San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-07-20
THE PITZELL CHILDREN.
MRS. PITzELL IDENTIFIES THE LIT
TIE GIRLS.
Chain Of Evidence at Toronto Com
plete, and There L. No Lon
ger Any Doubt OF at
Least Six Murders Hav-
ing Been Committed
By Holmes.

NNasOAN@~t law eAy Dc
Pitzell has identified the bodies Of
the children found Monday night
last In the cellar on Seventh street
as those of her girls Alice and
Nellie. Mrs. Pitzell broke down
completely and sobbed and cried
throughout the trying ordeal and
long afterwards. Detective Geyer,
of Philadelphia, and Detective
Cuddy, Of the local staff, and the
doctors were perfectly satisfied
with the Identification.
The case which the Canadian
authorities have against Holmes is
very complete, and is much strong
or than that made against him at
Philadelphia, which facts lead a
great many here to believe that the
prisoner will certainly be extradit-
ed.
Summed up, this is the case:
Holmes has been traced with the
children. His identity was estab-
lished at the Palmer house and
that OF the children at the Albion.
Then both murderer and victims
were recognized at the very scene
Of the crime by witnesses. An
immediate motive for committing
the deed is also clearly shown, be-
ing due to the fact that Mrs. Pit
zell was in the city and might at
any time meet the children on the
street. Again, Mr.. Holmes bor-
rowed a spade on the last day that
the girls were seen alive at the
cottage or anywhere else, giving
as his reason for doing 80, that he
wished to make a bin for some
potatoes, which statement was
shown to be false. All this and
his going away the next day are
strongly corroborative facts from
which Holmes will find it hard to
escape. The finding of tho toys
belonging to the little girls in the
house and their partially burned
clothing, is also another link in
the chain.
The inquest on the body Of Alice,
the eldest girl, was resumed at the
police court last night.
Mcdonald, the lad who lived
with his parents at No. l6 st. Vim
cent street, after Holmes had left
the place, was the first witness. He
told how he had found the snake
which Howard Piitzell used to
play with in a satchel in a
closet in one of the bedrooms. He
did not know what became OF any
other OF the articles, but because Of
its popularity, they had kept this
toy.
Mrs. Piitzell was the next wit
ness. For the first few minutes Of
her examination her voice could
hardly be heard, but as the inquiry
proceeded it gained strength. She
told the story Of Holmes wander
ings with the children, as far as
she knew OF them, Of her meet
ings with him, in fact the whole
story that has been made public
through the press. Her descrip-
ton OF the satchel spoken OF by
Mcdonald Tailed with that given
by the lad. She also stated that
the snake toy did not belong to
Howard but was one of the toys Of
Nellie, who always carried 1t with
her in the satchel.
The doctors making the post
mortem said that owing to the de-
composed condition OF the bodies
1t was impossible to make any
statement as to internal violence.
The inquest then adjourned until
the evening of the 25th, instant.
While this inquest was In prog.
ress, an inquest was being held at
the morgue on the body OF the
child Nellie. After hearing evil
dence to show that the body was
the one removed from the st. Vim
cent street house, the inquest was
adjourned for one week.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, July 90
The Press today prints an inter-
view with HI. III. Holmes, who was
visited in his prison cell by re-
porter of this poper. Holmes in
sists he can prove an alibi with
reference to the murder Of the Pit
zell children In Toronto, and says
the authorities here cannot prove
Pitzell was murdered in this city.
In view of the finding in Chicago,
OF the charred bones supposed to
be those of Minnie Williams,
Holmes statement with reference
to that young woman are interest
Ing. He says, 81 am innocent as
a new born babe Of the charge