Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-21
His Corpse Not Used in the At
tempted Insurance Swindle.
WAS RECENTLY SEEN IN CHICAGO
Tracing the Former Life Of Howard
or Holmes.
THE WILLIAMS GIRL MURDER

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. November 21.-
The mystery involved in the swindle at
tempted on the Fidelity Life Insurance
Company, and which was thought to In
clude a murder, deepens as time wears on.
Today many theories in regard to the mys-
terry were knocked in the head by the an
nouncement that B. F. PitZel, the supposed
murdered man, was seen in Chicago less
than two weeks ago.
President Fouse of the Fidelity Life In
surance Association said today:
This morning my Chicago representative
telegraphed me that Mr.. Ryan, who is a
business man of Chicago, called on him
and said that he saw b. F. Pitzel in that
city less than two weeks ago. Mr.. Ryan
said that he has known Pitzel for many
years and has had frequent business trans
actions with him and that II is impossible
for him to be mistaken.
when they met Ryan did not know that
Pitzel was supposed to be dead. and the
two greeted each other cordially and re-
paired to a nearby saloon, where they had
a drink together.
Then they separated, and Ryan says that
he does not know whether Pitzel was to
locate in that city or not. However, our
men there and the Pinkerton detectives
have taken up the clew, and IL is my opin-
ION that B. F. Pitzel will be produced with
in few days..
TILTON, n. H., November 2l.-The
identity of II. III. Howard, alias Holmes,
implicated in the "burking" at Philadel-
phia, has been clearly established here as
a native of this state, Herman w. Mudgett.
His wife, in interview, during which
she was first made acquainted with the
true character of her husband, gives much
interesting Information regarding his ear
ly life. She is living here quietly with her
ffteen-year-old son, and is supporting her
self by dressmaking. She says she married
Mudgett in Loudon, this state, more than
sixteen years ago, and that Tor time lie
taught school III Chinatown and Alton.
Afterwards he studied medicine at Burl-
ington, VT, and later at the Michigan Uni
versity, during which time she resided
with her father at Loudon. She finally
Joined him at Ann Arbor, but returned to
chinatown. Then she lost all trace of
the man after he visited her in 1888 and
told her he was going to Chicago on busi-
Eess until he came to her home about two
weeks ago. He remained but few hours,
when he left for Boston, promising to come
soon again.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, November 21.-The Chi
cago police know nothing concerning the
reported murder of Miss Williams, as de-
scribed by Holmes, the insurance swindler
The first intimation that Minnie Williams
from Fort Worth, Tex, who came here
asking the local officers to assist him in
locating the girl. No trace of her was
found and the officer returned to Texas.
Holmes and Miss Williams lived together
In fiat building erected at IO1 G3d street.
Patrick Qunlan was the janitor of this
building at the time Holmes and Miss Will
liams resided there. He is now around
Chicago somewhere, but cannot be located.
The people living near the fiat building
have no knowledge Of q murder having
been committed there.