The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-30
THE DEATH OF PITZEL
Holmes Declares That His Late
Pal Committed Suicide.
THE CORPSE THEN BURNED
Holmes Put His Dead Friends Body to
Accountable Alleged skeleton
WIrer Crazy.

Philadelphia, July 29.-The Bulletin to-
DAY prints the following: An entirely new
statement has just been made by H H.
Holmes, the supposed murderer Of the
Pirzel children. In il the man of many
crimes gives in detail his version of how
Pftzel came by his death last September
and also states his (HoimesD connection
with the tragedy. The statement was
given 10 a close friend of Holmes in Phil
adeiphia, who gave il TO Bulletin re-
porter.
Holmes says that on the Saturday night
preceding the death Of Pftzel the latter
came 10 his house on North Eleventh
street, where he was staying with Mrs.
Howard Pitzei told Holmes heart
rending story of his pecuaiary difficult
ties ana or the sickness of his daughter
in 81. Louis, saying: Il must have
money, or words to that effect. Ito send
TO my wife in st. Louis" Holmes remon-
strated with Pitzel as to his spendthrift
habits. and spoke substantially TO him as
foliows: You have been a good friend
of mine; I'll admit that ! have made lots
OF money through you. but | cannot keep
this thing up. Where is that $50 l gave
you the other day? If you don't quit
drinking, you and l will have to sepa-
rate
This conversation is said to have been
carried on along Eleventh street. the
men walking north until Morris street
corner Pitzell exclaimed Il am of no
benefit TO you. | viii soon get rid of my
difficulties. Life has become a nuisance
TO me-
Holmes then AYERS that he jokingiy re-
marked 10 Pitzel: 'Wen your body is
good as any other, but ] would not
advise you to do anything rash"
Holmes accounts for making this re-
mark by saying that he and Pitzel had
under consideration the defrauding of the
Fidelity Mutual Insurance Company.
Holmes says Pitzel then became angry
and again avowed that he would commit
suicide. Holmes then explained that Pit
eel left him with the intention of going
home Holmes says he gave him 10
money that night. but promised TO meet
him ar the Callow Hill street house the
following morning. 1t was about 10 the
following day Sunday, Holmes goes IN
TO say, that he went to visit Pitzel at the
Callow IIill house. When he reached the
place, no one was apparently about.
Holmes sat in the kitchen for almost
twenty minutes waiting for Pitzel. The
latter, Holmes supposed, had gone out
for breakfast. The time wore on, and
Ben was not TO be seen. The conspira-
tor then says that he became anxious
about his friends whereabouts, and be-
gan to search the house for him.
AS 7 rose to so upsteir RS says the
criminal, 81 noticed note lying on the
counter In the front part of the house.
IT was addressed to me-" Holmes ex-
plains that he tore the note open. II di-
rected him to go to the second floor and
open closet, in which he would find
large blue bottle containing another let
ter addressed to him. Holmes followed
the directions He found the note in the
bottle as described. and was Mortified
when he read 1t. 1t was from Benjamin
Pitzel, and advised Holmes that his Pi.
Zel's) dead body could be found in the
house. The latter pleaded that Holmes
look after Pitzels children. and suggest
ed that there would be no difficulty in
getting the insurance money from the
Fidelity company. now that the dead body
of Pitzel could he produced in evidence.
Holmes then told his friend of the APP
pearance of the corpse. and said he sat
in the room with the body for over an
hour. He was dazed, and hardly knew
what course TO follow. He finally made
up his mind that since Pitzel had taken
his life there would be no harm in de-
stroying any evidence of suicide; that he
might be able TO get the insurance on
his life without difficulty.
Holmes confessed that he then dragged
the dead body TO the second floor. laid
the cornse on the floor, pried open the
mouth of the dead man and poured in a
quantity Of explosive chemicals. He then
says he placed lighted match 10 the
dead mans mouth. when the explosion
which so horribly dishgured the corpse
followed. To give a forcihle impression
that Pitzel came to his death by an acct
dental explosion. Holmes stated TO his
friend that he got q pipe of Pitzel's, filed
II with tobacco, lighted IL. then blew out
the fame after the tobacco had been part
" consumed and placed the pipe beside
the dead mans body. IT was nearly
o'clock in the afternoon before he left the
III Ir,@
OF Pitzel TO partially conceal his identity.
and placed his own hat. which was a felt
one, under his coat. The criminal went
directly 10 the Broad street station, so
he alleges, and inquired at what hour the
first train left for Chicago. Holmes says
he does not distinctly remember at what
hour the railway officials told him Chi
cago train would leave. but believed 1t
was between and $50 o'clock at night
He then went 10 the house where he was
staying and made preparations to leave
the city. He and his wife. Holmes al
leges then left for Chicago that night.
II is understood that If the prosecution
decides 70 indict Holmes for the murder
OF Pitzel in Philadelphia they will pro-
duce witness who. it is said. heard the
conversation between Holmes and Pitzel
on that eventful evening, when the latter
threatened 10 do away with his life. II
has also been learned that the state has
which were Holmes and his wife, en- route
to Chicago. This witness, it is under
stood can testify that Holmes sat in an
apparent stupor on his way West; that he
had a novel before him for over an hour
and was seemingly so mitch dazed that
during that time he never turned a page
OF the hook.
Chicago. July Smoother case Of u1ys-
terious disappearance which NAV vet be
charged To Holmes was reported 10 the
police today by the neighbors Of Dr. Rus
seller. who dsa ppeared in 1892. Or. Rus
seller FOR several months had an Office
In Holmes building He and Holmes
were often together. apparently being in
innate friends Some time in IS92 the
date being a matter of doubt tae pay
stefan dropped ont Of sight lie had few
acquaintance. and although his disap-
raa~auce caused some talk among the
neirhbors. little attention was paid so IL.
Charles Chappeu. son of NJ. s. Chap
ueH. who claims 20 have been the assist
ant Of Holmes and 20 have a~ticuiated
skeletons COR him. says his ratheT has
been % unsound mind for several wears.
ana expresSes fhe belief that hjs father
knows nothing whatever Of Holres' DO
Sings.
D- Prices Baking Po~ der i always
DESTROYS ~ entering your home. sure that