The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-21
HOLMES INTERVIEWED.
He Claims to BE Innocent of Chnrges
of Murder.


of Murder.
PHILADELPHIA, July 20.-The Press to-
day prints an interview with Holmes who
was visited in his prison cell by a reporter
of that paper Holmes insists that he can
prove an alibi with reference to the muir
der of the Pietzel children in Toronto and
says the authorities here cannot prove that
Pietzel was murdered in this city. In view
OF the finding in Chicago of charred bones,
supposed to be those of Minnie Williams,
as reported last night. Holiness statements
with reference to that young woman are
interesting. He says:
Il am as innocent as the new born babe
of the charge of numbering the Pietzel
children. don't believe they were ever
murdered, and IL they were 1 am not
guilty. Why, the last time 1 saw the boy,
Howard Pietzel, was in Indianapolis. Miss
Williams was then in Detroit. and we had
arranged that she take Howard East. So.
one afternoon, sent the boy TO her in De-
troit, intending to follow soon afterward.
Before 1 reached Detroit, however, Minnie
Williams had taken Howard East and
stopped in Buffalo. / then came East with
the two girls and finally wound up in To-
ronto We had been there short time
when my wife arrived. She knew nothing
of the existence of the Pietzel children.
Mrs. Pietzel, Dess anu the baby came 10
Toronto shortly after Neither Mrs. Pietzel
my wife nor Alice and Nellie Pietzel knew
of each others presence In that city.
II had good reasons for not letting Mrs
Pietzel know of the proximity Of her two
children, for she was then in very delicate
health. We first thought of sending Mrs.
Pietzel along with Minnie Williams and the
three children to England, but her delicate
health precluded that idea. The man Hatch
was in Toronto at that time. Finally it was
decided to send Alice and Nellie Pietzel on
to Niagara Falls, where Minnie Williams
and Howard were. Everything was gotten
in readiness for their departure and l had
quite hard time keeping the children's
presence hidden from Mrs. Pietzel. l sue
ceeded, however. and escorted them TO the
railway station, where Hatch had gone by
prearranged plans. The four of US got on
the train and rode probably few miles
out of the city with the children. When
was about to get off the train, Hatch sug-
gested that he accompany the girls few
stations further, so that there would not
be any mistake about their tickets Nellie
and Alice were travelling on half fares and
l wanted to be sure that they got along on
one whole ticket, which the conductor had
not taken up when | left the train. So he
went with the children and he. can tel
where they are to be found IL anybody can.
Il came back TO Toronto about O'Clock ir
| the afternoon. and four hours later, MRS
| Pietzei and the two children had boarded
| train for Burlington, as II was tnough'
better she should rest in some qaiet health
| place. Before leaving Toronto for Buriing
| ton with my wife the next morning me-
| Hatch He seemed all right, but there were
| no questions asked about the children, a:
| / wanted the matter kept from my wife
| He stayed there after us. When we arrived
at Ogdensburg, on our way & TO na,ne bnrllng'Un o,
| wife to a hotel, went to see MRS. Pletzel
| Hatch came 10 town In a few days, a1t
bed'ea bed chair and little little stove: These thing.
| were to be found wherever Hatch was; M
never lived in a hotel for private reasons
and and kept M there until we left for Burlington
| One afternoon / took Mrs. P.etzei TO thu
| Hatch household. and showed her th'
| trunks. one of which needed mending. Shs
| saw the bed, the chair and the little stove
and can tell about ii to this day: We stayed
! in Ogdensburg for over week, and ther
went to Burlington. Hatch went to Mont
| real to attend TO some business.
| Il may say here that Hatch and myself
| were engaged in buying furs and othel
| goods and smuggling them across the Dor
| der That's why the trunks were sent Il
| the vacant house in Ogdensburr. When We
were about two weeks in Burlington ol
| three weeks after the two Pietzel girls hae
Il
| 20 wire Hatch in Montreal to go to Nigars
Falls and see the Pietzel children and Miss
| Williams off to Europe. l had written tht
| message. and was about to hand II to the
| operator, when Hatch walked into the OF
| flee. 1t was a surprise to me to see hin
| there. when l was under the impression tha
| he was buying stuff in Montreal. Where hs
| had been since left Ogdensburg up TO tha
| time / don't know. / wish ! did, and
| don't think Moyamensing prison would b.
| my home to-day If l knew that. Shorti,
| after that / was arrested.
Now. the district attorney, Superintend
| ent Linden ard all these insurance people
| will tell you that Hatch is a myth. The in
surance officers and agents know better
| Why. had scarcely thought Of the occur
renee in the telegraph Office in Burlington
when, enc day last December, Peary, ths
| Insurance agent, asked me who that mar
was whom l met in the telegraph office.
answered that the man wes Hatch. The
| through the country They know wher,
| Hatch is, and they know he was in Burling
| ton. / am almost positive that they know
much more about the movements OF Hatch
than. l do.
| finding of the two bodies in the cellar O
| the st. Vincent House, / can say with al
/ confidence that / can prove an alibi to any
| charge that may be brought against M
| there. / can get at least six of the bes
1 couldn't have rented the house where tn,
| bodies were found at the time stated by al
| those witnesses. Hatch may have treated
| the children all right, but where did the,
Jams? Hatch was in Toronto the day lef
| there with my wife for Ogdensburg, on my
way to Burlington, and he was there tn,
| next day also. / am eager to go to Toront,
| and stand my trial for the murder OF Mel
| lie and Alice Pietzel.