The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-29

LITTLE ROCK, Ark, Aug. 2S.-J. c.
Allen, alias Caldwell, the convict serv-
ing ten years sentence here for horse
stealing, has made statement to
Warden Moore of H. H. Holmes and
his operations. The warden believes
the man knows a great deal more
than he has told, but he has the state
ment put in writing read to Allen and
verified in every particular. Follow
ing is his story:
Il first met Holmes, alias Pratt
alias Howard, in Tennessee in the fall
of 1892. Soon after that we went to-
gether to Hot Springs, Ark. We re-
manned at Hot Springs one week, and
from there went to Texas, Holmes go
ing to Ell Paso and 1 stopping in Tay-
Ior county. Holmes soon joined me at
Abilene, and from there we went to
Chicago. where [ remained five days.
I'm about three weeks thereafter
Holmes, Pietzel Gyman) and myself
met at St. Joseph, Mo. Minnie VIII
Jams accompanied the men to st. Jo-
seph from Chicago. At this meeting
was the first knowledge 1 had of the
Fort Worth property deal.
Was to Be a. SwindIe.
'The Minnie Williams property in
Fort Worth was then and there decided
to me, in the name of A. z. Bond,
from Minnie Williams, a, notary pub
lie, whose name / have forgotten, &C
f,.a Tho 1aq
was made with the distinct under
standing that it was to be a swindling
operation. 1t was my opinion at the
time that Minnie Williams was per-
suaded or scared into making the
transfer of the property by Holmes,
From st. Joseph. Holmes, Pietzel and
myself went to Denver, where we re-
manned one day and from there we
went to Leadville, where Holmes ard
Pietzel had in view some swindling
operation, but failed in doing so. From
Leadville the three of us, with Holmes
so-called wife, Mrs. Howard, went to
Fort Worth to commence operations
there. We arrived at Fort Worth as
entire strangers. The Holmes-Pratt
transactions at Fort Worth are al
ready familiar to the public. Petzers
conduct at Fort Worth caused Holmes
to send him to Kansas City.
Wrote Threatening Letters.
"While in Kansas City Pietzel wrote
several threatening letters to Holmes
in which ne said that he would turf
up all their rascality unless Holmes
sent him money. pietzel was furnished
money three times, sent by ME al
Holmes request. Holmes visited PET
eel at Kansas City to get him to sigI
the necessary papers to secure & iOar
of $4,000 on the Fort Worth property
while PietZel was in Kansas City
Holmes and Pat Quinlan, who had
joined US at Fort Worth a short time
before we left that place, had severa
talks about putting Pietzel out of the
way, because Holmes had become
afraid of him on account of his drink.
ing too much and knowing too much
ct was known to us all that Pietzel car
ried $4,000 life insurance policy.)
cat our last talk upon this subject
three days before leaving Fort Worth
it was understood that Pietzel was t.
be killed. 1 was selected to assis
Holmes in doing the job, but in VIVA
manner it was to be done was not def
nitely settled, only that Holmes re
marked that he had something tina
would make the work easy and a large
W
in which to place Pietzers body afte
being killed. AT this point Holmes pat
ted me on the back and said: Mascot
| it is $4,000 and a trip to Long Branch
and from there to California anG NOR
buildings.
Advised Him 60 Quit.
That night 1 advised Holmes to qui
such business as he had enough none!
not to resort to- murder. He replied
that he had been at such business s.
| long that it had become perfectly natu
raj to him, and he couldn't quit it.
THE plan agreed upon to dispose o
| Pietzel was that we were to meet hin
in ST. Louis, and together &c from
there to Chicago, where he was to b
fixed
ut was between Fort Worth an,
Dennison that Holmes told me that
must have my life insured for $1,000
in favor of my little niece Remember
! ing the large trunk bought for Pietzel'
| body, l determined to part compan,
with him, which L did at Dennisor
and / have never seen him since, but re
ceived as many as three lettrs from
him.
1.-THE last time saw Minnie VII
| liams was at our meeting in s.
Joseph. Holmes told her that sh
] uluSL leave Lie tOIlLtQ OIdLeS IOT
period of three or four years.
everything worked satisfactorily /
Fort Worth, she was to return an
l claim her property on the ground tina
the title was obtained from he
| fradulently, she establishing proc
that she was out of the United State
! at the time. India was agreed upo
as the country to which she would o,
went to the depot with her whit
Holmes bought her ticket and checke
her baggage, but where to 1 did nc
| know
while at Fort Worth. read thre
letters from Minnie Williams
Holmes. They purported to be fro1
India, the place 1 have forgotten.
believe Holmes gent Minnie William
81 500 from Fort Worth TO India.
Minnie Williams is dead. she has bee
pus out of the way since this excite
ment has gotten up in regard 1
Holmes.
The Castle.
'gThe building in Chicago known a
| the ssCsastle,s was erected esDeciaIIv fe