The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-24
holmes IS A MESMERISI
:he Champion SwindIer an Enthusi-
asst on the Subject Of Hypnotism'
PLAIN TALK BY HIS ATTORNEY
Lawyer Hawkins Intimates That the In
surance Juggler Has Made Fool OF
Himself in Talking to the Officers
and Making Various Confessions.
BY the United Press.

By the United Press.
Philadelphia, Nov. 23.-I4awyer Harry
c. Hawkins, who has been retained TO
defend Holmes, the insurance swindler,
visited the accused in his cell at the city
hall this morning and had long con-
ference.
At the very beginning OF the talk
Holmes was bluntly and emphatically
informed that he had acted the part OF
q fool, pure and simple, in unburdening
himself and making such startling con-
fessions as are alleged to have been
made to the representatives of the ip-
surance company. To his attorney Ne
declared with much emphasis that Pit
eel was still alive. and that his wherea-
bouts can be located when his (Holmes)
mail is forwarded from Chicago.
Holmes expressed himself as being su-
premely happy that he was under ar
rest, and asserted that even If his cell
door were thrown wide open he would
not attempt to escape. While he ad-
mitted that he was guilty of many
crimes, he declared with much earnest
ness that he was not guilty of shedding
human DiOOu, anu bhot iiNi NNA NSNiN
not be charged up against him.
Holmes seems to have a mania for
hypnotism and although uopn all other
subjects he talks with rare intelligence,
when this subject is brought up he
seems to lose control of himself
Where Is Mrs Holmes?
When Mrs. Holmes came to this city
L.. ,,,tA h. l. nd NI,,c
Pitzel she was placed in a hotel, but
afterward removed to house, the ad
dress of which the police have refused
to make known.
Today Lawyer Hawkins wrote a let
ter TO the superintendent, saying that
the secreting of Mrs. Holmes and deny
ing her the privilege of visiting and
consulting with her husband in this,
his greatest hour of need, was a wrong.
He stated that unless the woman was
produced at an early date, writ of
habeas corpus would be applied for to
compel the superintendent or those hav-
ing the woman in custody to produce
her
District Attorney Graham said this
afternoon that no time had been set for
the trying of the case.
Clcw TO pitzel's Whereabouts.
Chicago, Nov. 23-The Woodlawn po-
lice today obtained clew regarding
3. F. PltZel, the accomplice of II. II.
Holmes who is now detained in Phila-
bhia on charges of having swindled
n insurance company Shortly after
me account of Holmes arrest was pub
lished and the story of Pitzels death
given out, the police of the Woodlawn
station thought they recognized in the
description Of Pitzel a man who had
lived in the Morgan fats on Madison
avenue, near Sixty-third street. They
followed up the case and found that the
suspect was Pitzel, and that he had va
Gated his Morgan fiat apartments on
May l last, storing his furniture al
Curtis Bros. warehouse. Early in
August Pitzel was in the city ostensibly
to make arrangements regarding the
removal of his household effects to st
Louis, where he intended to make his
home for the winter.
He soon left for Philadelphia, and the
above facts regarding his st. Louis ar
rangements, 1t is said, are embodied IL
letter written to Mr.. Curtis from thai
place. The st. Louis address was giver
as 2,3O6 Michigan street. Shortly after
ward letter was received from Pitze
In st. Louis, in which he promised soor
to clear the standing Indebtedness OF
his furniture and effect its removal
Four letters have been written by Mr.
Curtis to Pitzel at st. Louis, and a!
none have been returned to him the DO
lice firmly believe that Pitzel is aliv,
and in st. Louis.
Nailed His Own Lies.
Philadelphia, Nov. 23.-Holmes AM
Mrs. Pitzel were removed this afternoon
from the central police station to tn
county prison. The Society for tn
prevention of Cruelty to Children pro
posed to take charge of Mrs. Pitzep
two children, but she begged so piteous
ly to allow them to go to urlson wit
her that Police Surgeon Andrews CAV
1t as his opinion that in the woman
nervous condition 1t would be danger
Gus to her health to separate her fror
her children.
To the charge of murder, Holme
will make defense to the last an
fully expects to be able to prove tina
Pitzel Is alive without even having [
produce him. Holmes nailed one of hi
own lies today by retracting the stor
that one of the Williams girls had bee
murdered in Chicago and that he ha
| buried her body in the lake. He sal
that the girl had not been killed, bl
I that she Is now travelling in Europe.