The Washington times., 1924-12-04
VAMPIRE
GLOATSAS
He FACES
DEATH
Haarmann Tells How He Ter
tured Boy Victim
for Days
By S. D. WEYER,
international News Service.
frnn.,-t~A4 $40. -. r-.......t

Copyright, 1924. by Interna tianai
News service.l
COURT HOUSE, HANOVER,
Germany, Dec. 4.-Fritz Haar~
mann, Hanover's attic ogre, testi-
fled here today in his trial for
the murders Of twenty-seven per-
sons that he had kept one of his
Victims boy-prisoner for two
weeks, gloating over him as =
cat does with a mouse, before
he butchered him and cut the body
to bits.
The strangest murderer Ger
many ever has seen told of this
crime with childish pride, while
the prosecutor coaxed detail after
detail from him patiently, even
benignly. Two hundred persons
stared at him, some through opera
glasses, until the Judge rebuked
them with the remark that this
courtroom is no" theater.
Begs to Be Beheaded.
In the midst of his sickening rO-
cital, Hartman passionately begged
the Judge:
please hurry my trial. I'd rather
be beheaded than sent to an insane
asylum"
Haarmann has gleefully resigned
himself to Observation-Disclosures
still executes with the ax-as a fit
ting crescendo to what he regards
as suite of murders of artistry
equal to fine music or exquisite
painting.
Then he resumed his tale of muir
dering that captive boy. He said
he did not know what to do with
The lads head, so he hid it between
the Stove and box of cucumbers.
Police looking for a clue to the
missing youngster were so stupid,
Haarmann said, that they did not
find the skull
Insists He Is Sane.
When his story became particu-
larly revolving, the spectators were
excluded from the courtroom
II am perfectly sane, too" Haar-
mann told the judge with impish
gestures.
He admitted killing fourteen per.
sons, but thought it might have
been thirty.
"A few more do not matter" he
said.
I'VE can prove twenty-seven muir.
ders," the prosecutor interrupted,
and possibly we can connect Haar-
mann with three others, but that's
ALL"
The prosecution said it believed
he had committed ten other muir.
killings, but Hartmann, with the
air of one who wishes no undue
credit, broke in with:
Those skulls weren't for me-
When questioned about Grams.
his alleged accomplce, Hartmann
said, Il don't want to drag him into
it. He is too young"
He repeatedly called out: II want
to be beheaded. Then I'll be rid OF
my tortures.'
Father "Was SWINE"
my father was a swine. He al.
ways beat me- he said at another
time. Then he burst into sobs and
said: But my mother, she was
good"
II nate my rather. My last word
on the scaffold will be curse for
him. he stormed.
The judge learned that threats to
kill Hartmann had been made by
witnesses. AS result all witnesses
will be searched for weapons.
At least two Hanover police Of
ficials will be indicted within few
days charged with negligence Of
duty in connection with the
Haarmann case. A sensational
scandal is expected to grow out Of
the fact that the monster piled his
gruesome trade two years and was
employed at the same time as
stool pigeon" for the police.
Protected BY Police.
Under this guise he lured his
youthful. victims to his abode. AL.
though repeatedly arrested and
examined, he was Invariably re.
leased. supposedly through the pro.
lection of high police officials.
1t was learned today that the