HOLMES' LIFE OF CRIME

H. H. Holmes.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, April 11, 1896.

HOLMES' LIFE OF CRIME.

Whole Revolting Tale Told In His Confession.

KILLED TWENTY-SEVEN PEOPLE.

Planned to Kill Six More—Believes Himself a Living Personification of Satan.

Tortured His Own Child—No  Word of Pity or Remorse.

   PHILADELPHlA, April 11.—The North American of this city today prints what purports to be sentences from the confession alleged to have been made by Murderer H. H. Homes. Among other things, the story says:

   In prefacing the confession, which covers in full nearly three newspaper pages, written in Holmes' own handwriting, and detailing with a minuteness that is simply at times revolting, the arch mutilator and author of 27 murders, as he admits himself to be, states with something like pathos that he does so simply that he may obtain enough money to educate his boy. Holmes writes of his blood curdling atrocities with an abandon that simply appalls one. Not one grain of remorse seems to enter into the construction of that document and never for a moment, except in two isolated cases—one where he refers touchingly to the memory of Minnie Williams, and another time when he pathetically speaks of an outrage perpetrated on his boy—does the redeeming element, pity, figure in the case.

   Regret is never for a moment expressed and he comes out boldly and without compunction, opening with the statement: "I was born with the very devil in me." Even now he believes that the evil spirit is the guiding genius of his destiny. He believes that he is fully under the spell of the damned, and despite the assertions to the contrary that he is receiving the attentions of a minister of God, and is generally becoming imbued with the spirit of forgiveness and religion, he feels that he is lost hopelessly.

   He even goes further. He asserts that he is gradually changing in appearance, in figure, that his face is becoming distorted, and he sees, whether in the distortion of his bloody imagination, which conjures up hosts of vengeance, calling dead, or not, his face assumed the look, the eyes, the leer and the very ears the exact similitude of the pictures of Satan themselves.

   "Yes, I was born with the devil in me," says he in one part of his confession. "I could not help the fact that I was a murderer any more than the poet can help the inspirations to song, nor the ambition of an intellectual man to be great. I was born with the evil one standing as my sponsor beside the bed where I was ushered into the world, and he has been with me since.

   "The inclination to murder came to me as naturally as the inspiration to do right comes to the majority of persons.

   "Where others' hearts were touched with pity mine filled with cruelty, and where in others the feeling was to save life, I revelled in the thought of destroying the same.

   "Not only that, I was not satisfied in taking it in the ordinary way. I sought devices strange, fantastical and even grotesque. It pleased my fancy. It gave me play to work my murderous will, and I revelled in it with the enthusiasm of an alchemist who is hot on the trail of the philosopher's stone.

   "This inclination," continues Holmes, "came to me early in life. I remember when a mere lad my ambition was to study medicine that I might know the relative effects of poisonous gases; that I might fully become acquainted with their uses and learn to be an expert in handling them.

   "I am convinced," he declares, "that since my imprisonment I have changed woefully and gruesomely from what I formerly was in feature and in figure.

   "If you look at my picture when I was first taken into custody in Boston, nearly two years ago, and look at my face now, you may begin to observe something of what I mean.

   "I mean, in fact, that my features are assuming nothing more or less than a pronounced Satanical cast; that I have become afflicted with that disease, rare but terrible, with which physicians are acquainted, but over which they have no control whatever.

   "From what I can see I believe fully that I am growing to resemble the devil; that the osseous parts of my head and face are gradually assuming that elongated shape so pronounced in what is called the degenerate head, and that similitude is almost completed.

   "In fact, so impressed am I with this belief," continues Holmes, "that I am convinced that I have no longer anything human in me."

   Holmes' confession from this on speaks of his early experiences of his boyhood days on the farm in Vermont and the life he led until he entered college to study medicine in Michigan. It was not until after he was graduated, fully equipped with the knowledge of poisons and the easiest way to sever the simple thread of life, that Holmes began his career as a murderer and mutilator.

   When he begun [sic], he admits himself, he was ruthless and never once halted until he took 27 lives.

   "And I would have committed six other murders," he added, "had not certain occurrences intervened."

   Possibly one of the worst, most brutal, revolting and disgusting crimes this arch-mutilator ever committed was one he speaks of in a chapter devoted to his boy, the son of his wife, whom he married in New England while but a youth. The chapter in question tells a story that is hardly credible, coming as it does from the lips of a father, and outranks for barbarous cruelty any other act he ever committed.

   The only explanation he offers is that he did it simply to gratify his love of mutilation.

   "It was shortly after I was married," he declares "and our boy was then but a youngster, playing about with other lads of his own size and age, when I was seized with a wild desire to destroy

   "I called him in from the road, where he was frollicking about like an innocent with a lot of other lads, and took him out to a rear barn.

   "I don't know what it was possessed me, but I took a surgical knife along with me. It was not the sudden impulse nor the maddening desire of a father, seeing his child about to grow up and enter a world of sorrow and sin, that led me to the deed. No, it was not that. It was simply the craving of the murderer within me that inspired me to make a subject of my little one.

   "I noticed that there was a terrible look of fear on the little fellow's face as I took him into the barn, and he trembled as I took the knife and told him to undress.

