The record-union., 1895-08-17
Another Murder Traced to Holmes
and His C0~Partner.
GEORGE H. THOMAS SAID TO BE ONE
OF THE VICTIMS.
Secretary of Agriculture Morton Gives
an Object Lesson to Employees In
His Department Who Are silver
Enthusiasts by Paying Them or In
the Money They Champion.

COLUMBUS (Miss.). Aug. 1G.-Another
murder has been traced to Holmes and
his once co-partner. Benjamin Pietzel.
The particulars Of this murder are as yet
meager, but the local officials are work
ing the matter up. and it is believed that
valuable evidence will be secured.
The register of the Gilmore Hotel In
this city shows that on the 10th OF jan
uary of the present year the names OF
Mrs. NJ. Holmes and child appeared. with
no place of residence given. She IS de-
scribed by the hotel clerk, who remembers
her. as a tall, finely developed and nand-
some woman. The child was light-haired
girl about years old, named Lucy. They
remained at the hotel three or four days,
and had little to say to the other guests.
In fact, she was very cold and distant 10
the ladies who protfered her some little
social attention.
On the second day after her arrival she
went into the Office OF Justice OF the
Peace and said she desired a confidential
talk with him. She made her child leave
the room, and directed her to remain IN
photograph gallery across the nall she
then made an affidavit before Justice
Foote charging II. Ii. Holmes, then in
iail in Philadelphia, with murder. w hen
asked by the Justice Tor her proof she
produced a written paper signed by
Holmes, which she claimed to have found
among his papers in the Chicago castle"
In this document Holmes relates the
story of his murder of George Ii. Thomas
on the Tom big bee River. six miles below
Colum bus.
Upon this affidavit requistion papers
were issued by Governor John NJ. Stone.
Mrs. Holmes agreeing 10 pay the ex-
pense of the Chief OF Police Of this city
10 go to Philadelphia for Holmes.
Juatice Foote made the woman copy OF
the alleged confession, and she went
away. She left with him the original
confession OF Holmes. She gave as her
reason for making the affidavit that
Holmes had been very brutal in his
treatment tor two years, and she hoped
by his conviction TO get some OF his prop
erty, as he was worth over $1,000
The document states that Holmes, b.
r. PietZel and the murdered George
Thomas were in this city on or about
June 20, 1894. but that they stopped at
different places, and were not seen to-
gether on the streets. Their conduct was
such as to leave the community under the
impression that they were strangers.
A few days after their arrival they pro-
cured small boat and all three went
down the river together. at this point,
the paper says. aIIer going down the
river six miles. Holmes got out on the
bank in search OF drinking water and
was absent some time, and when he re-
turned Thomas was dead. Pietzel says
his death was caused by falling from the
boat and striking his head on the rocks;
that they buried the body in the river
swamp and returned to Columbus.
This in substance is what the confess
sion contained.
fOIfT ion no nQ IN loo
son, and Chief of Police Munger arranged
to 90 to Philadelphia after Holmes. but in
the meantime Mrs. Holmes had quietly
left the city.
1t is the opinion of the officers that it
was the desire Of the woman TO have
Holmes brought from Philadelphia to this
place to give him an opportunity to es-
cape on the way, or else be acquitted of
the charge of murder. and released. Gre
dence is given to the confession from the
appearance of b. 4. PietZel, who regis
tered at the hotel here from Chicago. on
June l9. 1894. about the time the muir
der is alleged to have been committed.
About this time, also. Thomas arrived
here, stopping at a different hotel. He
claimed 10 be in the lumber business,
and was here looking for timber. Pietzel
also claimed to be in the lum ber business
and in that way he became acquainted
with Thomas. 1t is we'll remem bered
early in the morning, and that just be-
fore night the boat returned with only
two occupants.
There can be no doubt of the murder of
Thomas in the river swamps. While
here Pietzel was in correspondence with
his wife. who lived at 643 Michigan ave-
nue.. ST. Louis.
Judge Orr was interviewed to-day, and
while admitting the main facts about the
conference, he refused to disclose the
nature of his business with Ars. Holmes,
but said he knew her reason for wanting
her husband brought here from Phila-
delphia, but would not give it for publ
cation. 1t is reliably known that Judge
Orr has in his possession Holmes con-
fession of the murder, and this confession
is sustained by the fact that The hotel
registers show the presence of the three
men in this city at the time the murder
was alleged to have been committed.
CHICAGO POLICE SURPRISED.
CHICAGO, Aug. I6.-When Chicago po-
lice officers were interviewed con-
cerning the above story they were
much surprised. They had not heard of
Thomas before, and knew nothing of the
circumstances related in the Columbus
affidavit. one of the officers said ii the
story was true the woman who went to
Columbus must have been Mrs. Myrtle
Holmes of Willmette, H., the second
wife OF the alleged murderer, VINO mas re-
NAMED faithful TO him through all the
trouble. She has children by Holiness
and the police here think it may have
been part of a scheme to get Holmes away
from Philadelphia and secure his release
in Mississippi. Photographs OF Minnie
Williams, Mrs. Conner and Mrs. Holmes
will be sent to Columbus by the local
police for possible Identification. 1t is
known here that Mrs. Myrtle Holmes
has made frequent mysterious trips to the
South within the last two years.
NEAR BEING A LYNCHING.