“This is Mr. Holmes, of Chicago, who carries insurance in our company,
and who formerly was well acquainted with Mr. Pitezel.”
Upon our shaking hands, he said, “I am glad to know you, sir.”
After some general conversation, I said, “The officers of the company
inform me that you have certain letters and other papers in Mr.
Pitezel’s handwriting, and I think, if agreeable to you, I can identify
them if belonging to him.”
Our attorney then turned to the president, saying, “Who is this man?
Before I show any papers or have anything more to do with one who is
apparently an outsider, I wish to know more about him.”
The president then said in a conciliatory manner, “Oh! I think you can
depend upon Mr. Holmes acting independently and for the interest of all
in the case. He is a man formerly in business in Chicago, and for whom
Mr. Pitezel worked for a long time, and if any one is able to give an
accurate description of him, Mr. Holmes should be able to do so.”
“My inquiry was a precautionary one,” said our attorney, “I am willing
under those circumstances that Mr. Holmes should examine the papers and
aid us if he can.”
During that afternoon our attorney entered into an agreement in writing
with the company, stipulating, that in order to establish his claim,
certain marks of identification should be found upon the body, which
it had been arranged to have disinterred the next day. Among those
marks should appear a large wart, or mole, upon the back of the neck,
jet black hair, a cowlick upon the forehead, a peculiarly decayed
condition of the teeth, a bruised thumb nail and a scar upon one of
the lower extremities.
That evening, quite late, our attorney came to me freshly terrified,
and again ready to abandon the case. He had met a man named Smith, who,
in conversation with him, had stated that while in Pitezel’s place of
business he had seen a man come in and hold some conversation with him,
who he had understood was a friend then living in the city. Smith had
stated that the friend had not come forward at the time of his death
and he thought it strange, and also remarked that if he ever saw the
man again he would know him.
Mr. Smith was to be at the Coroner’s office next day, and was also to
be present at the time the body was viewed. I told him that from what
I remembered of the man Smith, I did not think he was a very close
observer or overburdened with general intelligence, and I would take
the chances of his recognizing me, rather than give up the case at
that stage of it. Next morning we all met at the Coroner’s office. My
judgment had been correct in regard to Smith. He noticed me only as he
would have done any stranger, and upon being introduced to him, and
being in his company and holding a general conversation with him, I met
with the same result.
It was decided at the meeting at the Coroner’s office that later in the
day those interested should go to the cemetery where the body would be
exhumed for identification. This was done, there being in the party
the president and two others, representing the insurance company, a
physician and a Deputy Coroner representing the city; our attorney,
Alice Pitezel and myself, besides Mr. Smith before referred to.
Upon reaching the cemetery we were told that the body had already been
placed in a small house and was ready to be seen.
I felt, that there being two other physicians present, it was not
necessary for me to take part in the identification, unless called upon
to do so; and had, upon first arriving together with Mr. Perry, taken
the daughter to a distant quarter of the enclosure. The physician made
the examination of the body, which lay in a well-lighted room; and,
after taking abundant time for this purpose, came out of the building
and announced that all marks of identification were wanting. After
some further conversation, the president said to our attorney that they
were satisfied before they came there that such would be the case, and
a general movement was made preparatory to leaving the place.
The attorney asked me what I thought should be done, and upon my
answering him, he told the president that he would like to have me
examine the body as well. I asked the doctor if he would object, and he
said “No,” but that I would not find it a pleasant task.
I entered the building, and hardly had passed the door before I
was positive that the doctor had been mistaken in the color of the
hair. Upon a close examination, all the marks were easily found: the
wart upon the neck, equal in diameter to that of a lead pencil, and
projecting fully a quarter of an inch from the surface; the cowlick,
the bruised nail, the teeth decayed exactly as had been described; and
lastly, the scar an inch and a half in length upon the foot.
I could do no less than call the doctor in, and one by one he
grudgingly admitted their presence; and that there should be no
further question as to the identity of the man, I asked him to remove
the wart for microscopical examination, some of the hair, the nail
and the scar. He said he had no implement with him that he cared to
use for this purpose. I had only a very small lancet, but I removed
the necessary portions, and later turned them over to the Coroner’s
representative.
I then endeavored to have a decision reached at once in order to save
the necessity of the daughter seeing the body, feeling it to be cruel
to have her do so, and if possible to prevent it. The president would
not agree to this, but it was finally arranged that she should see only
the teeth. All other portions of the body were therefore excluded from
view, and I led the child into the building.
