The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-31
MRS. PIETzEL'S STORY
SHE TOLD OF HOLMES BASE
TRANSACTIONS WITH HER
HUSBAND.
THE LIFE INSURANCE POLICY

HeIsnes Introduced Her to Attorney
Howe and Persuaded Her to Allow
Him to Collect the MOney--She Re-
seived Only $500 of the 100000
How Holmes Got Possession OF the
Children and Managed to Deceive
Her bout Tbs em and Her Husband.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct 80 -Four long
hours 10 day, under the scrutinizing gaze
of court room crowded with strangers
TO her; a pale, worn woman underwent
an ordeal which we'll might have broken
the nerve of many strong man. She
was Mrs. Carrie Alice Pietzel. With
bravery and f0rtitude she stood the test,
in spite of the fact that her physical
condition was 50 shattered by the battal
ion of wots under which she
has ali but sue 3umbed, that she
was obliged to interrupt her pitt
ful narrative at frequent intervals
80 accept spoonfuls of medicine from
the trained nurse who attended her. In
a voice roken with grief she told the
whole distressin< story. How her hos
band was spirited away from her and
murdered out of sheer greed of gam;
how she bade her little ones good bye,
eonfding them to the care of the man
Holmes IN all trustfulness, little think
ing that when next she should set eyes
on them the two little girls would be
lying side by de on the marble slab
Of . morgue, cold in death, and
the 0oy, parcel of mouldering bonss.
Between her bitter sobs, she related
every detail-from the first me, ting with
Holmes, almost up to to day, and 50 af
fecting WAS the story that even District
Attorney Graham, long used to tales of
misery and distress, paused in the ex
animation TO wipe away fugitive tear.
The womau's physical condition was
such thai the court crier had to repeat
her testimony after her because of her
weak voice.
Throughout it all, the shrqnken, pallid
figure in the dock who to one unta
miliar with the shocking story, would
never be taken for the arch criminal of
the age-sat unmoved Not a muscle
.aaiyered. not a lash moved. Indeed,
once or twice, AS some statement from
her lips struck chord in his breast if
chords there be in such mana mali
eious sneer played around his thin and
Dloodle-s lips.
The first witness to day was Susan
Hurley. who keeps a boarding house at
1904 r ace street Sne said Pietzel
boarded at her house for week in Au-
gvst, 1894.
Ola Forrest Perry, assistant to the
President of the Fidelity Mutual Life
Association, was then called This is
the company which was swindled out of
$40 900, for which Pletzel's life was in
sured, and it was Perry who began the
investigation into the gigantic con-
spiracy.
He identified the Pietzel policy for
&c, 600; the receipt for the money which
was paid to Howe, Mr.. Pietzel's attor-
ney, and told of incidents connected
with the payment.
After the payment of the money the
narter was clos d, until letter was re
.ceived by President Fouse, OF the insnr
ance company, from Superintendent of
Police Harrlgan, of st. Louis. This con-
tanned the declaration of Hedspeth, the
train rsbber, that while in Jail in ST.
Louis he had overheard Holmes and
Pietzel talking of forming a conspiracy
10 defraud au insurance company out of
$40. 900 by the substitution of corpse
for Pietsel. Inspector Gray, of the in
snranoe company, was sent to st Louis
and interviewed Hedspeth. On the in
formation thus obtained warrant was
sworn out for Holmes on the charge of
conspiracy, and upon this he was arrest
ed in Boston.
s'I asked him where Mrs. Pietzel was, i"
aaid Perry, land ne replied that he did
aot care to tell Then asked him where
Pietxel was and he said he was in South
America or on his way there and the boy
Howard with him"
After an unimportant cross-examina-
ton, Perry was temporarily withdrawn
from the stand.
Inspector VIM. e Gray, of the insur-
ance company. told of atrip to st. Louis,
where he procured Hedspeth's statement.
Orrin N. Hanson. Deputy Superin-
tendent of Police of Boston, directed
Holmes arrest on telegram from Fort
Worth, Texas, saying he was wanted
there for larceny of one horse" Holmes
smiled at this testimony. When arrested,
Holmes said he did not want to go to
Fort Worth, but that he would go with
cut requisition to Philadelphia, where he
had defrauded the Fidelity Insurance
Company, of $40 900 This was entirely
voluntarily on Holmes part.
Shortly after the noon recess Inspector
Hall of the Toronto Police Department,
arrived with Mr.. Ryves, who Is expected
to swear that he lent Holmes the spade
With which he dug the graves for the
PietEel girls. Ryyes lived next to the
house where the bodies were found and
he was aecosted by Holmes over the back
fence and asked for the loan of a spade
Francis K Qlinn, an employee of the
Fidelity Insurance Company, identified
Holiness signature to a statement pre-
par,d by Quinn, as notary public. This
statement was read and is, in substance,
as follows:
w Wnlle IN iaiI in ST T,cuis Holmes met