presiding
Judge Makes the Defendants
Fight Unusually Difficult.

II. Ralph Burton. legal representative In
this country OF Karl Hau. the George
Washington University instructor who is
on trial in Germany FOR the murder OF HIS
mother-in-law on the night of January 6
last, has been moved, because Of press
reports. TO investigate the stories OF the
alleged torturing of prisoners in German
prisons, and Of Hau in particular
Mr.. Burton, who is an attorney, has had
charge Of Hau's affairs in this country
ever since the accused man sailed for
Europe last summer. and il was his in
terest in the case that induced him 70
look into the reports carefully.
4 have received letters from most re-
liable sources he said last night, (which
convince me Of the absolute truth Of the
reports Of torture and make me believe
that the torture methods Of the medieval
ages are still practiced in Germany.
Such methods have often been known
TO force q confession from an innocent
person. and the fact that MI Hau has
throughout maintained MS innocence with
such magnificent fortitude leads me to be-
lieve more than ever that he had no hand
in the crime
Could Not Touch on Crime.
Just before Mrs. Hau committed sui
eide by throwing herself into a lake she
had brief interview with her husband.
They were not allowed to be alone for a
moment, and no reference was made to
the accusation against Mr.. Hau. Il was,
in fact. only farewell meeting. and had
they been allowed even few moments
thoroughly believe Mrs. Hau would be
living to-day,
1T is very sad when you think Of IL,
and 1t makes one wonder who is the
most guilty IN such a case, the accused
or the accuser. The prosecuting attor-
ney did not allow the news 10 reach Mr..
Hau in a humane way. but took the op-
portunity TO impose further torture upon
the prisoner by announcing the suicide in
the most brutal and abrupt manner, In
the hope that it would assist in his ef-
forts 10 force a confession. He was en-
urely unsuccessful, however. II was
then that reports were given out that
Mr. Hau had confessed, but this was
absolutely without foundation. Efforts
nave been made 70 find from what source
these emanated. but so FAR they have
been unsuccessful
Hard Fight for Han.
Unfortunately. the laws Of Germany
DO not throw as many safeguards about
an accused person as in the United
States. and il is far easier for the prose-
cution 20 obtain a verdict. This. together
with the antagonistc attitude Of the
court toward Mr. Hau. is making his
fight a hard one. 10 say the least. The
judge, who Of all persons should be most
impartial. has indicated by his manner,
during the entire trial, his prejudice to-
ward the prisoner and seems determined
20 turn every point against him. Nearly
all Of the evidence upon which the prose
cution depends is purely circumstantial,
and much Of IL OF a doubtful character.
i do not believe the jury, If II be COM
posed Of unprejud.ced and fair-minded
men, viii ever render a verdict against
Mr.. Hau, in spite OF the inexplicable de-
termination on the part Of the prosecuting
attorney and the presiding judge and
the unfair methods they have used, to
bring il about"