The San Francisco call., 1895-07-20
SEARCHING FOR CORPSES,
Bones Supposed to Be Those
of the Williams Sisters
Found.
the Basement of Chicago
House.

CHICAGO, Ill, July 2o.-AIl last night
two detectives from the central station
were engaged in digging in the basement
and searching the building at 701 Sixty
third street in search of the bodies of Min
ME Williams and her beautiful sister, who.
it is supposed, were murdered by DIR. H. II
Holmes now under arrest in Philadelphia,
charged with the murder of Benjamin
Pietzel.
There was a rumor in police circles this
morning that the detectives had found in
an old stove charred human bones and a
watchcharm, which it is believed belonged
to Minnie Williams.
During the Worlds Fair DR.. Holmes oc-
cupied the lower floor of the three-story
building at 701 Sixty third street.
During his residence there both Minnie
Williams and her sister lived with him.
They were beautiful and had large
amount Of money. Suddenly the sisters
disappeared. Nothing was thought of the
matter at the time. as it was supposed they
had gone to friends in different parts of
the country.
Last winter, at the time of the arrest of
Holmes for the murder of Pietzel, it was
also supposed that the Williams sisters
had been murdered by Holmes and that
their bodies had been buried in the cellar
of the building occupied by Holmes. De-
tectives were put to work on the case at
that it was decided to excavate the cellar
for the remains of the missing sisters.
This, however, was SO strongly objected
to by the occupants of the first floor that
it was finally abandoned. Since the find
ing of the supposed bodies of the Pietzel
children in the Toronto house, the mys-
terious disappearance of the Williams
sisters, while they were members of DR..
Holmes. household, was recalled by the
police and yesterday Inspector Fitzpatrick
determined upon thorough investiga-
ton.
Detective Sergeants Norton and Fitz-
patrick were detailed, and, after hasty
investigation, gave it as their opinion that
the Williams sisters had been murdered
by Holmes, and that their bodies were
buried in the basement of the house.
Upon this information Inspector Fitz-
patrick ordered the detectives to excavate
the cellar in search of proof.
From the quantity of bones found it was
thought that more than one body had
been burned in the stove, but this
the detectives were unable to determines
All of the bones were wrapped up and will
be submitted to an expert for examination
to ascertain whether tAere are duplicate
pieces.
Detectives Norton and Fitzpatrick are
now fully convinced that they have found
the remains of the Williams sisters. and
that they were murdered by DIR. HI. H.
Holmes. The work of Identification is vet
to be accomplished, and it will be difficult,
owing to the almost complete annihilation
of the bodies.
The only clew which points strongly to
he Identification of the bones is the piece
of watchchain and some hairpins which
are said to have formerly belonged to
Minnie
9 The building where the bones were
found is three-story brick and was built
the year prior TO the Worlds Fair.
1t was originally fat building, and dur
ing the fair the first fat was occupied by
H. Holmes. The first floor was rebuilt
into storeroom and is now occupied by
E. H. Robinson as drugstore. The upper
floors are still used as flats.
Heretofore the occupants of the building
have objected to any search being made
by the police, but Mr.. Robinson readily
gave his consent that the work be pro-
ceeded with when the facts were made
known to him. He not only gave his con-
sent, but assisted the detectives in the
work OF digging.