Confessions of the Serial Killer H.H. Holmes (Illustrated)
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Gruesome relics that told the story of the boy's sad fate soon began to turn up. Some of the children’s clothing and trinkets and the long-missing trunk of Mrs. Pitezel were easily found. Then the charred remains of the boy were found inside the stove.
Figure 10: Howard Pitezel
When Holmes was putting this stove up he was asked by a Mr. Moorman why he didn't put in natural gas. Holmes replied: “I don't think natural gas is healthy for children."
The inquest was held soon afterwards, and in the meantime came the terrible revelations at the Chicago Castle which gave full belief that Holmes was the arch fiend of the century. Holmes was indicted for the murder of Pitezel in September, 1895. His trial began on October 18. The sensational’ events that followed are already well known. From the hour the verdict was given Holmes has been weakening.
During the time the authorities have pressed their case they have run across various things that led them to believe that Holmes had outside confederates. These friends were aware that all mail sent to Holmes to the Philadelphia County Prison was inspected before delivery to the prisoner and some of it, for proper reasons, never reached the prisoner. One of these friends undertook to divert Detective Geyer from pursuit of the track of Holmes just as he was leaving Indianapolis after his second visit. The detective received at the Spencer House an anonymous letter in cipher, with the key attached, advising him that an important letter had been sent to Holmes to Philadelphia; that the writer was advising the detective at great personal risk and that, the letter should be opened and Inspected before delivery to the prisoner. The letter, which came in due course, tells Holmes not to worry about the boy; he is safe and sound,” and at first it gave the impression that Holmes had in some way conveyed to an outside party the place where the remains of the boy had been buried, and that the boy's remains had been removed from the place of concealment.
Not so Easily Fooled
After careful deliberation, the District Attorney's office concluded that it was a trick or device for a purpose not very clear, and it was totally disregarded, and the search subsequently continued with the result already narrated. This is one of the many letters, some in cipher, which were received, and are now among the great mass of manuscript which has accumulated in the case. Newspapers evidently make their way into lunatic asylums, tor letters from the insane came in by the score. The name of Holmes also seemed to become as common as Brown or Smith, for many letters referring to this person and that person by the name of Holmes, and requesting information as to comparisons of points of identity with the prisoner, were received.
One of the letters received in cipher is given below. This letter is very easily read by dropping every other sentence, separated by commas:
"Aug. 2, 1895.
"Friend H. H. H. and Jim, will not, saw and, split, the wood. They, can't and, don't, want to, know, whether there is, anything, around or, about, the, conservatory or, green house, I, think, will leave, the dog, for, Mrs. John, Cleveland, at Bleak House, tomorrow. Will, join him under, cover, and fix, all, circus board, signs, there. Same, time I will, sigh for, Ponto's fate and yours in his misfortune.
"R. I. T. U. A. L. Friend,
"L. S. PAGE.
"Friend H. H. H.—I, and Jim, will They don't know anything about the conservatory. I will leave for Cleveland tomorrow. “Will cover all signs.
"Same cipher."
Detective Geyer In his book has made a good chronology of Holmes' career. It follows:
Holmes’ Chronology.
1861.
May 16—Herman Webster Mudgett born at Gilmanton. N. H.
1878.
July 4—He is married to Clara A. Lovering at Alton. N. H. by John W. Caurrier, Justice of the Peace.
1887.
January 28—He is married to Myrta Z. Belknap under the name of Harry Howard Holmes.
February 14—He flies in the Superior Court of Cook county, Ill. a libel in divorce against his wife, Clara A. Lovering Mudgett, praying that their marriage may be dissolved.
1891.
June 4—The said court orders this suit to be dismissed for default of appearance of complainant.
1893.
March—He meets Miss Georgiana Yoke in Chicago.
September 19—He makes application for a twenty-year optional insurance for $10,000 in the Fidelity Mutual Life Association, in which he avers: “Mother died at 58; don’t remember the disease; no acute disease. Father died at 62 from injury to his foot.”
November 9—Fidelity Mutual Life Association insures Benjamin F. Pitezel in the sum of $10,000.
Same month Holmes is engaged to be married to Miss Yoke under the name of Henry Mansfield Howard.
