Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-04-16
HOLMES NOW OWNS Up.
he LOOKS LIKE SATAN NOM

A Fine Play For An Insanity
Plea Later On Other Grimes
And Criminals.
PHrLADELPHrA Especial. The North
American Of this CITY will tomorrow
print what purports to be sentences
from confession alleged to have been
made BY Murderer Holmes. Among
other things tho story says:
"In prefacing the confession, which
covers in full nearly three newspaper
pages, written in Holmes own hand
writing and detailing with . minute
ness that is at times simply revolving,
the arch-mutilator and author Of TWEEN
ty-seven murders, as he admits him
self to be, states, with something like
pathos, that he does so simply that he
may obtain money enough to educate
his boy. Homes writes his blood
curdling atrocities with an abandon
that simply appals one. Not one grain
of remorse seems to enter into the con-
struction OF that document, and never
for moment, except In two isolated
cases-one whore he refers touchingly
to the memory Of Minnie Williams,
and another time when he pathetically
speaks Of an outrage perpetrated on
his boy-does his redeeming element
Of pity figure In the case. Regret Is
never for moment expressed, and he
comes out boldly and without compunc-
ton on his very opening with the
statement, 4 was born with the very
devil In me- Even now he feels that
he is lost hopelessly. He even goes fur
Their. He asserts that he Is gradually
changing In appearance and figure;
that his face Is becoming distorted, and
he sees, whether In the distortion of
his bloody Imagination which conjures
up host OF vengeance calling dead or
not, his face Is assuming the look, the
eyes the leer, and the very ears the ex-
act similtude of the picture Of Satan
himself.
u could not help the fact that was
q murderer any more than the poet
can help the inspiration to song nor
the ambition Of the intellectual man
to be great. Where other hearts were
touched with pity, mine was filled
cruelty; and wherein others feelings
was to save life I revelled In thought
Of destroying them. Not only was
not satisfied in taking 1t In the ordin-
airy way; sought devices, strange,
fantastical and even grotesque. II
pleased my fancy"
Holmes confession speaks Of his
early experiences, his boyh0od days
on the farm up in Vermont, and the
life he led until he entered college to
study medicine in Michigan. It was
not until after he graduated and was
fully equipped with knowledge of
poisons and the easiest way to sever
the thread or life that Holmes began
his career as murder and mutilator.
When he began, he admits himself,
he was ruthless and never once halted
until he took twenty -seven lives
"And / would have committed six
other murders" he added, s'had not
certain occurrences interviewed"
Possibly one Of the worst, most
brutal, revolving and disgusting crimes
this arch-mutilatot ever committed
was the one he speaks Of In the chapter
devoted to his b0y-the son Of his tfrsi
wife. The only explanation he offers
Is that he did It simply to crafty 9
love OF mutilAtion. a1t was shortly
after married. he declares, aand
our boy was then but . youngster.
Nallnd him IN from tina road Ma was