The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-27
PAT QUINLAN A BAD ONE.
Holmes Partner i'm Crime-How Mrs.
Conner Was Killed.

Chicago, July 26--Mrs. Patrick Quinlan
lost her defiant spirit in the police inquisi-
ton today. Two days of "sweatboX eX-
perience proved more than she could
bear with equanimity, and she told the
police things which before had not been
acknowledged. 1t has resulted in MAX
ing the police more than ever suspicious
of her husband and the part he took in
the mysterious business of Holmes.
Our evidence of today, secured from
Mrs. Ouinlan, is highly important" said
Chief Badenoch tonight. ''She has con-
fessed TO a,betting Holmes in his insur-
ance swindles, and that is a step in the
right direction. Pat ouinlan up to this
hour firmly protests that he was mere
hireling and did not know Holmes at
fairs at all.
Mrs. Quinlan's evidence was that after
Mrs. Conner disappeared it became neces-
sary for Holmes TO produce her to collect
some insurance. Mrs. Quin.an consented
to act in her place She went TO an in
surance Office in La.5alle street, not Yet
located, and swore that she was Mrs.
Conner and signed that name. l think
she was wanted to attest in the collection
OF some fire insurance that was to be Sc
cured by FRAUD This opens the way TO
other deals which ii is necessary to know
to fasten the guilt of many supposed muir
ders'
Inspector Fitzpatrick located Quinlau's
child today. Little Cora Quinlan is safe
and sound" he said, ''at the home of the
Johnsons. her grandparents. near la
Gotta. Mich" Mrs. Quinlan Is locked In a
cell in Harrison street station tonight.
A man named Oscar ". Fay was also
brought to light today. who admitted that
he wrote the policies for the insurance on
the lives of Holmes and PitZel. He adj
mits very frankly that Holmes encour-
aged him to keep after Pitzel until he got
his insurance written, saying that Pitzel
might drop off at any time
Mr.. Fay also knew Pat Qufnlan, and
Holmes also assured him that Quinlan
was a man TO ''be trusted with any kind
OF a job, and who would do it we'll and be-
tray nothing
According TO the statements of j. L.
Belknap, IL was Christmas night four
years and six months ago that Mrs. Con-
ner was killed. He believes she was
asphyxiated in her room while she slept.
Her room was the small one
adjoining the bathroom in the
castle When all was still in the
house Holmes turned on the gas.
When the deed was accomplished Holmes
stealthily admitted himself through the
secret door of the bath room. He lifted
the inanimate form of Mrs. Conner from
thu bed and carried II 10 the bath room.
Then, placing the body in the bath tub.
he proceeded 10 cut il to pieces and fed
them to fire in the stove, which was
fired with fuel until it became raging
furnace. When all was done he took the
ashes and parts that had not been en-
tirely burned and buried them in mass
OF quicklime in the cellar.
Col. Belknap is an uncle OF the father OF
the Willamette wife of Holmes. He re-
sided for many years at Big Foot Prairie.
Ill. He became acquainted with Holmes
through his nephew's connection with
him. When Holmes learned that Uncle
Belknap was worth considerable fortune
he tried to swindle him out of 1t. He en-
deavored to obtain loans, and did get
$1,000 in this way. After escaping from
Holmes clutches Mr.. Belknap went to
New York state. and he now resides at
Weston Mills. y. Y.
The details OF the crimes OF which
Holmes is accused in the newspapers he
wrote in several letters 10 friends in this
city, asking that his information be
transmitted TO the police. These letters
contain the statements that Mr.. Belknap
and his wife spent Christmas with Holmes
and Mrs. Conner az the Sixty-third street
block; that he helped Holmes carry the
now famous stove through the secret
trap door to ths bathroom adjoining Mrs.
Corners room. That night, he claims.
Mrs Conner disappeared. going 10 Oma-
ha, Il was said.