The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-04-11
N. \. HOLMES CONFESSION
The Multi-Murderer Writes of His Many
Crimes.
KILLED TWENTY-SEYE PEOPLE
And if the Fiends Statement is to be Be
ieved, Had Arranged to Murder Half
Dozen others-says He Was Born
with the Devil in Him


trct Attorney Barlow today announced
that all the gruesome relics that figured
in the trial of H. II. Holmes for the mur-
der of Benjamin f. Pitezel will be shipped
to Mrs. Pitezel, at Galva, Ills, as soon as
the law has finally disposed of the muir
derer They will include besides Ptezel's
picture, the fragmentary remains of the
three murdered children. Mrs. Pitezel,
within the past few days, requested her
counsel here to arrange for the shipment,
so that she might give decent interment
to what was left of her dead little ones.
Mrs. Pitezel also inquiries if she cannot
obtain all or part of the money taken
from her by Holmes while he was taking
her about the country. This is interesting
in view of the statement that Holmes has
received a large sum for his alleged con
fession. Mrs. Pitezel's counsel would not
state whether any Judgment would be en-
tered against Holmes, but it is believed
nothing will be done Mrs. Pitezel also
inquiries if steps cannot be taken to com
pei Lawyer Jeptha d. Howe, of st. Louis,
Holmes alleged co-conspirator in the in
surance swindle, to return the 50, 500 she
alleges he obtained from her. Her counsel
il now considering just what steps to take
in both these matters.
The North American this morning prints
what purports to be sentences from the
confession alleged to have been made by
Holmes. Among other things it says:
Holmes writes of his blood curdling at
rocities with an abandon that is simply
appalling. Not grain of remorse seems
to enter into the statement Regret is
never for a moment expressed In only
two cases does he admit the element of
pathos, and then but slightingly one
where he refers to the memory of Minnie
Williams, and one where he speaks of an
outrage perpetrated on his boy, for whose
education he wrote and sold his confess
sion.
Even now he believes that the evil spirit
is the guiding genius of his destiny. He
believes he is fully under the spell of the
damned, and despite all assertions to the
contrary believes he is lost hopelessly.
eyes, l was born with the devil in me,
says he in one part of his confession 81
could not help the fact that l was a muir
derer any more than the poet can help the
inspiration to song, north ambition of an
| intellectual man to be great. was born
with the evil one standing as my sponsor
beside the bed where l was ushered into
the world, and he has been nigh me since.
Where other hearts were touched with
pity, mine was filled with cruelty, and
where in others the feeling was TO save
life, | reveled in the thought of destroying
the same This inclination came to me in
early life. 1 remember when a mere lad
my ambition was to study medicine, that
might know the relative effect of poison
GUS gases; that might fully become ac-
quainted with their uses, and learn to be
an expert in handling them.
81 am convinced that since my impris-
onment l have changed woefully and
| gruesomely from what l formerly was in
feature and figure. From what can see
1 believe fully that am growing to re-
semble the devil"
Holmes confession from this on speaks
of his early experiences, of his boyhood
days on the farm up in Vermont and the
life he led until he entered college in
Michigan to study medicine
When he once began numbering, he ad
mits himself, he was ruthless, and never
once halted until he took twenty-seveI
lives s'And / would have committed si1
others,n he adds, "had not certain occur
rences intervened. l had planned them
and was several times about to carry then
out when something interviewed"
Possibly one of the most brutal, revolt
ing and disgusting crimes this arch mutt
lator ever committed was one he speaks O
in chapter devoted to his boy-the son o.
his first wife, whom he married in New
England while but youth.
1T was shortly after was married, " he
declares, "when our boy was then but d
| youngster, playing about with lads of his
/ own size and age, that | was seized with a
mild desire to destroy | took him out &c
a rear barn l don't know what it was
that possessed me, but l took u surgical
knife along with me-"
With the utmost abandon, but with
here and there an expressed sigh Of re
gret, Holmes then tells how his own lesl
and blood was made to submit to the bar
barous blade, and there and then wa!
mutilated, simply to pacify the cravings
of a murderer's heart. Finished with thai
Holmes felt satisfied, and did not murder
his boy outright.
Holmes is determined to prevent an!
post mortem examination of his body. HI
has written instructions to his counsel
Mr.. Rotan, TO see that no unnecessary out
rage shall be committed on his body.
Sheriff Clement says he has had owe
1900 applications from all parts of th'
country from people who wish to wines
Holmes execution ON May 8. The sNerif
says the execution will be as private a
possible, and even a large number of hi
warmest personal and political friend
will be refused cards of admission.