It was a terribly hard thing that I had to do, for she was but a
delicate child of perhaps fourteen or fifteen years, yet she was
courageous and very willing to do what she could.
Upon reaching the body she said, “Yes, those are papa’s teeth, I am
sure of it.” I at once led her away, but I found the impression left
upon her tender mind would remain as long as she lived, and have always
felt it to have been a wholly unnecessary requirement upon the part of
the company.
Without regard to what the reasons were, the doctor’s report was
destined to cost me dearly, as will later be seen in this history. This
ended the examination at the grave-yard, and we all returned to the
city.
Even at that time the officers of the company would not express
themselves as willing to allow the claim, but later in the day they
reluctantly admitted that they were satisfied with the identification.
Upon reaching the Coroner’s office again, the Coroner very kindly
offered to take my testimony the next morning, which was Sunday, in
order that I could leave the city without further loss of time. After
making this arrangement, I went to the insurance company’s office
where I was reweighed, remeasured and in other ways readjusted my own
insurance, and later went to an undertaker’s office, and made every
arrangement to have the body properly buried in a good locality, well
satisfied to be able to perform this final act for my friend.
The next day at 4.30 P. M., having previously gone to the Coroner’s
office, I left Philadelphia, taking Alice Pitezel with me. I had not
heard from Miss Williams as I felt sure I should do, informing me of
her expected arrival in New York, and thus not hearing, I addressed her
there, asking both she and Hatch to come to Cincinnati as soon as they
conveniently could, stating my reasons for asking them to do so.
Alice did not like to return to St. Louis on account of having told
every one she knew before leaving that she was going away for the
winter, although she would have been very glad to have seen her mother;
and upon reaching Indianapolis I told her she could choose between
returning to St. Louis or remaining there for the few intervening days
while I went to St. Louis and returned with some of the rest of the
family upon our way to Cincinnati, it having previously been arranged
with Mrs. Pitezel that this move should be made at once to save
commencing another month in St. Louis, where she was paying rent.
Alice having decided to remain in Indianapolis, I took her to Stubbin’s
Hotel and left her there in charge of those whom I had become
acquainted with during my previous stay in that city. The next day I
received a telegram from the attorney, stating that the company had
paid him the insurance, after deducting several hundred dollars for
expenses, which, I think, was wholly unjust towards Mrs. Pitezel, the
whole amount, if any, being due her.
I then returned to St. Louis, where, owing to my absence, my own
case had again been postponed, and I therefore decided to return to
Cincinnati.
Taking the two children, Nellie and Howard, I started for that city
via Indianapolis, telegraphing to the hotel to have some one accompany
Alice to the train in the morning to join us. This was done, and at
about 8 A. M. we reached the Cincinnati station where Hatch met us. It
was the first I had seen of him since early in December of the previous
year.
Miss Williams had remained in New York, being unwilling to go to
Cincinnati where she had previously played, and therefore was known to
some people.
Being in haste to commence my work among the real estate men, I gave
the children into Hatch’s charge, and he took them to a small hotel
near the station. But not liking the surroundings, I returned to
the Hotel Bristol. I spent a very busy day, but was not successful
in finding property to exchange for Chicago property, and at last I
thought it safer to rent a house for a time, and then, by advertising
my property, find something more suitable for the children’s wants. I
therefore hired a house, paying one month’s rent and six months’ water
tax. I also made arrangements for its being comfortably furnished.
Miss Williams not having come, I looked around for some trustworthy
person to care for the children until their mother could reach them.
Mrs. Pitezel having a desire to visit her parents before going
elsewhere, did so.
Not finding such a person as I wished, and not liking to leave the
children without proper attention, I decided to take them with me to
Indianapolis, where I expected to be engaged in some real estate work
for the following two weeks. This I did, Hatch accompanying us, and
then going on to Chicago from whence he returned in a few days.
We reached Indianapolis about October 1st; the children stayed one
day at English’s Hotel, and then I engaged permanent board for them
at the Circle House, my wife and myself being at another hotel near
by, so that I could visit the children each day and know they were
properly cared for. This form of life was new to the children, and
they thoroughly enjoyed it, going about the city either by themselves,
Hatch’s or my own company.
I shortly afterwards returned to St. Louis, and, upon entering the
attorney’s office, he said, “Well, I am glad you have come; my partner
had been wishing that you would return.” I said, “Why?” He replied,
“Because he wants to get this matter settled up and get our fee out of
it. You know how close work it was to get the company to believe the
claim was straight, and something may occur to make them change their
minds. But, I said, “Why has he to be considered, even in that event?”
