Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-08

purpose Of bringing Minnie Williams
and the little PItezeis back from Europe.
The District Attorney placed little faith
in what Holmes had told him. but the
advertisement was published as sort
OF last and hopeless effort.
When the bodies OF Nellie and Alice
Pitezel were unearthed In Toronto,
Holmes denied having killed them. When
Towards charred bones were located In
on old stove in Irvington. Ind. Holmes
calmly denied any knowledge of the ads
death When the murders OF Minnie VIII
nams and her sister were discovered.
Holmes said Minnie killed Nancy In a
Jealous frenzy. and he buried the body
In Lake Michigan. lie vigorously denied
having put Minnie 10 death so az TO
secure her property. The disappearance OF
Emily Cygrand was traced 10 Holmes.
but the criminal said he knew nothing or
the girls fate. The partially-consumed
bones that were found in the Chicago
castle" are known to be those OF some
Of Holiness victims.
About the last time that Holmes was
taken TO the District Attorneys office TO
Confess" Mr.. Graham lost patience
with him Holmes gave a repetition OF
HIS picturesque falsehoods. He actually
tried 10 make the District Attorney be-
leye that the Pitezel family and Minnie
williams were stu alive. The scene that
ensued was extremely dramatic. Mr.
Graham said:
Holmes. you are a classifying murderer
/ will hang you In Philadelphia LOT the
murder Of Benjamin Pitezel.
Holiness nerve was still with him. ana
ne said: II defy you. You have 10 evil
dence 10 prove me guilty"
Mr.. Graham looked with disgust and de-
termination at Holmes. and said: You
VIII surely hang I'm Philadelphia for muir
dering Benjamin Pitezel."
TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
The trial and conviction followed. The
District Attorney endeavored TO prove
during the trial. through Detective Geyer.
that Holmes also killed the Pitezel chill
dren. but Judge Arnold, before whom the
case was tried, declared this TO be irreie-
want. Geyer had unearthed the murder
of the children after prolonged invesu-
cation. and the Commonwealth was pre-
pared TO prove that Holmes mad also COM
mitted these crimes.
Holmes embraced the Cathollc ialth
when It became evident TO him that ne
must die, and Rev. Father Daley minis
tered to his spiritual wants. Throughout
the trial and subsequent Imprisonment
this arch-criminal maintained a non
chalance that was remarkable.
Herman Webster Mudgett was born In
Cflmanton. n. H., May 16, 1850. on July
4 1873 ne married Clara A. Lowering AT
Alton. n. II, and on January %, 1881
under the name Of Harry Howard Holmes
he committed bgamy by marrying Myrta
Y. Belknap. a few weeks thereafter
Holmes applied In Chicago for divorce
and the suit was pending until June T.
1891 when the Court dismissed IL, owing
to the non-appearance OF the complainant
Holmes continued his bigamous career
by marrying Georgiana Yoke. IN Denver
Col. on January II, 1891. assuming the
name of Henry Mansfield Howard on this
occasion. A son was born to the hrst
wife and this is the boy whom Holmes
is said 10 have made the chief benenciary
of the proceeds Of the alleged confession
OF wholesale murders.
Holmes was indicted for the murder OF
Pitezel on September 18th last, and he
was placed on trial october 2Sth. YER
diet Of guilty was rendered on November
% and November Goth he was sentenced
to be hanged.
Miss Yoke. with whom Holmes was
living AZ the time OF Pitezers death, was
an in,nortant witness for the Common
wealth at the trial. and 1t was largely
unon her evidence that the accused was
convicted She told Of Holiness absence
from their clearinghouse on September
. 1894 (the day OF the murder, and or
hts excited condition when he returned.
on that night the couple left Philadelphia
and went direct 70 Indianapolis. the
wanderings Of Holmes throughout the
country then began, and they ended with
his arrest at Boston.