The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-08-09
MOTHER LOVES HIM
HOLMES, THENOTORIoUs swINDLER,
HAS ONE FRIEND LEFT.

Guiltv-Story of the Boyhood of a Ter
riblv Remarkable Man-His Pious, Duti'
full DemeaBor, and His Ever Craving
Appetite for Money -BeSan Early TO
be a Lothario-TaIks with His School
mates and Early Acquaintance at His
Old Home in New England.
Gilmanton Corner. N. H, aug. D
To mention the name of Herman Wep-
ster Mucgett in this territory means TO
listen to an eulogy Of his family clear
back to the grandfathers on beth MS
father and mothers side.
Levi Fl. Mudgett; yes, 1 have known
him for years. He is one of our best
citizens A man; an honest man. Why
ne is the foremost Republican in Gil
nanton Corner. And his wife is even
more rigid Republican than he. They
both belong to the Congregational
church, and always have"
This statement is made by almost
everybody in the village of the father
of Herman Mudgett. who is known all
the country over under the aliases OF
II. II. Holmes, Howard, Lyman, Pratt,
etc.
In this village, where the elder Mr..
MuGgett is well known and where ms
family have lived for generations, the
best thing which can be said of any
man are said of him.
On his IA Tiers side Herman comes of
a family which has always held itself
up TO the highest standard of morality,
honesty and Christianity, and in New
England village of this character and
especially in q community which has
turned out as many eminent New
Hampshire men as this village, this
standard is by no means low one.
1t does not seem that Levi Mudgett
or his father before him ever deviated
from the strict New England concep-
ton of rectitude, or even caused his
neiehbors to blush for any of his &C.
tons.
There are still people living here who
remember the GRANDPA Their OF the noto-
rOus Holmes In passing 1t might be
said that the good people of Gilmanton
who live next door TO his father do not
now hold the popular conception OF
the man Holmes; they read what is
said Of him, but the youthful face of
blue-eyed Herman is almost too strong
~ impressed upon their minds TO pers
nit of the Intrusion of any abhorrent
picture Of the criminal Holmes.
Levi Mudgett. the father, is now an
Did man Of about 20 years. He is weak
anl feeble and his friends could not
but notice that he has become a very
MUCH older man during the months
since his sons last visit in November.
He is hardly able TO do more than
to take short walks and he moves about
slowly with not near the vigor of his
neishboT, Ira PennOch, the village cob
hfng x.-ian iC than ron hic
senior.
Levi Nudgett was born on a farm in
CINNAMON Corner, for the village long
ago ceased growing. He was brought
Up religiously in the Congrega
church, and like every country boy,
worked around the farm.
The village storeleeper. or trader"
as he is called here even to this day,
occupies the highest social pinnacle
and TO aspire TO his place is to nurse
an ambition Of no mean character.
This was Levi Mudgett's ambition.
When a mere boy he entered the VIII
lage store as a clerk, This same store
is still the leading commercial center
of the village, and remains practically
unchanged in appearance since the ell
der Mudgett was an inconsequental
handler of groceries, dry goods and
farming tools.
There were two promising boys just
starting out in life at that time, Levi
Mudgett and a little fellow named
Hatch, who now is prosperous farmer
and leading citizen of the Gilmanton
Iron Works village, ex-town clerk, Sc
lectman, and who now has the dis
tinction OF having the only telephone in
town in his residence.
In a country town the man who gives
his customers a good liberal measure,
full weight" when selling goods, is
bound to be generally respected, and,
although it may seem a little thing.
this is one point which is being remem-
bered of MIR. Mudgett- Levi Mudgett al
ways gave his customers all they were
entitled to.
He was a saving man, as men go,
and. while not parsimonious to an ag-
graVated extent. yet he took care Of
his money. When a comparatively
young man he found himself able to EN-
bark in business for himself. and he
opened a country store in opposition to
his employer just across the street.
With partner he dealt for years I'M
til during an exceptionally hard year.
some thirty years ago he failed and had
TO go out of business temporarily.
Bookkeeping having to be given up
for the time. he started in painting
houses for q living. and travelled about
that part of the country, doing odd
jobs here and there.
In the mean time Levi Mudgett had
married the daughter of Moses Price,
an old gentleman who had prospered
on farm just outside the village.
Mr.. Price, Herman's grandfather is
still remembered in this village. Ac-
cording 10 the stories of him which
have been handed down he was very
close-fiSted man, who believed that the
one very good way 10 get money was
II save it, He also believed in getting
il with all possible haste.
At any rate he was respected for his
ability 10 run a farm probably and &C
cumulate property, and also for his in
tegriJy. which was answering. and he
never let his desire to make money
override his conscience.
Herman was born in the shadow Of
the Giimanton academy, a seat OF learn
ing which al that time offered especial
advantages, attracting pupils from all
over that part Of the state. He GER
fainly had chance to learn. and from
all accounts he availed himself well OF
the opportunities
Clara Bean who is clerk at the poSt-
office. and who also presides over the
meetings Of the church sewing circle.
Went 10. school with Herman. and knew
him verw we'll in his school days.
Herman was always a very bright
scholar" says Miss Bean, lone of those
boys who never do anything TO dis
please the teacher. but always study
hard. / remember in school he was
always the model pupil
Herman was a perfect little gentle
man. always Just so polite ever since /
remember him, and he was a great deal
different from most boys of his age. He