1894.
January 17—He is married to Miss Yoke in Denver, Col. by the Rev. Mr. Wilcox and they journey on their honeymoon to Fort Worth, Tex.
January, February, March, April—Mudgett and Pitezel (the former under the name of D. T. Pratt and the latter under the name of Benton T. Lyman). In Fort Worth, Tex.; where they engage in building a store property on land formerly owned by Minnie Williams.
April--Pitezel leaves, Fort Worth and goes to Chicago.
May--Mudgett and Miss Yoke leave Fort Worth and journey to Denver, Col.
May 21—They make their appearance In St. Louis.
June I—About this date Holmes (Mudgett) and Pitezel go to Memphis, Tenn. In this vicinity they first consider the location of the place where they propose to execute the insurance fraud.
June 8—Holmes and wife return to St. Louis.
June 13—Holmes purchases a drug store in St. Louis, Mo. under the name of Howard, upon which he gave a mortgage.
July 19—Holmes is arrested in St. Louis by the Merrill Drug Company and sent to prison under a charge of fraud and for selling mortgaged property. The man “Brown,” to whom he sold it, is supposed to have been Pitezel. During his imprisonment in the St. Louis jail he meets Marion C. Hedgepeth.
July 28—He is released on bail.
July 29—He is rearrested and again committed to prison.
July 31—He is again released on bail furnished by Miss Yoke.
August 2, 3, and 4—He is in New York and Philadelphia.
August 4--Yoke Miss Yoke (Mrs. Howard) leaves Lake Bluff, Ill., where she was visiting, and journeys to Philadelphia.
August 5—Sunday. Holmes meets Miss Yoke at Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, and takes her to a boarding house, No. 1905 North Eleventh street (Mrs. Dr. Alcorn's). He tells Miss Yoke he is selling a patent letter copier.
August 9—Holmes telegraphs $157.50 (the half yearly premium on the Pitezel policy), to the Chicago office of the Fidelity Mutual Life Association.
August 17—Pitezel, under the name of B. F. Perry, rents No. 1316 Callowhill street and pays $10 on account of the rent to Walter W. Shedaker.
August 17—Holmes and Pitezel purchase second-hand furniture of John F. Hughes, No. 1037 Buttonwood street, which was sent to No. 1316 Callowhill street.
August 18—Pitezel calls at the furniture store alone and purchases a cot and some old matting.
August 22—Eugene Smith calls upon Pitezel and sees Holmes pass into the house and go up stairs.
August 22 to September 1—Pitezel is seen in and about No. 1316 Callowhill street by a large number of persons.
September 1—Evening. Pitezel calls upon Holmes at No. 1903 North Eleventh street.
September 2—Holmes leaves No. 1905 North Eleventh street at about 10.30 A. M. He
returns about 4 P. M. He tells his wife (Miss Yoke) that the man who called the evening before was a messenger from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and that he could have an interview with a Pennsylvania Railroad official the next day at Nicetown. This Sunday morning he said he was going out to Nicetown to see the official and that if he was successful, and as their week was up, they would probably start West that night.
September 2—Evening. Homes and Miss Yoke leave Philadelphia on the 10.25 train and wen
t directly to Indianapolis.
September 3—They arrive in Indianapolis and register at the Stubbins House.
September 4—They take boarding at No. 488 North Illinois street, Indianapolis.
September 4—Pitezel’s body found at No. 1316 Callowhill street by Eugene Smith.
September 5—Coroner holds first inquest.
September 5—Holmes goes to St. Louis, calls upon Mrs. Pitezel and tells her to go to Howe with the papers, meaning insurance policy, etc. She takes papers to Howe. Holmes told her that & body had been substituted for her husband and that Ben was alive and all right,” and not to worry.
September 8—Fidelity Mutual receives a telegraphic dispatch from George B. Stadden, manager for Missouri, at St. Louis, stating that “B. F. Perry, found dead in Philadelphia, is claimed to be B. F. Pitezel, who is insured on 044145. Investigate before remains leave there.”
About this time Howe writes to the company in Philadelphia, stating that he was counsel for Mrs. Pitezel, the beneficial under the policy, and would come on with a member of the family to identify the body, etc.
