The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-06-03
PROBING His VILLANY
Sitting New Evidence Against Insur-
anCe Swindler Holmes.
MAY HAVE A FIGHT FOR LIFE
Philadelphia Authorities WIN Try to Prove
That He Murdered Not Only PietzeI
and His Children, but Also the
Misses Hale of Fort Worth.

PHILADELPHIA, June 2--Sentence has
not yet been imposed by Judge Hare on
Harmon Webster Midgetts, alias II. II.
Holmes, who on Tuesday last pleaded
guilty to an indictment charging him
with conspiracy with Jephtba ID. Howe.
St. Louis attorney to defraud the Fidel-
ity Mutual Life association out of $40, 600
by pretending that Pietzel died as the re-
suit of an accident The trial had only
been fairly started when Midgetts changed
his plea from not guilty to guilty
Midgetts will not be sentenced for con-
spiraoy unless District Attorney Graham
finds it impossible to substantiate his
theory, which he claims is we'll borne ont
by oircumstantial evidence that the pris-
oner is guilty of one and possibly half a
dozen crimes of a more serious nature
The commonwealth officers will try TO
prove that Midgetts killed Pietzel. his
three grandchildren and the Misses Hale
of Fort Worth, Tex, whom he met in Chi
cago.
Mrs, Pietzel is in prison in this CITY. as
it was supposed she was in some wav
mixed up in the insurance fraud. It is
not likely, however, that the case against
her Will be pressed. Last October she
placed her three children in the custody of
Mldgetts in St Louis and has not since
heard of them. 1t is feared that the three
children are dead, although Midgetts pro-
tests that they are alive.
The Children.
1t now becomes matter of great inter-
est to the prisoners to produce these chill
dren, whose names were Alice or Ettie
aged IA years. Nellie, i years, and How
ard, years. Detectives, under the direo-
tion of the district attorney. are bending
TlnlT fO to
alive. 1t is known that in October they
travelled with Midgetts from indianapolis
to Detroit and thence to Toronto Here
all clew to them is lost, except that based
on statement made by Midgetts within
the last few days. He says he took them
TO Niagara Falls, there turned them over
TO Miss Minnie Williams, who took them
TO London, and that they are now with
her in that city.
Minnie Williams lived with Midaetts in
Chicago in 1898, and at her request her
sister went to Chicago from Fort Worth.
Both women have since dropped complete
ly out OF sight, and it is limited by the
prosecution that Midgetts is responsible
for their disappearance
minnie Williams, the prisoner told the
authorities had been variety actress and
was also known by the stage names of
Auele Corvelle and Geraldine Wanda.
When Midgetts told the authorities the
London story, he said she lived on Vida
street. They ascertained there was no such
street in the oity. Then he persisted that,
While he might be mistaken as to the
street. he was positive that she was i'm
London 10 bear out his story he prepared
clpher advertisement requesting her to |
produce the children and requested that |
the district attorney have it published.
When the prisoner was asked by one of the |
attorneys in the case to name a single per- |
son that knew the children had gone TO
London with Miss Williams, he was un-
able to do SO.
Four Times Married.
There is no longer any doubt that the
corpse found in the Holowhill street house
last September was that of B. +. Pietzel
who there carried on an agency for in
ventors. Midgetts the authorities claim
they can prove, was the last person seen
with Pietzel while he was alive. Midgetts
first claimed that the body was that of a
corpse substituted for Pietzel. He said
Pietzel had committed suicide When the
remains We're found, the body had been
burned with carboiio acid, and it was at
hrst supposed that an explosion of the acid
mad caused death. This authorities believe
1t was case of murder.
Mldgetts has been married four times.
and wife No. 4, young woman who is
highly spoken of, has been in PHILADELPHIA
since Midgetts was brought here and i'm
prisoned last November.
OF the $40, 900 insurance policy on
Pietzel's life Attorney Howe of st. ionis
received So 800 and Midgetts Sc 700, rep-
to the widow that he wonld
hand 1t over to Pietzel, whom she sun
posed was in hiding to carry cut the con.
spiracy Mrs. Pietzel's share was onIv
1000.