Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-08-01

Holmes. or Pratt, as he called himself on
tho ground OF obtaining money under false
pretcnses. One OF the banks. nearly every
iradesman in the city. and several private
individuals, had lost considerable sums IN
dealings with Hoimoa.
The Indictment was not hard TO get, and
there was promise Of rough treatment OF
tho swindler n he ever was brought back to
Fort Worth. Holmes know Of the feeling
there, and after his arrest In philadelphia
taken TO Fort Worth 10 stand trial II would
rather be hanged than so back there and
take what those people want 10 give me-"
he said on one occasion,
Tho case OF tho insurance people against
Holmes was at first weak. and Ne knew t.
He confidently expected that " hu wcro
brought 70 trial In Philadelphia he would
be acquitted The requlsluon from TEXAS
however was waiting his release In the
hands Of the authorities aud acQulttal In
Philadelphia meant the realization Of what
he feared Ms consequence, Al that time
there was no evidence Of any murders
In these circumstance Holmes wrote the
following letter.
PHILADELPHIA Pa, May 10. iSg5.-Edward
Otto, ESQ, Fort Worth. Tox.--Doar Sir. |
expect TO so into court here In few days
and soon thereafter TO be ready To be taken
TO Fort Worth upon your rcquizltlon. I as
sumo that you want your money more than
qualification Of any personal feeling toward
me for surely LEFT you we'll protected II
you had seen NJ 10 hold the warehouse man
TO his written agreement. II this Is SO u
YOU will have some officer come here for me
would do so. | wish YOU would got yourself
sworn In deputy and make the trip your
self " you can leave your business, or "
not, please have some one you know como,
My wish is 10 ba taken there as quickly as
possible, and while waiting for my case 10 be
tried. to call together all those who have
debts owing them nom inc and arrange ro
that the building there tthe title TO which
can never be made good without my AID pay
the claims. There Is enough there and In
Chicago to pay all tho claims several times
over.
Please let me hear from you II you like.
Address me as II. II, Holmes County Prison.
Tenth and Reed streets, Philadelphia,
"rry and come yourself II you can. You
would enjoy the trip at this time Of the year.
and while waiting for mo here you could
run down to New York and tho Hoashoto for
a day or so. I Will stand the expense"
Holmes. In the opinion OF Fort Worth peo.
pie, had hit upon scheme to get free.
a pleasant Tip for nothing To be sworn In
A. deputy for the purpoEp Of bringing
Holmes back would be easy. The attorney
thought differently, lie saw the opportunities
for Holmes getting otto TO the selshOre aud
offering him good sum TO let him 60 The
| attorney wired back to Holmes al answer that
| otto could not come. Detective Ren, who had
/ beon tracking Holmes through the country.
| had taken the reputation TO Philadelphia and
/ back.
Tho next day Holmes was brought into
court In Philadelphia and put on trial Tor the
| insurance swlndles. Although the case Of the
! col 1anica had not been strengthened. and
was not regarded conclusive enough for a
! conviction, Holmes pleaded guilty TO the
charges. Detective Voa presented the %
| QUESTION, but the authorities would not give
| Holmes up.
Attorney william Cappn Of Fort woFh.
| who Ia In tho city Mt prcaent time and &C.
quainted with Otto and iiolmeA, was SHOWN
| the letter yesterday.
II have no doubt" he said. that he letter
was a clever rchome on the part OF Hoimrs
/ 10 get away. Otto 10 thoroughly honest man,
| but 80 good-Haturod that he could te crally
| imposed upon. Holmes would pay him Ills
! and that would make Otto think him the best
fellow IN tho world. They would 20 to the
soashoro. Holmes paying the expenses, and
have a good time. Otto would get careless
and the nrst thing he would know he would
be without prisoner, Otto is not q deputy
shorir and mover has done work Of that
kind
"llolmes very Rubtly suggests that he ia
anxious TO get back to Fort Worth and settle
up with his creditors while waiting trial.
That sounds like Holmes docan't ~ hG
never made such a proposition 70 his creditor
before nor since. He knOwu and the people
OF Fort Worth know. that his building 10 moi
worth the amount Of the claims against H.
And as for the Wilkins property he couit
never establish his tile 10 that. OF all place.
IN the country TO which Holmes does no
want to 80 Fort Worth Is tie first The peo
pie there would make II tho warmest placi
on earth for him. But II strikes mo he mad,
very clever attempt 10 get free and nenrll
succeeded, I believe he pleaded guilty II
come for him. lie knew Detective Nci NnLlt
/ rta that he not o. Fort Worth MI riuhf