September 13—Pitezel’s body buried as B. F. Perry in Potter's Field, Philadelphia.
September 5 to September 19—Holmes was with .Miss Yoke at her mother’s home in Franklin, Ind., leaving her, he said, to go to St. Louis again or to Cincinnati, and then to Indianapolis. At this time Holmes was occasionally with his other wife at Wilmette, Ill. He was likely with her on September 11. At Indianapolis he tells Miss Yoke that he had heard from the Pennsylvania Railroad official in Philadelphia about the copier and they were ready to pay over the money, and they had directed him to come on at once. He left her at the Circle Park Hotel. Indianapolis, and went to Philadelphia.
September 17—He writes a letter to Mr. Cass, Chicago cashier of the Fidelity, stating that his wife (Wilmette wife) had told him that Information was wanted of B. F. Pitezel, who was found in Chicago as B. F. Perry.
September 18—He writes another letter to Cass saying that he overhears the body was in Philadelphia and not in Chicago, and that he would go to Philadelphia if his expenses were paid.
September 19—Holmes leaves Indianapolis for Philadelphia. He again stops at No. 1905 North Eleventh street; Mrs. Alcorn's.
September 20—He calls at the office of the company in Philadelphia, No. 914 Walnut street. He tells Mr. Fouse, president of the company, that he bad corresponded with Cass. He asks Fouse about the circumstances of the death, which Fouse relates briefly. Holmes said it was a very peculiar case and asked Mr. Fouse the cause of death, etc.
September 20--Alice writes her first letter to the home folks.
Philadelphia, Pa,
Corner Filbert and Eleventh streets,
September 20, 1894.
Dear Mamma and the rest:
Just arrived In Philadelphia this morning and I wrote you yesterday of this. Mr. Howe and I have each a room at the above address. I am going to the Morgue after awhile. We stopped off at Washington, Md., this morning, and that made it six times that we transferred to different cars. Yesterday we got on the C. and O. Pullman car and it was crowded, so I had to sit with some one. Mr. Howe sit with some man we sit there quite awhile and pretty soon some one came and shook hands with me. I looked up and here it was Mr. Howard. He did not know my jacket, but he said he thought it was his girl’s face so he went to see and it was me. I don't like him to call me babe and child and dear and all such trash. When I got on the car Tuesday night Mr. Howe ask me if I had any money and I told him 5 cents so he gave me a dollar. How I wish I could see you all and hug the baby. I hope you are better. Mr. H. says that I will have a ride on the ocean. I wish you could see what I have seen. I have seen more scenery than I have seen since I was born. I don’t know what I saw before. This is all the paper I have so I will have to close & write again. You had better not write to me here for Mr. H. says that I may be off to-morrow. If you are worse wire me good-bye kisses to all and two big ones for you and babe. Love to all.
E. ALICE PITEZEL.
September 21—Howe and Alice Pitezel called at insurance office. Holmes calls same time. They meet as strangers, although they had traveled together from some point in Ohio to Washington, D. C. Howe and Alice got off at Washington and Holmes took train for Philadelphia. Howe and Alice came to Philadelphia on later train. That day Holmes took Alice out to flee the sights of the city and then to Mrs. Alcorn's that night, stating that she (Alice) was his little sister. Alice slept in the third-story next to Holmes' room, which communicated with it. Alice had stopped with Howe at the Imperial Hotel, Eleventh and Filbert streets, from which place she wrote two letters. Following are copies:
Imperial Hotel, Eleventh, above Market street, Hendricks & Scott, proprietors.
Philadelphia, Pa., September 21, 1894.
Dear Mamma and Babe:
I have to write all the time to pass away the time.
Mr. Howe has been away all morning. Mamma have you ever seen or tasted a red banana? I have had three. They are so big that it can just reach around it and have my thumb and next finger just touch. I have not got any shoes yet and I have to go a hobbling around all the time. Have you gotten 4 letters from me besides this? Are you sick in bed yet or are you up? I wish that I could hear from you, but I don’t know whether I would get it or not. Mr. Howe telegraphed to Mr. Beckert and he said that he would write to you tonight. I have not got but two clean garments and that is a shirt and my white skirt. I saw some or the largest solid rocks that I bet you never saw. I crossed the Potomac River. I guess that I have told all the news: So good bye Kisses to you and babe,
Yours loving daughter,
MISS E. A. PITEZEL.
