The Washington herald., 1907-07-23

Karlsruhe. July 23-While great
crowd in front of the courthouse de-
manded his release. Karl Hau the young
law professor. OF Washington. was found
guilty early this morning of having mur-
dered Frau Molitor, his mother-in-lsw,
and soon after this verdict he was SEN
fenced TO die Not a muscle of the pris-
oner's face moved when he heard the
sentence pronounced, and he smiled
pleasantly at his lawyer when he was
taken from the courtroom.
There were remarkable demonstrations
in the street both before and after
sentence was passed. a great crowd
surged in front of the building where the
trial was held, and the men and women
demanded the acquittaI Of the prisoner
M0Iitors Almost AIobBed.
The members of the Molitor family
were almost mObbed when they tried TO
enter the courthouse, and after Hau was
sentenced they were afraid 10 leave the
building. After waiting for three hours
for the crowd to be dispersed. the rela-
tives Of the condemned man were es-
cOrted to their hotel by gendarmes.
Public opinion seemed 10 be entirely
with Hau and against the members Of his
wife's family. The Molitors were cursed
in the streets. and stones hurled at their
auto. The crowd seemed to think Hau
was the victim OF 2 conspiracy. Many
cheers for him were heard Nevertheless.
a verdict Of guilty was reached without
difficulty.
Hau Retains Nerve.
After the verdict the judges withdrew
to fix the sentence, and while they were
out OF the room the prisoner did not
lose his nerve for an instant Looking at
him, the casual observer would have
thought that he merely was an interested
spectator. instead of prisoner.
The strain in the courtroom was tense
when the judges returned. Hau was or
dered 10 stand up. and he arose. He
folded his arms and looked fixedly at the
men on the bench. and, although those
in the room watched him intently. not
one muscle of his face quivered when he
heard the presiding judge pronounce
sentence of death.
The condemned man made no comment
on his death sentence. and after his
pedigree was entered he sat down and
continued his conversation with his law
yers. Finally a gendarme touched him on
the shoulder and Hau arose instinctively
and was hurried to prison.
Crowd BecOmAs Threatening,
outside the crowd became enraged
when It heard the sentence. It cursed
the judge and the Molitor family. The
police feared that an attempt might be
made to take the prisoner from them. and
he was not taken from the courthouse
until squadron of mounted policemen
made lane through the mob. When Hau
was led from the courthouse the crowd
shouted:
'Hau is not guilty.
There also were cries Of "ReIease him,
Don't sacrifice his life! Release himr'
So violent did the crowd become that
finally two squadrons Of infantry were
called to help the police. Several per
a
women. Because of the temper of the
mob, the members of the Molitor family
feared to leave the courthouse. They re-
manned secluded in one Of the Judges
chambers, and for three hours they
waited for the crowd to disperse.
Wave of Sympathy.
The wave Of sympathy in behalf of Hau
that swept over this city came as a sur
prise to the authorities. They regarded
the evidence against him as so over
whelming that. instead of sympathizina,
with him, they expected they would stone
him.
The forward movement of the crowd
was checked, and when the soldiers ar
rived they drove the mob back at the
points of their bayonets
The sentencing of Hau does not end
the case, DR.. Dietz, his counsel, having in
his address practically given notice Of
appeal.
Through one of the most dramatic eli
makes ever witnessed in German court.
a large part Of the groundwork of doubt
so Iaboriously built up by Hau's attorney.
was swept away.
The sudden and unexpected appearance
on the witness stand of Wieland, the miss
ing MOlitor valet, disprOving all possible
connection on his part with the crime
was the mine sprung by the prosecution.
1t left Hau's case weak and tottering.
Disorder in Court Room.
From start to finish the proceedings
were sensational in the extreme. culmi-
mating finally in the calling in Of gen
darmes 10 protect the court and prosecu-
tor from angry spectators who manifested
their Indignation, at allowing certain
questions to be put 10 witnesses, in noisy
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