Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-11-23
HOLMES EXPLAINS.
Declares Missing Hatch Killed
the Pitezel Children.
For the First Time Reveals Identity y
of Mysterious Witness.

For the First Time Reveals Identity
OF Mysterious Witness.
NEW YORK, Nov. 22-H. II. Holmes, the
,vholesnle murderer, Is either the uniucky
victim OF the most curious combination Of ad-
| verse circumstances that ever befel an lnno-
cent man or he is an extremely entertaining
romancer. From his cell in MoyamensihS
Prison, Philadelphia, Holmes has written the
following surprising theory to account for the
murder Of the little Pi.czel children; the
disappearance of Miss Minnie williams,
his missing typewriter: aso her sister
Mamie Williams, also missing. Holmes
now stands convicted of the murder OF Ben
amin f. Pitezel, tho father OF the three
murdered children, whose muilated remains
| were found burned in the collars OF houses
| tenanted by Holmes. For the first timo
Holmes reveals the identity OF the mysteri-
| Gus man Hatch, and points to him as the
murderer of young Howard Pitezel and his
little sisters. Alice and Nellie.
| Edward Hatch. Who Is he?
What connection has he with the Holmes
| case?
These were unanswered queries for the
prosecution.
Upon the 2Sth day of October, when taken
Into court for my trial, felt sure that II con
tinuance for IL reasonable length OF time
would be granted. ~
tbis mythical characteristics will 'o-the.wisp
whom The government authorities claim to be
| unable 10 locate ut any place covered IN my
travels of last year, it will be necessary to
20 back to the year 1883 or 1889. Minnie II.
| Williams, after her be trayal, while attending
the Conservatory OF Music. in Boston, by u
prominent resident OF that city, which at
least has been established to the satisfaction
of the authorities, went to New York city
and there became somewhat acquainted with
Mr.. Hatch, who was then Il man about thirty
wears of age. Later he visited her In Denver,
Col.
In January, 1898. Miss Williams was intro
duced to me by Mr.. Campbell of the firm OF
Campbell Il Dowd. One day. against my ad-
vice, Miss Williams made visit to the bus
ness portion of the city. ostensibly to do
shopping, but, US l now believe, to get
her private mail. Upon her return she
stated that while at lunch she met an old ac-
| qunintance who was in Chicago visiting tine
| Columbian Exposition--a Mr.. Hatch. At
| that time she told me Of her former knowl-
| edge of him in New York and Denver
Finally, the arrangement was maze tTat he
| should accompany her to Milwaukee, where
| they stayed until the cause OF her insanity
| had been done away with. He did not know,
until later in the year, that her sister was
dead and then, against my advice. for he had
been made to understand that she had re-
turned to her Texas friends. The Texas
friends were informed from letters Miss Will
liams had written them that both the yorag
women had gone to Europe.
About Sept. Is, Ptezel, Hatch and myself
went to Indianapolis. where Hatch person.
ated Hiram $. Campbell before notary pub
lie of that city. Name unknown, but can be
furnished by the Grard North American or
Hartford Insurance Company in Chicago.
There can be no question as to his appear
ance there ut the time. for neither Piteze'
nor myself could make this acknowlsdg-
ment l saw little more of Miss Williams
during the year. She signed some
PAPERS from t'""o =" tune one or
more of them now being in possession OF
DR.. Robinson. No. 7Ol Sixty-third street. Chi
sister having been killed in July of the same
year. In October or November Of 1893 both
Miss Williams and Hatch went to New York
to open school OF elocution. About Dec. IA
met Miss Williams to pay her $75o and to
interview her In regard to Fort Worth mat
ters-who to see there, who to keep away
FROM etc. At this time also told her eN'
pected to be married in the following Jan
uary.
This greatly angcred her. She chided me
with casting hcr to one side because she had
taken her sisters life in IL moment OF inSan
| ity, when, but for her manner OF life with me
| she would not have been In maniacal m:in-
| ner, For time her terms were harsh and
high, even to threatening our lives. During
| the winter and spring Of 1894 Hatch and Miss
Williams were in London.
Just as soon as Ptezel had taken his life
| wrote asking Hatch to come to Cincinnati,
where expected Mrs. Pitezel would settle.
Hatch did 80 and from now on until we
reached Burlington, VT. about two months
later, this man has left trail so broad,
| either by acts committed, while | am known
to have been elsewhere or by having been
seen in my company by reliable witnesses,
that the prosecutor aud the detectives can
not-must motif they are just, ignore his
presence.
Who was it II not Edward Hatch2
The morning reached Cincinnati with tho
three Piteze children Hatch met us at the
depot. Hatch informed me that Miss Will
liams had returned from London and was In
Chicago. When at this hotel told Hatch OF
Pitezel's death, and that l wished he would
| take his place He at once foresaw trouble
for me. aud prior to that do not think had
ever seriously considered the probability OF
being held accountable for his death.
About the first day Of October Hatch went
on to Chicago to consult with Miss Williams.
While was In Indianapolis Hatch returned.
| 1t was then that he commenced to take an in
terest in the children, taking them about
with him, buying them presents, etc. 1t
was then that he had his beard removed
from his face, leaving only n mustache.
| What will be founi did actually occur
when the tragedy is cleared up, is that Hatch
| after l went away, returned to the Circle
Hotel, in indianapolis. and in one OF the in
ner bedrooms, opening from the apartments
occupied by the children, by some foul
means crushed the life out OF this boy, and in
the afternoon shipped the trunk to the depot
and to Irvington. as has been already learned
and was next morning, October II, seen to
leave the house by the witness there, while
| was in Chicago.
Upon reaching the Detroit depot at once
left the train with my wife and accompanied
her to her hotel. Very soon Hatch met me
at the telegraph Office and in. answer to my
inquiry. said Miss Williams not wishing to
| meet my wife. had gone on to Buffalo. and
that Howard had gone there with her. he
having known and liked her the previous
! year.
Here in Detroit houss was hired. located
ne ,r u large school, although no permanent
arrangements were made. | do not think 1t
| ever was the intention to do away with the
girls ut this house.
| On Thursday morning In response to
| letter received from Miss Williams In answer
to one written her few days earlier to the
| effect that no favorable location could be
| found In Toronto. it was decided to sen! the
children. Alice aud Nellie to Niagara Falls,
! where Miss Williams was to meet them on
| hI- way to London, via New York. took
them to tn" train. ""d a""'.rnpar'"d thew
short distance Hatch went still further
with them, as he said, and as l believed, to
see that their ticket was taken by the con-
du,tor md on ept m ia N their hei @