   "I have often thought since that it was like the look of the scared rabbit laid on the operating table as its pitiful eyes search the group about him and see them all intent only on the anticipated incision."

   With the utmost abandon and with here and there a sigh of regret, Holmes then tells how he went through the operation of mutilating his own son.

   He tells how his own flesh and blood was made to submit to the barbarous blade, and then and there was mutilated simply to pacify the cravings of a murderer's heart.

   Finished with that, Holmes felt satisfied and did not murder his boy outright.

Benjamin Pitezel.

RELICS OF THE HOLMES TRIAL.

The Articles Will All Be Turned Over to Mrs. Pitezel.

   PHILADELPHIA, April 11.—Assistant District Attorney Barlow announces that all the relics that figured in the trial of H. H. Holmes for the murder of Benjamin P. Pitezel will be shipped to Mrs. Pitezel at Galva, Ills., as soon as the law has finally disposed of the murderer. They will include, besides Pitezel's picture, the fragmentary remains of the three murdered children.

   Mrs. Pitezel within the past few days requested her counsel here to arrange for the shipment so that she might give decent interment to what was left of her dead little ones. She also inquires if she cannot obtain all or part of the money taken from her by Holmes while he was taking her about the country.

   This is interesting in view of the statement that Holmes has received a large sum for his alleged confession. Mrs. Pitezel's counsel would not state whether any judgment would be entered against Holmes, but it is believed nothing will be done.

   Mrs. Pitezel also inquires if steps cannot be taken to compel Lawyer Howe of St. Louis, Holmes' alleged co-conspirator in the insurance swindle, to return the $2,500 she alleges he obtained from her. Her counsel is now considering just what steps to take in both these matters.

GREATER NEW YORK VETOED.

Almost Certain That Mayor Strong Has Followed Wurster's Example.

   ALBANY, April 11.—The announcement to the effect that Mayor Wurster of Brooklyn had vetoed the Greater New York bill was not received with much surprise for it had been generally expected, but there was the greatest anxiety to find out just what action the mayor of New York had taken upon the matter.

   Edward A. Cole of Mayor Strong's office brought the Greater New York bill and the memorandum of Mayor Strong, which he deposited with Clerk Kenyon and took a receipt. He had been preceded by the messenger of the mayor of Brooklyn, who had also delivered a sealed package and been given a receipt for it.

   Both declined to say what the contents of the packages were or what the action of the municipal authorities had been.

   President pro tem Ellsworth was in the room when the packages were delivered and upon his advice they were left intact and deposited in the safe to be opened only on Monday night.

   The general belief as to the action of Mayor Strong among both Republicans and Democrats is that the mayor has vetoed the bill.

   Acting Speaker O'Grady said he had almost definite news as to this assumed fact and Senator Lexow said that he had heard from an authoritative source that such was the fact.

   Mayor Gleason of Long Island has returned the bill with his approval.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Sweatshops.

   The Illinois law directed against sweatshops has failed of its object. There are now 300 more such shops than there were when the law was passed. Its advocates met the bitter disappointment which all reforming enthusiasts encounter when they undertake to law righteousness into people before the people are ready for it. The clause prohibiting the employment of women and children more than a certain number of hours was pronounced unconstitutional, which was right so far as women are concerned certainly. A law interfering with the liberty of a full grown individual to work when and how he likes is tyranny. Strangely enough the reforming enthusiasts claim as a remedy for the failure of their law more law. They want congress to take the matter up, forgetting that if a moderate law cannot be enforced a stiff law certainly would not be. The reformers must go to work another way to abate the frightful evils of sweatshops. If they could find some new employment for the victims, for instance, they could clear out the sweatshops in 24 hours.

   The New York legislature has before it an odd bill looking toward the suppression of sweatshops. It is called the Sulzer bill, and provides that a tax of $800 shall be levied on every man who takes clothing to make by contract and an additional $300 for every contractor to whom he sublets the work. Just how this is to help the sweatshop victim it is hard to see. It would tax some contractors out of existence, only to fill the shops of the rest with more workmen, who would be ground down all the harder to allow the contractor to pay the tax. There would be as much sense in fining a man or woman heavily for working in a sweatshop.

   ◘ With war on their hands in the Sudan, with the Matabeles massacring white men in South Africa, with France protesting against their course in Egypt and with the Venezuelan boundary line still unsettled, it looks as if the gentlemen who compose the British government are in no danger of running out of employment.

   ◘ The Cuban patriots are now stronger than ever they were before. The late successful blockade runnings from this country have given them plenty of arms, ammunition and men. Like the Confederates during our civil war, they have learned the art of living off the country they pass through. Spain, on the contrary, is growing weaker every day.

   ◘ Except that of the United States, the flag of free Cuba is the prettiest and most artistic one in existence. It consists of three blue stripes and two white ones, having at the right side next the flagstaff a red triangular field bearing in its center a white star. Viva Cuba libre!

   ◘ The title of "senator from Spain" will now probably cling to Mr. Eugene Hale as long as he lives. Senator Gray could not have done better if he had said it on purpose instead of intending to indicate the senator from Maine.

