The record-union., 1895-08-28
Chafred Bones of Little Howard
Pietzel Discovered.
FOUND IN THE CHIMNEY OF A
COTTAGE IN INDIANA
The Engineer in Charge of the Gumry
Hotel When the Catastrophe Oc-
Cured, Lodged In Jail at Denver,
Makes n Statement Regarding His
Conduct Before and After the Ter
rible Accident Occurred.

INDIANAPOLIS (inu. J, Aug. Zf.-ln the
chimney of a little frame cottage stand
ing at some distance from the other resi-
dences Of Irvington, a suburb OF this city,
detectives this morning found the charred
bones of little Howard Pietzel, one Of
Holmes victims. The find was the re-
ward of long and persistent search by
Detective Geyer of Philadelphia, who
came here six weeks ago and has been
working ever since on the theory that
young Pietzel had been killed here.
To-day he and Inspector Gary found
the empty cottage at Irvington which
had been occupied by man answering
Holmes description and little boy early
last October. They began search, and
soon found largo stove and "the black
trunk" in which it had been supposed
that the body had been shipped away.
Further search was rewarded by the find
ing of number of charred bones in the
chimney. together with the buttons from
the boys Overc0aI. Evidently the child
had been murdered in the house and his
body cremated there. Tho two came to
the house together, and were seen about
the place for week, when both dlsap-
peared, and nothing mas been since heard
OF them.
After the detectives left the Irvington
house this evening, DR.. j. +. Barnhill,
one OF the former owners OF the house,
continued the investigation begun by the
officers, and a thorough search OF the
house was made. In a chimney were
found the charred bones which DR.. Barn
hill says there can be no dou bt are those
of human body, and pieces Of skull
were found which he says are of boy OF
about the age of Howard Pietzel, this
fact being judged by the thickness of the
skull. Pieces of the femur and other
bones were also found.
After bringing forth from the chimney
enough remains to satisfy himself that
there could be no mistake, Dir. Barnhll
came to this city and made known the
facts to Detective Geyer. The latter said
there was no use in digging further, as it
was evident The chimney contained the
skeleton of their search. Tomorrow all
the deposit OF the chimney Will be re-
moved, and a careful search made.
The doctor has not fully all the con-
tents of the chimney. bat Of the debris
brought further TO light he said: The
first and most characteristic discovery is
the piece Of the skull. 1t can be recog-
nized as piece OF a skull. We have the
sutures, as | have said. They are very
sharp anu pointed, characteristic OF a
human skull. Both plates OF bone are
well represented. This is human skull,
for the reason that the sutures are more
developed as to the spines Than those OF
any other animal. There is also piece
of the femur. Although it is fearfully
charred, we find all the characteristics of
human bone, the smooth outer surface
that has been covered by periosteum
The animal parts are all burned out. We
also found 4 piece of bone that l should
judge to be part OF the pelvis. This is
indicated by its thickness and strength
The chimney was full of remains. There
brought out.
"Beside the bones, / took from the
chimney portions OF q trunk-a trunk
buckle and a corner protection strip. This
corresponds with the iron parts of q trunk
that were found under the porch by the
detectives this afternoon. There is also
the remains OF a tin-type photograph. 1t
is perfect as to shape and thickness, but
the likeness has been burned out.
"In my opinion, the circumsiantial evil
dence that these are the remains of VIC
tim of ii. II. Holmes-and probably
those of the PietZel boy-is conclusive.
The peculiar manner in which this man
rented the house. the misleading story
he told in regard TO his sister, the fact
that two or three persons positively
the boy Howard PietZel, the sudden dis
appearance of the man, and now the dis
cOvery OF these remains, together with
the resem biance to Holmes other atroci-
ties, make good case"