The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-06
FINAL EFFORT OF HOLMES
Tries to Bribe Mrs. Pietzel to Inter.
cede for Him.
SAYS HE IS UNFIT TO DIE
And Wants More Time to Prepare for the
End-lIas Not Decided Upon Ills
wiII-work Of Bnild-
ing Galiows.

PHILADELPHIA, May 5.-H. H. Holmes,
was last night transferred from the
cell in the county prison that ne hao
occupied since the verdict or guilty was
returned against him for numbering
BENJAMIN F. Pietzel. to newly ftted
up section that affords him more light
and better ventilation. The doomed
man is now confined In a cell that Is
only a few yards from the Eallows. but
the cell Is so situated that the scaffold
is removed from his vision. He can
however, hear the moving OF timbers
and the rapplng Of hammers upon the
apparatus that Is being constructed for
his end on Thursday next.
The changing Of the cell was done
simply to facilitate the work of hang
Ing. AS now placed Holmes will be led
out of a cell directly in the rear of the
scaffold and he will not have the or
deal of marching down a fight Of stairs
with the gallows constantly In his view.
Lawyer Rotan who defended Holmes
stated today that he had not yet draft
ed Holmes will because the condemned
man so frequently makes changes In
the document.
Mrs. Pietzel has been given some
money" Mr.. Rotan continued. land
have no doubt that she will be amply
provided for. She may have some diff
iiculty though in collecting from es-
tates that are tangled up in litigation
and mortgages"
When Lawyer Fahy, the attorney for
Mrs. PietZel was subsequently seen, he
said:
Mrs. Pietzel is preparing to return
home to her people at Galva, Ills, and
1 exHect that she will leave before the
| execution"
TT is said that she has already re-
ceived some money from Holmes. Was
that part Of the promised restitution
Of the insurance money?" was asked.
Mrs Pietzel did receive some money
| from Holiness answered Lawyer Fahy
with tinge OF sarcasm. "She received
| just $40 and that is about one tenth of
| what her travelling expenses and the
cost OF her hoard here amounts to-"
Attorney Fahy today made public q
letter that Holmes wrote to him on
| May l, as counsel for Mrs. Piet.el, In
which the condemned man requested
Mrs. PietScl to ask Governor Hastings
Tor reprieve. Mr.. Fahy stated that
his client could not conscientlously go
| before the governor on such Il mission,
and II she did, 1t would not avail.
HOLMES LETTER.
In the letter Holmes says:
'"On account Of being refused O short
4
hoped to in money matters without her
aid. Coroner CastOrs' visit here has
accomplished all desired to do In that
direction. But there Is no necessity
Of losing the Chicago property, unless
she so wills IT, ! therefore make the
following proposition, assuming that
the governor will give heed to q request
from Mrs Pietzel when he knows that
she and other helpless ones. and not !.
are to profit by it. You will by this time
know that since November. l have not
made an effort to save my life. but have
bent all my energies to arranging other
matters for u stay OF five weeks. which
will carry me over to foreclosure pro-
ceedings, and allow me ample time to
settle up affairs. I will give to Mrs.
Pietzel a house and lot. clear of all
encumbrances. accompanied by a lease
from tenant paying $40 per month to
May l, 1897. and after valuing the
house and lot at only what it has been
incumbered for will pay to her In cash
sufficient to make total of $1,000. No
part of which shall be taken from the
one third set aside for her on April 49,
The encumbrance to which l refer
can clear by an exchange with Chicago
parties and thus save paying out the
money. Besides this gain to Mrs. Piet-
| EeI, sHe Will Sl'Il nave OIle-tHlTu vi
what we can realize from the block al
SiXtythird street, and l am specially
anxious to sell this In way we have
planned as II allows me to pay of every
dollar ] owe in Chicago.
] would also beg ,lrs PietZel to re-
member that while she, may think me
unfit to live, I am certainly unfit tc
die, and in return for wha. ! can dc
fer her, should like an opportunity tc
read and otherwise prepare myself fol
death"