The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-05-12

Z
Culver
PhilaG olphia, May Oh. III. Holmes
was hanged in MOyamensing prison at
1912 o'clock. It was not until half
hour later that he was pronounced
dead. His neck was broken by the
fall. The marvellous nerve Of the man
never deserted MIN to the very end.
Even on the scaffold he was probably
the coolest person in the solemn as
Semblage. In few we'll chosen
words he proclaimed his innocence of
any murder, including that for which
he was convicted and hanged. He de-
clared that the only wrongdoing in the
taking Of human life for which lie
could be held responsible consisted in
the death of two women, who had
died as the result of criminal opera
lions at his hands. He did not name
these victims. Holmes spent the great
er part of his last night on earth writ
ing letters. At midnight he went to
bed and slept soundly until o'clock.
1t took two calls to awaken him.
Promptly arising, ne received a visit
from his spiritual advisers, Fathers
DAILY and MacPeak, of the Church of
the Annunciation. They administered
the last sacrament and did not leave
him until nearly 8 o'clock. During
their absence he ate a breakfast of
eggs, dry toast and coffee. At 1902
o'clock the sheriff called together the
official jury, and after each man had
answered to his name, and subscribed
to the certificate. the solemn march to
the gallOws was begun.
AS the gathering stood in intense ST.
lence before the scaffold a murmuring
sound came from behind the partition
erected Immediately back of it, 1t was
the dolorous chant of the two priests
accompanying the doomed man to the
scaffold. They were uttering the
psalm Miserere At 1908 he mounted
the fatal platform. A moment Of
prayer elapsed, and then Holmes
stepped to the front of the scaffold,
and, resting his hands upon the rail
before him, made his statement of his
innocence. 1t was received in abSo-
lutte silence. Two minutes later he
had finished his valedietory. Then, at
q silent signal from the priests, he
bent to his knees. his eyes fixed on the
crucifix, clasped in his thin hands.
Until 1912 the prayer continued. I'M
mediately afterWard he arose, shock
hands with thu priests and his lawyers
and in a firm voice babe them '.Good
bye" Without an instant's delay his
hands were bound behind him, and the
black cap adjusted Sheriff Clement
placed the moose about his neck, and
after an instant of terrible stiffness,
The crack of the bolt rang opt like a
pistol. shot, and the murderer had
fallen to his DOB n.
~ n; 4n1x
the doctors said, although his heart
continued a feeble beat for 10 or 20
minutes. After an examination had
been made by several physicians, he
was pronounced dead, and the swing
ing corpse was cut down.
Holmes Crimes
The murder of BENJAMIN F. PitZel,
for which Holmes was hanged, oc-
Cured Sept. 2, 1894. The crime was
tho elimination of conspiracy be-
tween the men to defraud the Fidelity
Mutual Life Association of Philadel-
phia of $4,000, and the swindle was
successfully acco nplishad.
Holmes had at least nine victims.
These were Alice and Nellie Pltzel
the little daughters OF Benjamin, who
were asphyXiated in trunk in Toron-
to, Canada; Howard PitZel. the young
son, killed in Indianapolis, Holmes cut
ting up and burning the remains in
stove: Julia L. Conner, divorced wife
of I. l.. Conner, and bookkeeper for
Holmes: Pearl Conner, her daughter;
Emeline G. Cigrande of Anderson,
Ind. stenographer for Holmes; Min
ME r. Williams Of Fort Worth, Tex,
his private secretary, and Mana Will
Jams. her sister.
The murder of these persons has
teen fixed upon him almost certainly,
but there are at least dozen other
cases which have been laid at his
door.
NOT ole of Holmes crimes was the
outcome of a sudden burst of fury
t.hot blood,'' as the codes say. All
were deliberate, planned and cOnclud-
cd with consummate skill for gain or
to serve some end. To him murder
was a fine art and he reveled in the
lurid glamour cast upon him by his
abnormal genius. Even with the
shadow of the moose dangling over his
head. he evolved a so-called confess
sion. detailing with horrible calmness
how he had exterminated 81 fellow
creatures. and coldly setting forth the
varied and bloody tortures he had
employed.
But the man was an atrociouS liar,
and several of those with whose MUIR
der he charged himself have since de-
MED his story with their own lips.
~ Galmiberti Is.Dead
Rome. May 9.-Mgr. Louis Galimber-