The herald., 1894-11-23
lie Made a Catspaw of Miss
Durkee.
How Lawyer Howe Was Misled By
the Swindler.
Tbs Insurance swindier's Identity FulIv
Estsbi shed = His Career OF
Crim- In Chicago and
Other Cities.
By the Associated Press.

have been murdered, is living in this
city with her brother, the assistant
auditor OF the Burlington road. Miss
Durkee says she only knew Holmes
through his wife, with whom she was
intimate in her childhood. She had
visited Mrs. Holmes frequently in Chi
cago and during one Of her visits the
real estate deal which brought her into
prominence was enacted. This was
about four years ago, Holmes asked
Miss Durkee as a favor to allow him to
transfer his city property to her. He
said that as he was situated at the time
II would be great convenience. Miss
Durkee consented without asking any
questions.
He explained ct the time that il was
only q matter Of form, and being igno-
rant OF business affairs she accepted
his statement as being true. The prop
erty was decided to her and abe never
had the deed recorded. Some time
sfterwsrd, DR.. Holmes came to her and
requested her to have him appointed as
her administrator 20 that he could han
die the property ~ he wanted to. She
did 30 and at his request decided the
property to q man in Chicago named
Campbell, but she does not know who
he 10 or what Was his occupation. After
this Holmes sent her some stock in
some enterprises in which he was inter-
ested, asking her to keep 1t Tor him
awhile. In the latter part of May o:
ths first OF June, 1892. Holmes and sew
eral persons came to Omaha to take her
deposition regarding the property.
Each Of them was represented by law
yer, also from Chicago, and one Of them
explained at the time that they had
been of the opinion that che was O
mythical person. The cause of their
coming here was a suit brought against
Holmes by some drug company in
Chicago, to whom he owed q sum Of
money. This was the last OF the trans-
actions between DR.. Holmes and Miss
Durkee.
After the transfer OF property to her,
Miss Durkee was summoned to Omaha
by telegraph en- account of the sudden
out an opportunity to explain her Cnex-
the foundation for the story that she was
murdered.
Last August Miss Durkee was again In
Chicago. Holmes was out OF the city,
and che was told by Mrs. Holmes that
he had gone TO Philadelphia to attend to
some business in regard to an insurance
case. Miss Durkes says she 10 almost
cure that the name mentioned was Pitzel
end that Holmes went in behalf OF Mrs.
Pi,zsl.
LAWYER HOWE IN CUSTODY.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Nov. 22.-Jephtha
d. Hove. the young St. Lewis lawyer
who, in connection with II. II. Holmes,
is charged with defraudinQ local in
Eurance company OF $4,000, reached
this city today from St. Louis. He was
met by Marshal F. Mcdonald OF st.
Louis, law partner of young Howe's
brother, and surrendered himself.
Lawyer Mcdonald said: "This arch
conspirator. H. H. Holmes. or II. H.
Morgan, the name by which he was
known in st. Louis, oame to my Office
while was absent in Colorado and pro-
posed the case, saying Mrs. Pitzel
wanted some one to represent her. 1t
was the first case the boy had ever been
offered, and he jumped right into it with
all the vigor and enthusiasm OF youth.
He did not wait for US to return. and the
result was this slick crook imposed
upuu NY yOuuk iIlouu Iu1y uhV6
been indiscreet but he 10 no criminal"
lieves Howe was misled by Holmes. A,
Q. L. Shields. the noted criminal law
yer, will act as counsel for young
Howe.
Lawyer Howe, late in the day gave
out q statement In refersnce to his con-
nection with the Holmes .Pitzel affair.
1t was q complete denial OF the crimi-
nal motives attributed to him, and de.
tailed how he came to be engaged az
counsel. The whole thing, he claims,
was entirely professional. After the
supposed death of Pitzel, under another
name, he claims. he did not proceed
with the case until Mrs. Pitzsl satisfied
him that the dead man was her hus-
band.
Howe was taken to court and released
under bond of $2500. He was asked
to say something about his connection
with Holmes in the matter.
II do not desire to say anything about
that at this time" he replied, "nor
about several matters with which my
name has been connected"
HOLMES IDENTITY.
TILroN, N. Y. Nov. 22.-Ths identity
OF H. II. Howard, alias Holmes, has
been clearly established here as native
of this state, Herman w. Mudgett. His
wife, in an interview during which she
was first made acquainted with the true
character of her husband, gives much
information regarding his early life. She
is living here quietly with her 15-year-
old son, and is supporting herself by
dressmaking. She says che married
Mudgstt in London, this state, about 16
years ago, and that for time he taught
school in Gilmanton and Alton. After
wards he studied medicine at Burling-
ton, Vermont, and later at the Michigan
university, duving which time she
resided with her father ct London. She
finally Joined him at Ann Arbor but
returned to Gilmanton. Then she lost
all trace Of the man after he visited her
IN 1883 and told her he was going to
Chicago on business, until he came to
his home about two weeks ago. He only
remained few hours when he left for
Boston, promising to come SOON again.
HOLMES CHICAGO CAREER.
CHICAGO, Nov. 22.-Mystery still sur
rounds the Chicago career of H. II.
Holmes. The sleuths OF the city are at
their wits ends to discover just what he
Old after he arrived in this city.
Holmes best friends are inclined to
tnink him apt to be guilty OF anything
which would serve his own ends. His
alleged confeHeion of the crimes that
had blacksned his life is looked upon by
his intimates as a cleverly planned ruse
to mislead the officers of the Law as.