The Portland daily press., 1896-05-08
And This WAS THE END.
LastA Chapter Of Hideous History Of
Murderer HOEaex.
OWN LIFE TAKEN IN EXPIRATION
OF HIS CRIMES.

To the Last He Was Cool and Compos led
Denies on the Gallows the Scores OF
Crimes Imputed To Him-Cantiol aed
Hangman Against Carelessness, WI MS
pered Good Bye and the Curtain Fell
/ Philadelphia, May Howard W. " I'D
gett, alias H. H. Holmes, was hung In,s
morning in the county prison for the
killing of Benjamin F. Pietzef.
Ibe drop fell at 1912 and 70 minutes
later he was pronounced dead by the
prison officials, DR.. Sharp and DR..
Butcher.
The execution was in every way de-
void of sensational features. To the last
the murderer was self possessed and cool.
There were but comparatively few per-
sons gathered on the outside of the coarn-
ty prison during the early part of the
morning, and the morbid throng WHOM
the prison officials expected was lack
ing.
a Mr.. Rotan declined to say whether or
not Holmes intended TO make any resitu-
tion to Mrs. Pietzel or provision for any
of the three women to whom he was
married.
The person to get any thing from the
Holmes estate will probably be Ida j.
Belknap, who was the second woman
the murderer married She is living at
Wilmetta ILL.,, and has with her her six
year old daughter of whom he is the faith
err. This little girl last week wrote the
condemned man. q brief letter couched in
such childishly pathetic tones that the
man who is accused of havin killed
dozen or more, burst into tears when he
read it.
Although In erecting the gallows only
bolts ana screws were used and little or
no noise was made, Holiness acute
ears made him aware of what was being
dsne soon after the work started, ana
t@ knowledge made him nervous and
uneasy Only tn Rev. Father Daley,
his spiritual advisor, and Mr.. Rotan did
he speak of the scaffold, and to them he
said but q word or two.
Mrs. Pietzel has decided to remain in
Philadelphia until she is certain either
thai she can secure some of the money
of which Holmas defrauded her or that
all hope of obtaining restitution is lost.
There is mere chance that the murder
er may have made will and the wronged
woman hopes in that event Tor at least
Thomas Fahey, Mrs. Pietzeps lawyer
has little hope that Holmes has made
voluntary restitution TO his client.
At 9 o'clock the gates were opened and
the Jour score or mora holding tickets
pressed into the inner court. Many prom
inent men were in attendance, several
from other cities. Mr.. Rotan was early
at the prison, but had been preceded by
Rov. Father DALEY and Father McPake,
who administered the last rites OF the
church to the condemned man. They
arrived shortly after and only few
minutes after Holmes had arisen.
Last night they remained with him
until half past ten O'Clock. Holmes re-
tired about midnight and slept soundly
during the entire time until called at T
O'Clock. So sound were his slnmbers in
fact that twice he was called before
awakening. When the arrival of Fathers
Daley and AIcPake was announced he
greeted them warmly but with the same
air Of self possession that has marked his
conduct throughout the entire case.
They administered tho sacrament and
every possible facility for privacy was ex-
tended. For nearly two hours they re-
manned in the cell within and then were
almost Immediately succeeded by Lawyer
Rotan. He was also pleasantly greeted.
There were several matters pertaining to
his worldly afftirs and this time was
taken for giving the final details and ex-
plantations.
While discussing his affairs breakfast
was served and he seemed to heartily en-
joy the meal. 1t consisted Of eggs, toast
and coffee. When breakfast was over
Holmes prepared to dress himself. He re-
fused to don a new suit, but arrayed
himself in trousers, vest and cutaway
coat of some dark mixed goods that had
been worn by him frequently before
Evon In this he was careful giving every
attention to even the most minute details
of his toilet. Collar and necktie were
not worn, but their place was taken by
a white handkerchief knotted carelesslJ
about the neck.
Ten O'Clock had just sounded when
call came from the cell corridor for Sher
fl Clements. He had been gone but
moment when the doors leading through
the long corridor in which was placed
the soaffold, were opened two by two thu
sheIiff's deputies and the witnesses passed
down.
Holmes stepped upon the trap. On th.
right was Father Daley, to the lef
Father McPake, and bringing I'D in tn,
rear were Lawyer Rotan and Assistant
Superintendent Richardson. The littl,
party ST I'd for a moment looking dowt
and then, in response to sign from
one of those beside him, Holmes stepped
forward and spoke. He spoke SLOWLY
ceeded until every word was distinctly
audible. "Gen tlemen, he said, 81
have very few words to say. In fact
would make no statement at this tim,
except that by not speaking I would ap
pear to acquiesce in life in my execution
I only want to say that the extent of m,
wrong doing in taking human lives con
sisted in the deaths of two women, the,
having died at my hands as the result o
criminal operations. I wish also to state
however, SO that there will be no misun
derstanding hereafter, ! am not guilty 0
taking the lives of any of the Pietze
family, tho three children or the father
Benjamin F. Pietzel, of whose death
am now convicted and for which 1 an
today to be hanged. That is ALL"
AS he ceased speaking he stepped back
and kneeling between Fathers DALEY
and McPake, joined them in silen
prayer for brief minute or two.
Again standing, he shook the hand o
all of those about him and signifled hi
readiness for the end.
The coolest of the entire party, he eyel
went to the eXtreme of suggesting to tn
assistant superintendent. "Take you
time; don't bungle it,, he remarked