The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-13
HIS LETTER TO HIS WIFE.


The "Jekyll and Hyde type is marvellous
ly portrayed in the confessions made by
Holmes in the last forty-eight hours, the de-
tails OF which show that he is lying now or
was lying when he carried on his correspond
ence with the indianapolis attorneys. Holmes
has confessed TO twenty-seven murders. in
Guiding the killing of Howard, Alice and
Nellie Pitezel. He says he killed a man in
Chicago during the Columbian exposition. He
does not remember the name of his victim.
but refers the authorities to F. l.. Jones, a
notary public, of Indianapolis, among others
Holmes killed this man because he could not
use him in his different business operations
Howard Pitezel. according to the murderer's
statement, was put to death in lrvington
Oct. 10. early In the night. Holmes bought
drugs at the Irvington drug store Oct. z. and
increased the supply next day. At o'clock
on the evening Of Oct. 10 ne administered the
drugs and put the boy to bed After he was
dead Holmes cut the body up and put the
pieces in the stove. Oct. Is he killed Alice
Was With the ehidren but Holmes sent her
away the evening OF the fatal day. He i'm
prisoned the little girls IN a trunk and con-
Holmes, during the first few months of
his incarceration, employed much of his
time in writing letters. Many of these epis-
ties were addressed TO Miss Georgiana d.
Yoke, of Franklin. Holmes always claimed
Miss Yoke was his wife. He invariably ad-
dressed her as Dear one One of these let
tiers suggests that lot Of money could be
made by Matchmaking the newspapers
Holmes says i'm this connection: Again, dear
est, there are probably one hundred prom
money and circulation by branding me a
murderer, and little later all such will
be asked to pay $500 to $1,000 to avoid a
want to send ' proofs Of the Boston ie story
to Mr.. G., and tell him his name and pic
ture viii be admitted for $1,000; then to #.
of his name and also picture from the same
page with Mrs. NJ These two shall pay
Sunday. July g. Holmes grew remorseful.
you life would be worse than DEATH" A few
weeks prior to his trial Holmes wrote to
his wife Miss Yoke, intimating that he
he was indirectly responsible for the death
of Mamie Williams in Chicago and that
the death of the Pitezel children could be
laid at his door. He closed thus: Il told
you one time that the day would come when
you would despise the ground 1 walked on,
and that Jay has come
Mrs. Holmes, or Miss Yoke, replied to this
gloomy epistle few days after its receipt,
My Dear Husband-I received your long
letter this forenoon. / have been quite iii
for two or three days; am losing ali my
flesh. and eat so little that l am so weak
I can scarcely walk; do not know what
Is the matter; heartaches, / guess. / am
taking some of your medicine, but it does
not seem TO help me. To begin at the be-
ginning, much that has been told YOU is
untrue, and the remainder has simply been
told with different meaning. That L made
no promise to remain away until wanted
in the Howe case Is fact. That I am ac-
cepting money from them is misstatement
You do not know, or perhaps will never
know, how much have tried to do for you
and your iterest.
81 believe the children alive on the theory
that. If they were dead. and you were ar
rested so soon. why they not be found:
Ii is easier TO locate dead body than a
live one any time. Again. there was moth
ing to gain. Had there been much money
depending on them l could see some cause
as IL Is, / see none and why you should
have even bothered with them cannot see.
Il loved YOU with one love of lifetime
until your past was known, that my re-
gard for you is changed to a feeling OF
pity, with some of the old deep love
admit you can expect nothing else as
when our idol is once broken, much as we
love the shattered bits and pity its un-
happy fate, yet II Is never quite the same
again.
II never can cast you away for an hour
or moment, IL seems, out OF my thought
and life: sleeping or walking j see you
in all my plans you have a part. each
meal 1 wish for you, and my heart aches
70 think OF you there. Now, Harry, your
plans are all wrong. Bear your sentence
bravely; be a man, and by the time any
charges are brought ! will have money tc
help you. Go out free man, and for
tue sake OF your mother, IL not my own
live true life. ! believe you will vet do
this: have faith enough In your love Tor