The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-08-09

Might be Minnie WiIIiams-Does Not
Deay that Her Husband Did Wrong but
Defends Him Against the Commission
of Such Crimes as are Charged to
Hoimes-BIoOd will Tell and Both Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Pratt Belong to Good
Families.
Mrs. Frank Pratt yesterday handed
reporter for the Eagle a letter and
requested its publication
Like any other good woman would
10 she abhors the idea that the father
of her children is any such man as
Holmes the butcher and her sensitive
nature revolts at even a suggestion
that she night be Minnie Williams"
Mrs Pratt told the reporter when she
handed him the letter that she had
written it to vindicate herself and chill
1ren before the people of Wichita. She
afraid the mystery surrounding The
Holmes mystery is being used TO re-
1ect on her good name as well as on
that Of her husband.
The following is the letter:
To the Editor of the Eagle
Since my name has been made pub
criminal, H. II. Holmes. | feel it my
duty TO correct few statements that
nave been made in regard to my hus-
Dand, which are positively not true.
! do not know why he should tell Mr..
Amidon he was a school teacher. 1
have known him ever since he was
twenty-one years old, and from that
time until 1898, he never taught school
except, when he was seventeen years
old, he was assistant Superintendent
Of a Methodist Sunday school, and he
may have taught there He never, to
my knowledge, was in Fort Worth,
Texas, nor had he any real estate
transactions there.
Mr.. Amidon is correct, however, as to
Mr.. Pratt having an assumed name,
while in Denver, and it was through
my sugges..an on account of the way
he left Wichita. For some reason he
was very much opposed to an assumed
name. but al last took my advice.
His full name is Frank Greenwood
oliver Pratt, both Greenwood and Oil
yer being family names. / wrote him
most OF the time, under the name of
Frank Greenwood.
One of Mr.. Pratt's financial victims
In Wichita, whom I am very anxious
to mention is Mr.. Charley Smythe, for
he is most certainly a man of great
sympathy for the unfortunate. He
cooSHl MI L idlt > HSUiDS Tackle, ana
paid me $50 without mentioning that
[ might probably let that amount go
On the bill Of Mr.. Pratt's Indebtedness
to him. VIII confess | was SURPRISED
when | heard he would purchase the
fishing tackle, for since my five years
Of misfortunes, have met both kinds
Of humanity, mostly the other class,
and my experience with both classes
has taught me a lesson that will never
be forgotten.
The Chicago paper the reporter show
ed me, simply had the name of Pratt
and not Frank Pratt as one of Holmes
aliases.
He left Denver in the early spring of
1894. instead of June 1893, the time it
was said Holmes left Denver He went
directly TO Cripple Creek, where he has
been ever since, part of the time in
business in the employee of someone
else as collector. 1 know this to be
true because l corresponded with the
gentleman with whom he was working
for.
Mr.. Pratt has frequently been seem
in Denver since he left here by friends
of mine After leaving st. Louis in
1872, he was with his sister Mrs. Geo.
II. StoweL, who lives in Wakefield,
Mass There is nothing in the theory
that he has written letters from the
prison, and had them remailed to me.
hih MOI TAKING MS letters as proof
but he has been TO the homes of friends
who have written me about seeing him.
by eldest daughter was with him in
Denver from September until March Dit
was then he left Denver for Cripple
Creek, on account of his trouble in
Denver) She was then taken care of
by my friend with whom she sIald untll
the following summer. He several
tunes sent me packages of clothing but
no money; his reasons were that he had
no money, and the goods were bought
on time
Captain Jesse NJ Lee and wife are old
friends OF our family and it was through
y letter from him that [ became ac-
quainted with Colonel Hallowell. who
was q. schoolmate of Captain Lee'sDHe
did not get my child away, but in many
ways, as my attorney, has befriended
me.
VIII also mention several other
wichita people who have willingly
taken an interest in me, and to all I
feel very grateful. Judge Buckner and
wife. have been unfailing friends. also
Dr. Mccoy. who has kindly rendered
MS services during sickness without
pay, Dir. j. II. Keifmyster. a member of
the hrm of the St. Louis Cotton Com
press company. also an intimate friend
OF Mr.. Pratt, in his prosperous days.
When my trouble first began he col
lected si75 from old friends Of his and
Mr.. Pratt'S and sent it to me. also rel
atives living in Fort Scott. Mr.. j. ].
Lewis and Glaze who married cousins
Of mine have helped ME in a financial
way l give these names because |
want the world 10 know 1 have not
been without friends in my days of trou
BILE
Mr.. Pratt five years ago bore as good
a reputation as any Of Wichita's most
prominent citizens. When we were
he was considered a very
bright, energetic and honest young man
and was liked by both old and young
His financial trouble, ! feel sure. is
what caused his downfall. By my say
ing anthipg in his favor I do not wish /
Il thought that L am upholding him in |
any or his wrong actions in the past |
i've years, for l fully realize the injury |
re has inflicted upon myself and chill |
iren, are almost Gnpa riona bic. but |
his treatment in the past has been just |
as perfect as it is possible for a man 10 /
treat his family.
Mr.. Pratt was born in cheIsev. |
Mass, a suburb of Boston. His grand |
mother. on his fathers side was quite
literary woman, and while visiting |
here at one time. | saw letters thar |
had been written 10 her by our most ,
loted poets, as she was a constant |
of Oliver Wendell Holmes /
Longtellow and others. His grand |
ather, for whom he was named. was |
quite a noted artist in Boston Rev. |
Anderson, of the Episcopal church of |
u. C. Is also a relative |
through marriage. and last he is a de-
'cendent of John Hancock, the first
'igner OF the declaration Of independ-
snce.
I was born in Springfield, H.. and |
at the Bette Stuart institute |
n a Nir fa 4
vas a member of the First NJ. f. church
4 -. ]