San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-11-24
HOLMES OR GORDON.
THE SLEEK VILLAIN KNEW HOW TO
FOOL FOLKS.
HIS PROPOSED TRIP TO EUROPE
AND PLANS FOR THE EDUOA-
TION OF SISTER-IN-LAW.
DIR. Block Thinks the Whole Scheme
Plan to Murder His Nieces
and Leave no Trail to
Track the Murderer.

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 24.-Minnie
and Annie Williams, connected
with the career OF Hol mes, the in
surance swindler, were nieces OF
DR.. w. G. Block, Of this city, who
Ia editor of the Method ist Christian
Advocate. Their father was killed
In railroad wreck and their moth
or died soon afterward. This was
/ In 1872 and the younger sister,
Annie, was but one year old. Their
parents died poor and left them
nothing. The younger girl remain
ed in Mississippi with her aunt
and the other girl went to Dallas
where she lived with her uncle, DIR.
Williams, who adopted her as his
daughter and educated her in the
schools of that place. In 1886
Minnie was sent to the conserva-
tory of elocution in Boston where
she graduated after three years.
course. In the meantime her uncle
died, leaving her property consist
ing of real estate in Fort Worth
valued at $40, 900.
From Boston Minnie met her sis
ter in Mississippi and the two
went to the home of their uncle,
DIR. 9. w. Block, in Jackson, Miss,
where they were together for the
first time since they were infants.
This was in 1889. They visited
DIR. Block some time and then
went to Texas together. Before
this Minnie had returned to Boston
to take a course in the New Eng
land conservatory of elocution. She
finished this course in 1880 and
went to Denver, where she re-
manned for some time, teaching
elocution. When she visited her
uncle Mr.. Block, in Jackson, Miss,
in 1889, she had a picture
Of young man she had
met in Boston whose name was
Harry Gordon. She spoke of him
as "Harry" and said she was very
much smitten with him, as he was
handsome and wealthy.
In March 1898, the elder girl
went to Chicago. The dispatches
have related that she was type
writer, but DIR. Block doubted the
truth of that as she was fine
elocutionist and was devoted to
her studies, giving her attention
to nothing else. Soon after going
to Chicago she wrote to her sister
telling her about "Harry Gordon"
and saying she was going to
marry him. Soon after receiving
this letter came another stating
that they had been married. The
sister in Texas left for Chicago
last June, soon after school closed
in Midlothian, Texas.
On July 4th, 1893. Mamie wrote
the following letter to her aunt,
Miss Lucy Marshal, in Terry, Miss.
She had not been long in Chicago:
No. 1920 Wright Wood street,
Chicago, Ills, July 4, 1898: Dear
Aunt Lucy: / wrote you from
Midlothian saying L was coming
here and also as soon as reached
here, but / have not heard from
you. l have taken in the Fair to
my hearts content and have en-
jOyed il so much. Sister, brother
Harry and myself go to Milwau-
kee tomorrow and will go to Old
Orchard Beach, Me-, by way of the
lakes and the st. Lawrence river.
Will spend about two weeks and
will then go down to New York
for me to look around about study
ing art. Then we will sail for Ger
many by way Of London and
Paris. II / like | will stay and
study art; If not L will
return to New York in time to
make you a visit before beginning
my voyage. l can hardly realize L
am to have this great advantage,
for which / have wished so log.
Brother Harry says you need never
trouble any more about me, finan-
cially or otherwise. He and sister
will see to me. / hope our hard
days are over. Will write again
as soon as we are settled. Write
me right away and address to Chi I
cago and letters will be forwarded
to me. Your loving niece, Mamie
Williams"
In October DIR. Block began to
feel uneasy about the girls, as the
last heard from them was this let
ter, but thinking that they had
gone across the ocean as the letter
indicated, he ceased for the time to
worry about their safety. When
Mamie Williams left Midlothian
she did so hastily, and her trunk
was to be expressed to Chicago.
The trunk arrived July 6, and has