The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-20
TRUE BILLS FOUND
THREE PERSONS ACCUSED OF CON-
sPIRACY TO DEFRAUD.
Alleged Life Insurance Wherein a
Medical College Stiff is Figure
Wife of the Missing Man Indicted
With Her Attorney and Another
Man-Statementso Of Parties.

ST. LOUIS. Nov. 19-Jephta D. Howe, an
attorney having an office with the law
firm of Mcdonald g. Howe of this city,
was arrested today on the charge or con-
spring with one II. II. Holmes TO defraud
Tire Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance com
pany of Philadelphia out of $4,000.
Howe has made this statement: 90
not believe that a fraud mas been com
mitfed. | believe that the body identified
by Pitzell's 10 year old daughter was that
of her father. The marks of Identification
were perfect. As to how Pitzel met his
death l cannot say. But, rs salu
to Mr.. Gary, if a fraud has been
committed l am as anxious to have IL In
yestigated as any one and Will 90 ali
in my power to bring the guilty TO punish
ment. 1took the case in good falth anu
acted as any attorney would have done.
Mr. Gray asked me if this were proved
fraud if l would be willing to return to the
company my fee / told him | would be
not only willing. but would not under any
circumstances keep any part OF 1t.
Mr. Howe says he has no fear OF the re-
suit of his case, but dislikes the notorlety
it gives him.
The Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance
company began An attachment SUIT today
in the circuit court against j. ID. Howe ana
Carrie A. Pitzel, the reputed widow OF the
supposed dead man. Ihe suit IS LOT s4V'-
000
AS soon IS she received the money Mrs.
Pitzel and family are said to have moved
10 Davenport, Iowa.
Holmes. or II. VI. Howard, as he was
known in this city, got into trouble here
last summer by selling a stock of drugs on
which there WAS d mortgage. 1t Is claim
ed bv detectives here that Howard stated
TO several prisoners in the Jail so that IL
came to the ears of the guard that he had
the best scheme ever conceived for swlnd-
ling AN insurance company, If only he
could get some sharp attorney TO help
him. While in jail Howard became az
Quainted In professional way Win Az
torney Howe.
The allegation made by Howard is that
the body was not that OF PltZel, but one
which he, as druggist, had obtained from
medical college. He says PitzePs wife
and daughter were also In the conspiracy
and claims that attorney howe knew oL
the conspiracy.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 13.-The grand
Jury late this afternoon found a true bill
against Herman Midget alias II. ii.
Holmes now IA prisoner in Boston, Jeptha
Is. Howe, the st LOuis lawyer who col
llected the insurance money on K. L. Pit-
zel's policy for the latter's widow and the
widow herself. The indictment reads for
conspiracy to cheat and defraud.
Alexander Mcknight, vice president of
the Fidelity Mutual company, made the
following statement this afternoon:
while the suspicion has grown until we
are nearly positive that Pitzel was muir
dered. the only charge made before the
grand Jury WAS that of conspiracy to de-
fraud.
Il am positive that the body found on
September 4, at No. 1916 Callow Hillow
street. on which AN inquest was held the
next day. as that of B. (. Perry. is none
other than that of b. f. Pitzel," said Coro-
her Ashbridge today. Il am not at liberty
assertion, but if | were and pointed them
put, you would be convinced"
1t was stated this afternoon that Mrs.
PitZel had been arrested In Burlington,
VT. and made confession.
The detectives have practically aban-
ioned the murder theory and now think
they are on the track OF PItZel IN the per-
son of a man calling himself Is. Il. Lyman,
whose whereabouts they refuse 10 dlYuige.
They stated tonight that Mrs. Pitzel had
mace q confession substantially the same
rs that OF Holmes, except that she believes
her husband to be in Sonth America. She
has not seen him since the alleged crime
WAS committed.
The insurance officials profess also to
nave received word that Holmes and Mrs.
Pitzel were enroute to this city, having left
Boston tonight. Mrs. Pi iZel, 1t Is said,
was decoyed from Burlington, VI, TO Bos-
ION by a communication which she sup
posed TO be from Holmes.