St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-30
WAS HOLMES A PRoCURER.
One of His Watts Found in the
Casfle Basement.

Castle Basement.
CHICAGO, July 29.-One of the many
theories that have been advanced con
cerning the Holmes castle and the
many uses to which it was put is to
the effect that Holmes was profess
sional procurer. The presence of SO
many young girls about the premises
at various times has led to the sus-
picion that Holmes added this to his
other nefarious schemes. In this way
the disappearance of some of the un-
fortunate creatures is accounted for.
The search for traces of the many
supposed victims of H. H. Holmes
was resumed at his castle today. In
the damp basement, with it's SWinginS
electric lights, a half dozen laborers
were kept at work with pick and spade,
while as many detectives carefully eX-
anined every handful of earth thrown,
up. The rapping of walls and sound
ing of ceilings in the search for trap
doors and secret chambers was con-
Quoted under the supervision Of In
Spector Fitzpatrick, and not an inch
of wall or flooring is being missed.
The detectives found today two tool
chests in one of the cellars, with a
hammer spotted and stained. 1t was
the spots were bloodstains and an
analysis was ordered. At police head
quarters Mrs. Pat Quinlan, wife OF
the janitor, was again given a severe
examination. The woman, who for two
days was cool and defiant, is beginning
to weaken and the police believe she
will shortly tell all she knows of the
case. Her testimony is expected to be
sensational, and will, it is thought, lead
to the conviction of her husband. A
number of bones were found in the
basement today, some of which DR..
Robinson pronounced parts of the
human frame. 1t was at first thought
that an entire skeleton had been un>
covered, but examination showed tina,
most of the bones were from the
butcher shop. The mixture OF human
bones and butcher shop refuse is
peculiar feature of several Of the finds
that puzzles the police. 1t is probable
that all of the secret passages and
rooms in Holmes house will soon be
revealed as brick mason, who claims
to have done all the queer work abou.
the place, called at police headquarters
this afternoon and offered to tell all he
knows. He was promptly taken care
of by the officers and is expected to
prove an important witness. In the
search today the men paid particular
attention to the information given to
the police by M. G. Chappell, who says
that Holmes had two vats in the cellar.
One of them he said was in the SOUTH
east corner and the other in the south
west corner of the rear cellar. They
had since been walled up, he said. One
of the watts, according to ChappelPs
statement, was used as vessel in
which the flesh was eaten from bonea
by the use of acids. The other was for
the purpose. of bleaching the bones.
Twelve laborers worked all day dig
ging out the two corners designated
by Chapel, and were about to give up
the search as unsuccessful when one
of them, at work on the southeast
corner, struck his spade against some-
thing which gave forth a metallic
sound. The metal object proved to be
a huge tank in the shape of a boiler.
1t was located just outside the south
cellar wall, and it's top was four feet
from the grounds surface. Work for
the day was stopped before the tank
was fully uncovered, but apparently
it is eight feet long and three feet in
diameter.