The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-22

Former Classmate Tells Of His Many
~Pecu1iarfties.

New York Advertiser.
There is a prominent physician in this city
who was a classmate Of III. III. Holmes, the
m-ulti-murderer, whose sensational confess
sion to the commission OF ~twenty-seven
murders has startled and shocked the world
and interested criminologists and students
OF degeneracy and insanity everywhere. For
the former classmate of Holmessis not Civ
en-. He has no desire to figure as a person
who was thrown in unavoidable contact
with such a human monster even before his
depraved character began to assert itself
real name Is Herman w. Mudgett-
At the time he was a classmate or the ply
sican referred to, Holmes was twenty-five
years of age. In.his confession and In the
interviews which he gave previous to his
confession Holmes only describes himself as
having been a medical student at the Uni
versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. AS a
matter of fact, he began his medical studies
at the University OF Vermont, at Burling-
of the New York physician. Holmes re-
manned at the University or Vermont only
one year. going from there to the University
Of Michigan. His class at the University or
rmo was not a large one, numbering
only fourteen men, and therefore his fellow
classmates had ample opportunity TO study
his character. Holmes at that time, accord
ing to the physician. was not a man who
would In any way be suspected OF being a
criminal or criminally disposed.
1.-THE fellow" said the physician yesterday,
was a young man who would attract atten-
ton anywhere, but more on account Of the
Br0teSQueneSS OF MS dress ana the pecUllaF-
ity Of his manner than for any other reason.
He was the most absurdly dressed fellow /
ever saw. Where he came from when he en-
tered the University OF Vermont none Of us
ready developed one characteristic nat has
stuck to him throughout his life. He was a
would tell one story about himself and then
another. If he did tell anyone anything
about his antecedents it was impossible 10
place any credence in 1T. because he was as
liable as not to tell the next man he met an
entirely different story. Because of this.
and because of an evident desire on the
out anything about himself, no member of
our class was ever able to discover who the
fellow really was or where he came from.
was rather retiring in his disposition, and
to a very considerable extent he became
the butt of his class. All kinds OF practical
he took them good naturally and without
any effort at retaliation. He had only one
suit OF clothes during the entire year that
made for him. Where he got it the Lord only
knows. The trousers were as baggy as
bloomers, and the coat and vest large
Holmes. But it was the overcoat that was
the masterpiece of grotesqueness In
fair that reached to his heels and complete
ly swallowed the fellow. The sleeves were
so long that they completely covered the
mans hands. and often the boys asked him
VIII lC lAl kO = ~ OxAlC anl
have a tuck taken in them. holmes had
just about money enough to get through
the term with economy, and didn't seem
to mind the absurd appearance his clothes
gave him
"The fellow was a hard student, but In
no way a bright one. He impressed none
of us as being a man of any special force
of character in any direction. His head was
somewhat peculiarly shaped, his forehead
being rather low, and the head an unusual
ly long one. The bumps which the phrenolo-
gists say indicate secrecy and craftiness
were prominent. During this year in college
he had very little to say and scarcely ever
spoke except he was addressed. He was
taciturn and almost sullen. He always
seemed to me to be preoccupied. and Otter
when I spoke to him he would start as II
waking out Of a sleep. He was sane enough,
and a hard WORKER and there were no evil
dences about him anywhere that his min
was an unusual one. or that his life would
develop any of the characteristics that have
marked him a murderer. At the time I NEAR
he certainly was not one who would have
in any way been successful with women
There was nothing fascinating about him
nor did he display any desire for wornen's
society. I met him once or twice in company
with young women at Burlington, but a.
the time Holmes was decidedly bashful
and had almost nothing to say"
The Rev. DR.. John j. Glennon has been ap
pointed coadjutor to the bishoD OF kansa
City, NO., the Rt. Rev. John J. Hogan. d.
DIR. Glennon Is the vicar-general and recto
of Kansas City Cathedral.