Evening journal., 1896-11-25
H. H. HOLMES EVIL EYE.
Superstitions Of the Multimur-
derer's Baleful influence.
WARDEN PERKINS KILLS HIMSELF.
Cared For Holmes During His Incarcera-
tion-was Never III Until He Met the
Noted Criminal-Others Connected with
Trial aud Execution Have Misfortunes.

Arth """ HNecution Have Misfortunes.
PHILADELPH1A, Nov. 25.-Within the
grim gray walls of Moyamcnsing prison
another tragedy has been enacted. and
one more man who was concerned in the
hanging OF the multimurderor. III. III.
Holmes, fell q victim Co the influence of
the evil eye of the most infamous Grim
inal of the century Ever since the hang
ing OF Holmes, Howard Perkins, the
warden of the prison, has been feeling
badly Whether the execution had any
thing TO do with it or not will never be
known, but he kept growing worse He
had not slept for week AT last he ended
the struggle by putting bullet in his
brain.
Warden Perkins was most conscien-
uous officer Eyery morning for the last
20 years ne had stepped from his private
quarters into the corridor on which the
cells of the untried prisoners are located
promptly at half-past O. clock and with
nod cf salutation to the keeper on duty
had entered upon the duties to which he
had grown accustomed. Yesterday morn
Ing he was trifle earlier than usual He
looked wan and pale, and as be passed
Keeper jenkins the latter asked him If he
had slept well. The warden replied in the
negative and passed ON into his Office.
few minutes later the sharp crack Of
a revolver was heard in tho room, and the
Keeper badly frightened by such an un-
usual occurrence, hastily alarmed Assist
ant superintendent Richardson, who,
with two other keepers, made his way into
the warden's Office. He was lying on his
back upon the floor, and the blood was
flowing from big hole I'm his right tenn
lie, made by bullet
DIR. Sharp, the prison physician, was
summoned but 10y the time he arrived the
warden was dead. The suicide was Coubt-
less promcditatod.
During Holmes long incarceration in
Moyamensingp prison he was in the charge Of
Warden Perkins, and after the conviction
the warden superintendent all the arrange
ments for his execution.
Perkins was a widower, with two
daughters, and up to "a short time ago had
never lost a day through illness of any
kind.
There Are Others.
Perkins Is but one of the victims of
Holmes baleful "evil eye. " Coroner Sam
uel Ashbridge who held the inquest on
Pitezel' body when it was found in the Cal
lowhill street house three years sago and
who was one of the witnesses in the trial
of Holmes, was the combine Republic
an candidate for sheriff Up to this elec-
ton the combine had carried everything
before it save few small ward fights.
The combine nominations in other
campaigns practically meant election.
But Samuel Ashbridge was defeated by
an overwhelming majority, Alexander
Crow, who never saw II. II. Holmes, was
elected sheriff and win draw salary of
$4,000 a years. 600 moro than the
mayor gets-not to speak of the Office fees.
The most prominent of the victims
of the superstition Of Holmes "evil eye
arc:
Linford Biles, foreman of the jury, kill
ed by live wire two months after the ex
ccution
Dr. William *. Mattern, coroner's ply.
sician, who dropped dead last summer ia
the coroner's office
Judge Michael Arnold, who has been
seriously in since the time of the trial.
District Attorney Graham, who had to
put sudden end TO his summer vacation
to come home and deny the malicious sto-
ries that his enemies were circulating.
William II. Shoemaker, counsel for
Holmes, disbarred from practice and dis
graccd for Offering as evidence in the
Holmes trial false affidavit
The Others on the list are victims Of
minor ills.
Last year Mr. Ashbridge wanted to be
mayor Party leaders spoke Of him first,
but in the convention did not support him.
He swallowed his resentment and went
faithfully TO speak in the ward meetings
for tho combine" candidate. Mr.. Ash.
bridge believes that Holmes really had an
evil eye.