The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-23
KNAPP, THRILL
SLAYER, W AS
PETTED YOUTH
Man Hunted Throughout East
for Murder was Brilliant
College Student
b. NEA Service.

by NEA service.
Syracuse, n. Y. July 23.--phiIip
Knox Knapp, hunted throughout the
east as thrill murderer" was a
supcr-normal pampcrcd by
his family and pcttcd by society.
The eldest son of William W
Knapp; engineer and owner Of the
Williams Bridge Company. and scion
of the old Knapp family Of SYRIA
cusc. Philip had his every want full
filled as a youth. spending his boy
hood in the fashionable section OF
Syracuse.
His boyhood was that Of the av-
cragc youth. with dancing school
parties in the younger social set
Entering North High School at SYRIA
cusc, his brilliancc as student was
soon observed by his teachers. He
was always at the head Of his classes
yet he never studied. His intellect
was Of the kccncst, and nc had no
difficulty in adapting himself to the
higher courses in tho school.
In connection with his school
days the following statements arc
made by two Of his former instruc-
tors:
Prof. Royal A. Avery. head of the
mathematics department of North:
Excepting for his brilliancc in his
studies Phil Knapp was a normal
boy. and won his block letter on the
baseball team. Knapp always i'm.
pressed me as being able to handle
his studies without any particular
trouble. He was very intelligent
and quickly graspcd any question or
problem that might bother others in
the class. He never studied much
to my knowledge. and at the same
time he was always prepared to re-
cite his lessons correctly.
"Knowing Phil Knapp as ] did at
that time, it is hard to believe that
he ever killed a man, especially for
a thrill
Miss Sarah A. Avery, head of the
English department.:
"Phil Knapp was very bright and
there is one class i'm particular J
recall. There were number of
students in this class who were
above the ave ragc. In spite of this.
Knapp had no trouble getting better
marks than this group of quick
learning and intelligent youths"
Schoolmatcs of Knapp remember
him as something Of dreamer, be-
ing quiet and reserved. He was not
on friendly terms with many Of his
schoolmatcs.
Leaving high school Nc entered
Syracuse University for time, and
later went to Cornell, where I'M con-
trast to his brilliant record in high
school came reports that he was not
"a very good student"
His first escapadc took place while
he was at Cornell. He was reported
missing by his instructors. without
any apparent reason. He was gone
for three weeks and while private
and police authorities were looking
FIR him, he quietly returned to his
home here and offered no. cxplana-
ton for his disappearance
The next event to bring his name
before the public was while he was
at home. He reported to police one
morning early that burglars at
tempted to break into his home and
that he emptied gun at them. Po-
lice found marks on the door of the
Knapp home, but nothing was miss
ing.
= A short time later he reported auto
thieves attempted to take his
fathers cars from the family gar
age and that one of them struck him
on the head The cars were not
lholested, police learned, but Knapp
did have a crack on the head. ~
Knapp remained about Syracuse
for some time, and his friends say
he acted aueerly, saying many times
that his family would not let him
90 to work; that mo Knapp should
work." These statements are not
taken serieusly- new.-.- ~ ------ ---,,,.,.
In 1920 Knapp, looking Tor ad-