The Washington herald., 1907-06-08

Dispatches from Switzerland last night
brought news Of the suicide yesterday of
Mrs. Karl Hau, wife of the George Wash
ington University professor of law, await
ing trial at Carlsruhe, Germany, foT the
murder of his mother-in-law, Mrs Molitor.
Mrs. Hau threw herself into lake in
Pfaeffikon Canton. near Zurich. where she
was staying with her six-year-old daugh-
Ter Olga.
The dispatch telling Of the tragedy was
meager in its details, and it is not yet
known whether the body of the suicide
has been recovered, nor is the motive for
the deed fully understood Mrs Hau had
been in Switzerland about three weeks.
having gone there from Carlsruhe. For
weeks. and even months, past Mrs Hau
had been subjected 20 the strain Of bear
ing up under the terrible accusation
against her husband. and by her loyalty
10 his interests found herself aTTayed
against those of her own blood. That the
stress had told on her was evidenced
by the letters she had written TO Attorney
Il Ralph Burton. of this city, who was
Prof. Hau's legal representative when the
couple went to Europe last summer.
Talks of Suicide in Letters.
The tone Of Mrs. Hau's letters to At
torney Burton was melancholy in the ex-
treme. and more than once she mentioned
contemplating suicide, saying that her
child was the only consideration prevent
ing that step Three weeks ago Attor-
ney Burton received letter in which she
said that the police Of Carlsruhe were in
terfering with her mail and in other ways
subieCting her 20 their surveillance and
that she intended TO leave Germany TO
escape this unpleasantness. y week later
Attorney Burton received a letter from
DR.. Edward Dietz, Hau's attorney in
Germany, saying that Mrs. Hau had gone
10 Switzerland with her daughter, but 10
an unknown address.
The tragedy marks the close of "A story
Of wifely devotion and self-sacrifice. Mrs
Hau was 1--WE years older than her hus-
band and when. at twenty-rOur. she mar
ried tEe young German student at Baden
Baden, seven years ago, she faced the eX-
IRENE displeasure of her family. 90 whom
it appeared almost "a disgrace for wOm-
an 20 marry man so much ,her junior
So great was the opposition and feeling
against the match that the couple came
TO America Immediately after their mar
riaee.
They came 20 Washington and HaU took
a post graduate law course at George
Washington University attaining much
distinction and being admitted to the
faculty as professor Of law. While living
in this city their domestic lie was appar-
emily happy Mrs Hau was devoted to
her husband, who was cOHsiderate and
lavished his money upon her. She made /
no social engagements and was hardly /
ever seen outside Of their home
Hau Devoted TO Her.
Last June they went to Europe. Prof |
Hau going to Constantinople and his wife /
10 Baden-Baden for her health His let /
ters to her during this period showed |
great affection. During the summer he |
made d trip from ConstanunopIe TO visit /
her in Germany. Later in the autumn they
went to London and engaged rooms at the |
Hotel Cecil
Early In November he made q trip /
alone to the continent returning Novem- |
Der T. On his arrival at the Cecil he was /
arrested by London detectives on the /
charge Of having murdered Frau Molitor |
at Baden-Baden the day before. He .
denied all knowledge Of the crime Later |
he was extradited 10 Germany, where he |
was examined as 20 his mental condi- |
tion, and found TO be of sound mind. He /
was held pending trial. for which the
German consul at Washington has been /
evidence.
The principal details of the shooting of I
Frau Molitor are as follows. on Novem- 1
Der she was called 10 the telephone at |
her home I'm Baden-Baden and received a /
request 10 go TO the p0st-0fice and get a |
parcel that was there for her She 1
started at once, accompanied by her /
younger daughter. When passing through /
a quiet street "A shot was fired from be- |
hind, and she fen dead, shot through the
heart.
Assailant Escapes.
The man who fired the shot was seen.
but escaped. He was described as being
Of medium height and. apparently under
forty years of age. He wore an obviously
false beard. It was thought that the as
sassin was undoubtedly the man who
called Mrs. Molitor on the telephone. It
was stated that Mrs. Molitor had been
threatened with death on several oc-
casions. and that a number Of plots had
been laid against her. but gone astray.
Prof Haus trial is set for next month
What effect his wifes suicide will have
upon the result Of the case is a matter Of
conjecture. Haus friends have always
believed in his innocence, and It is known |
that Mrs. Hau was one his stdnchest