If you are worse telegraph to the above address. Imperial Hotel, Eleventh above Market street.
___
Imperial Hotel. Eleventh above Market street, Hendricks & Scott, proprietors.
Philadelphia, 189—.
Dear Dessa:
I thought I would write you a little letter and when I get to Mass. you must all write to me. Well this is a warm day here how is it there? Did you get your big washing done if I was there you would have a bigger one for I have a whole satchel full of dirty clothes. I bet that I have more fruit than all of you. Dessa I guess you are without shoes for I guess they don’t intend to get me any. H. has come now so I guess I have to go to dinner.
Dessa take good care mama. I will close your letter and write a little to Nell and
Howard. next time so good bye love to you with a kiss.
___
Dear Mama:
I was over to the insurance office this afternoon and Mr. Howe thinks there will be no trouble about getting it. They asked me almost a thousand questions, of course not quite so many. Is his nose broken or has he a Roman nose. I said it was broken. I will have to close and write more tomorrow so good bye love to all with kisses to all.
Your loving daughter,
E. ALICE PITEZEL.
___
September 21—At the conference at the company's office on this day the marks of identification were agreed upon.
September 22—Pitezel’s body exhumed at Potters' Field. Holmes finds wart on neck and other mark of identification and says the body is that of B. F. Pitezel. Alice recognizes teeth of her father. He takes Alice to No. 1904 North Eleventh street.
September 23—Holmes and Alice makes affidavits before Coroner Ashbridge that the body found as B. F. Perry at No. 1816 Callowhill street was that of Benjamin F. Pitezel. That evening Holmes and Alice leave for Indianapolis.
September 24—They arrive in Indianapolis. He registers Alice as Etta Pitezel in his handwriting.
September 24—Insurance company pays Howe $9715.85, face of insurance policy, less expenses.
September 24—Alice writes another letter home. The person alluded to in these letters as 4, 18, 8, is the children's cipher for Holmes.
___
Stubbins’ European Hotel, one square north of Union Depot on
Illinois street.
Indianapolis. Ind., September 24, 1894.
Dear Ones at Home:
I am glad to hear that you are all well and that you are up. I guess you will not have any trouble in getting the money. 4, 18, 8 is going to set two of you and fetch you
here with me and them I won’t be so lonesome at the above address. I am not going to Miss Williams until I see where you are going to live and then see you all again because 4, 18, 8 is afraid that I will get two lonesome then he will send me on and go to school. I have a pair of shoes now if I could see you I would have enough to talk to you all day but I cannot very well write it I will see you all before long though don't you worry. This is a cool day. Mr. Perry said that if you did not get the insurance all right through the lawyers to rite to Mr. Foust or Mr. Perry. I wish I had a silk dress. I have seen more since I have been away than I ever saw before in my life. I have another picture for your album. I will have to close for this time now so good bye love and kisses and squeezes to all. Yours daughter,
ETTA PITEZEL.
P. O. I go by Etta here 4, 18, 8 told me to O Howard O Dessa, O Nell O Mamma, O Baby. Nell you & Howard will come with 4, 18, 8 & Mamma and, Dessa later on won’t you or as Mamma says.
ETTA PITEZEL.
September 25—Holmes to St. Louis and remained there until the 28th.
September 27—Holmes gets $6700 of the insurance money out of the $7200 received by Mrs. Pitezel from Howe. He gives her the bogus note.
September 28—Holmes takes Nellie and Howard from Mrs. Pitezel at St. Louis. Alice joins them at Indianapolis and she goes with Holmes, Nellie and Howard to Cincinnati, where Holmes registers at the Atlantic House under the name of Alexander E. Cook and three children.
September 29—He rents No. 305 Poplar street from Mr. J. C. Thomas and takes a large stove to this house. Over night of 28th he remains at Atlantic House and on the 29th he takes them to Hotel Bristol, registers there as A. E. Cook and three children, and remains there until Sunday, September 30, when he left with the children for Indianapolis and registers them at Hotel English as “Three Canning children.”