San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-09-03


NEW YORK, Sept. 3.-A special
to the World from Philadelphia
says: H. H. Holmes, who is
charged with wholesale insurance
swindles and with several MUIR
ders, and is now awaiting trial for
the killing of P. F. Pietzel, has
not been idle in crime although
closely guarded prisoner in the
Philadelphia county prison. He
has engineered what is obviously
a cunning scheme. Although de-
prived of writing material, and in
spite of every precaution taken to
prevent his communicating with
any one outside, it seems he has
written what purports to be a
sketch of his career. The law
officers of the commonwealth have
been astounded by the publication
of "adVance sheets" and the an
nouncement that book written
by Holmes on the margins of other
books in the solitude of his cell
will follow shortly. They will be
astounded further when they learn
for the first time in this dispatch
that the volume is the outcome of
an idea, originating in the brain
of the prisoner, which is all ready
for working, but which the local
authorities, being thus forewarned,
may perhaps forbid.
The scheme, worthy of Holmes,
is this: During his travels
throughout the country he has had
business and social relations with
many persons of undoubted re-
Spectability. He has with unusual
cunning kept record of all these
transactions. The major portion of
these friendships were undoubted-
ly free from any suspicion of wrong
doing, but they are to be made the
vehicle for securing sufficient
funds for his defense. The open
ing chapters of his book, published
in one of the local papers, are de-
void of anything that would offend
the most fastidious. They re-
hearse the earlier doings of New
Hampshire lad whose subsequent
career is not foreshadowed in any
way. Innocent enough as the
"reminiscences may be, they are
the ground work of Holmes mas
ter stroke. The papers containing
the opening chapters of the "book"
will be mailed to those unfortu-
nate enough to have been classed
as Holmes friends. Those who
knew Holmes will be informed
that they are to be part and parcel
of the book. limitations will be
given that, as it will be most I'M
pleasant to be known in connec-
ton with it's author, all mention
of certain names will be omitted
for a money consideration.
There are chapters in the narra-
tive that place some of the per-
sons referred to in most pc
culiar position. An instance of
the kind is here given: One of the
chapters is devoted to the Boston
experience of Holmes and Minnie
Williams. The woman under the
guidance of Holmes, entrapped
wealthy man of family. For time,
being led to believe that he had
deeply wronged the girl, he made |
such occasional financial repara-
ton as he deemed proper, and the
''consciencenfund found itsway into |
Holmes pockets. When Minnie |
Williams dropped out of sight,
the Boston man breathed freer;
but when the awful revelations
came, his state of mind may be
Proof sheets now being
printed in a printing office near
Sixth and Market streets will be
to the Boston man and
this proposition made: If he will
purchase 1000 copies of the book, ac-
companying the immediate order
therefor with the retail price
81 piece, his name will be omit
ted as well as all matter that would
in any way point to him.
No doubt the Bostonian, who can
we'll afford it, will promptly order
the "book" and enclose remittance
for same"