AN OLD OFFENDER.

Arrested at the Point of a Pistol in the Postoffice.

   The crowd of people at the postoffice at about 7 :30 o'clock last night was decidedly surprised and some ladies very much frightened at seeing a man in their midst arrested at the point of a pistol by two officers. There was a very sudden retreat from the proximity of the three by every one there. The man arrested, however, made no trouble, but meekly held up his hands at the word of command to permit the bracelets to be snapped around them. He had been surprised and there was little else that he could do than to obey as he looked into the gleaming revolver barrel. What he would have done had he known of the program can well be inferred from similar occasions in the past, but the officers well knew their man and took him off his guard.

   The prisoner was none other than De Ver Richer who has a police record here and elsewhere. He is the man who led Sheriff John Miller such a chase a couple of years ago and was finally arrested after a hard fight. More recently he is said to have cleaned out a posse of constables in Chenango county who had a warrant for his arrest. He was finally captured at another time and was taken to Binghamton where he was convicted and sentenced. He was only recently released from custody and now has been gathered in again.

   This time he is wanted in Lincklaen to answer to a charge preferred by William Hyres who alleges in his complaint that last Saturday as the result of an altercation at his own house Richer drew a revolver on him and drove him out of his own home. Hyres swore out a warrant on Monday and Oficer A. D. Parker of that place has been looking for him ever since. Thursday night Officer Parker drove over to the home of Deputy Sheriff Ira S. Crandall, northeast of Cortland, and yesterday the two spent the day looking for Richer. They found that he was going under the name of Charles Breed and learned that he was expecting some letters. Consequently they kept the postoffice in sight last night. They had been warned by several officers not to let Richer see them as they approached him to arrest him.

   While they stood near the postoffice corner Richer passed by and went in.

Both followed and as he stepped up to the general delivery window Officer Crandall presented his "pop" with the words "I want you," while Officer Parker, warrant in hand, snapped on the jewelry.

   Richer spent the night in jail and this morning started with Officer Parker for Lincklaen. When searched he was found to be unarmed, but often when taken he has been found either with a gun or a big knife or both in his possession.

BREVITIES.

   —The Bostonians have already been booked for a return engagement at Ithaca on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 5.

   —The Binghamton presbytery, to which the Presbyterian churches of this county belong, meets at Union on Monday, April 20, at 8:30 o'clock.

   —The sale and supper to be held by the ladies of Grace church will occur at the Dowd building on Main-st., next Tuesday afternoon and evening.

   —Rev. Henry F. Hubbard of Chenango Forks will preach to-morrow morning and evening at Grace church in exchange with the rector, Rev. Amos Watkins.

   —The Salvation Army will conduct a free and easy meeting at the W. C. T. U. rooms Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The meeting will be in charge of Salvation Henry.

   —Rev. W. H. Pearce, D. D., of Wilkesbarre, Pa., will preach for his brother, Rev. L. H. Pearce, D. D., at the First M. E. church to-morrow evening at 7:30 o'clock.

   —The members of the C. A. A. wish to express their sincere thanks to all those who were in any way instrumental in making their recent presentation of the operatic minstrels a success.

   —Rev. E. R. D. Briggs, who has been the pastor of the M. E. church at Marathon for the past five years, is by recent appointment of the Wyoming conference to go to Whitney Point next year.

   —The Ohio legislature has voted to substitute the electric chair for the gallows. The new law takes effect July 1 next. All persons now under the sentence of death will be executed in the old way.

   —The Sunday-school class of Mr. A. W. Angell last evening had a warm sugar sociable at the home of Mrs. George French, 40 Crandall-st. Twenty-one people enjoyed a very pleasant evening there.

   —At the regular meeting of the Sons of Veterans last night it was voted to meet the fifth Friday night in each month whenever there is a fifth Friday in addition to the second and fourth as heretofore.

   —A small building is being erected at the rear of the Grand Central block. It will be used by Rood & Co. for the manufacture of ice cream when they get moved into their new quarters now occupied by Fred I. Graham.

   —New advertisements to-day are—A. H. Watkins, dry goods, page 5; A. Mahan, pianos, page 5; F. Daehler, spring neckwear, page 4; A. Burgess, dressy spring suits, page 7; L. N. Hopkins, sweet peas, page 6; Wesson-Nivison Mfg. Co., page 5.

   —A petition to the legislature to change the name of Montour Falls to Havana is being circulated in that village. The legislature last year changed the name from Havana to Montour Falls, and the dissatisfaction with the change has been quite general.—Rochester Democrat.

   —The Erie is to shorten its main line distance to New York twenty-four miles. It will extend the Greenwood line in New Jersey through to Port Jervis, double track the road and through trains will be run by this route, by way of Montclair. The grades are also better and it is expected much faster time can also be made.

   —Mr. H. S. Miller, the Bible reader who finished an engagement in his work some weeks ago at the First M. E. church, and has since been conducting meetings at McGrawville, will hold meetings all of next week except Saturday evening in the Presbyterian church here. The evening meetings will be at 7:30 and the time of the afternoon meetings will be announced later. The first meeting will be on Monday evening.