The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1896-05-14
HOLMES rs HANGED
THE NOTORIOUS MURDERER EXPI-
ATES HIS MANY CRIMES.
He Makes a speech ON the GaIloSs
and Declares That He Never corn-
mitted an Actual Observation-Disclosures
Nerve Does Not Desert Him and
He Meets His Death without q
culver.

Nerve Does Not Desert Him and
He Meets His Death without a
Culver.
Philadelphia, May Oh. FL. Holmes
was hanged in Moyamensins prison at
1912 o'clock. II was not untifa 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 scanold he was probably
the coolest person in the solemn as
semblage. In a few well 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 i'll the
taking of human life for which lie
could be held responsible consisted IN
the death OF two women, who had
died us the result of criminal opera
tons ut his hands. He did not name
these victims. Holmes spent the great.
err part of his last night on earth writ
ing letters. At midnight he went to
bed and slept soundly until 9 o'clock.
1t took two calls to awaken him.
Promptly arising, ne received a visit
from his spiritual advisers, Fathers
DAILY aud MacPeak, Of the Church OF
the Annunciation. They administered
the last sacrament and did not leave
him until nearly o'clock. During
their absence he ate a breakfast OF
eggs, dry toast and coffee. AT 1902
o'clock the sheriff called together the
ofl;,;,, i,,,x,& aud 1. ~ o. 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 81
1ence before the scaffold murmurinS
sound came from behind the partition
erected Immediately back Of it. 1t was
the tlolorous chant of the two priests
accompanying the doomed man to the
scuffold. They were uttering the
psalm Mserere. AT 1o:0S he mounted
the fatal platform. A moment OF
prayer elapsed, and then Holmes
stepped to the front of the scatfold,
and, resting his hands upon the rail
before him, made his statement of his
innocence. 1t was received in abso-
lutte silence. Two minutes latersshc
had finished his valedictory. Then, at
d silent signal from the priests, he
bent to his knees, his eyes fixed on the
clasped in his thin hands.
Until 1912 the prayer continued. I'M
mediately afterward he arose, shock
hands with the priests and his lawyers
and iii 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.
he crack of the bolt rang ont like q
pistol silnt, and the murderer had
fallen to his doc n.
Consciousness left him Immediately,
the doctors said. although his heart
continued feeble beat for IL 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 Grimes.
The murder OF Benjamin Z. Pitzel,
for which .Holnles was hanged, oc-
Cured Sept 2, 1904. The crime was
the elimination Of a conspiracy be-
tween thu men to defraud the Fidelity
Mutual Life Association of philadel-
phia Of $4,000, and the sWindle was
successfully accn 1iplishad.
Holmes had at least nine victims.
These were Alice and Nellie Pitzel,
the little daughters CT Benjamin, who
were asplyXiated in \ trunk in Toron-
to- Canada: Howard Pitzel the young
son, Killed ia indianapolis, Holmes cut
ring up and buinilg the remains in 4
stove: Julia T. Conner, divorced wife
of !. H. Conner. and bookkeeper for
Holmes: Pearl Conner, her daughter;
Emeline G.. Gigrande of Anderson,
Ind. stenographer for Holmes; Min
nie r. Williams If Fort Worth, Tex,
his private secretary, and Mana Will
Jams. her sister.
The murder Of these persons has
leen fixed upon him almost certainly,
but there are at least dozen other
cases which have been laid at his
door. E
Not ole of Holmes crimes was the
outcome OF sudden burst of fury
..hot blood as the codes say. All
were deliberate. planned and conclud-
ed with consummate skill for gain or
to serve come end. To him murder
was d fine art, and he reyeied in the
lurid glamour cast upon him by his
abnormal genius. Even with the
shadow Of the moose dangling over his
head, he evolved so-called confess
sion, detailing with horrible calmness
how he had exterminated 81 fellow
creatures, and coldly setting forth the
varied and bloody fortunes he had
But the man was an ntrccious liar,
and several Of those with whose muir
der lie charged himself have since de-
MED his story with their own lips.
e------------ --------------
GaImibertf Is Dead.