He replied, “Because, in a case as big as this, he will have to be
considered; besides, if it had not been for his letter of introduction
to Superintendent Linden in Philadelphia, the money would not have been
paid.” I then told him that I had not yet seen Mrs. Pitezel, but we
would arrange the settlement when I did so, and I would have her come
in and sign the necessary papers later. “Well,” said he, “what do you
think we should receive?” I said, “I have no idea; you must set your
price, not I.”
He then said, “Well, usually in these insurance cases the attorneys get
fifty per cent. of the claim. I have asked three disinterested lawyers
about it, and they say I ought to have that much, they not knowing it
as a fraudulent claim, which makes it all the worse.”
My answer was, “Well, if it comes to taking $5,000, which, from your
own statement to me, is more money than you ever before earned in your
life, you will have the opportunity to keep the balance as well.”
After some further conversation, he offered to choose an attorney if I
would choose one, and leave the fee to their decision, and with this
understanding I went away to return the next morning. When I returned
he met me with the announcement that his partner would not agree to his
proposition. I then said, “I wish to see him if he is the principal.”
At that time I had never been introduced to him. He left his office in
a few minutes and returned and conducted me into his partner’s private
office. He was seated at his desk, apparently much too busy to leave
his work for so small a matter as the settlement of a $5,000 fee.
Finally he turned upon me and, in an over-bearing, bull-dozing manner,
said, “What is all this trouble about? Don’t you expect to pay your
attorney after you have hired him?” I was angry at his insolent manner,
and at once told him that I would have no words with him. If they
wished to receive $500 for their services (reminding him that had it
not been for my presence in Philadelphia they would not have collected
the claim, as he had shown so very little tact in treating with the
company—so much so that they had been twice upon the point of ordering
him from their offices) then that amount could be deducted, but no
more.
He then said, “I will allow no man to come into my office and dictate
to me in regard to a fee after the work has been done for him, and as
for $500 it is an insult to offer it.” I then reminded him that I was
not making it as an offer to him, one of the most prominent lawyers of
St. Louis, but to his partner, a recent law graduate, to whom a $500
fee would be a large one, inasmuch as his expenses upon the trip had
been elaborately provided for.
He said, “Well, we will take $3,000 for this work and nothing less.” I
replied, “It cannot be paid.”
He said, “Then there is no further use for us to discuss the matter.”
Turning to his partner, he then said, “Go to the bank and get a New
York draft for what you have left; I am going to return the money.” I
said, “Very well, sir, nothing could be more to my advantage than this,
and upon Mrs. Pitezel receiving the money direct from the company I
shall tender to you your fee of $500.”
He replied, “You will never have a chance to do this; when the money
is sent back I shall at the same time write a letter to my old friend,
Captain Linden of the Philadelphia Police Department, stating that
since my return we have found out that the claim is crooked and cannot
handle such money, and that we think it our duty to aid him by placing
him in immediate possession of all the facts pertaining to the matter;
moreover, you are wanted in Fort Worth, Texas, and I shall at once
cause your arrest before you can leave the city.”
I replied, “You could only cause me trouble in regard to the insurance
matter at the cost of your partner’s disgrace.” He said, “It is not so;
it would be the word of our firm, which is well known throughout the
country, against your single statement, and you a man that has already
been under arrest once and will be again inside of an hour.” This so
angered me that I said, “You can send back the money, you can arrest
me, but you cannot intimidate or browbeat me. I will spend ten years in
the penitentiary before giving in to you now.”
Upon this I left the office. Mrs. Pitezel was seated in the outer
room, having come in in the meantime. I asked her to come at once
to Judge Harvey’s office, and upon her hesitating to do so, when he
asked her to remain a moment, I told her to make no settlement that
involved a greater reduction than $500 from the amount the company had
paid. Upon my doing this I left the office, and waited a long time for
Mrs. Pitezel; and when she met me she was in tears and said that they
would not let her leave the office until she allowed them to deduct
$2,500 from the insurance money, and that she had also signed a long
typewritten agreement of some kind. She then had the remainder of the
money, about $6,000, with her, the lawyers having previously paid some
bills upon her giving them a written order to do so.
Some days previous to this I had made arrangements that the amount of
money to be used at Fort Worth should be paid at a bank at St. Louis
in exchange for a note her husband had executed while there.[5] Mrs.
Pitezel went to the bank and lifted this note, and of the balance
gave me $225 for my expenses, as she supposed. As a matter of fact,
the $5,000 thus paid upon the note came to me, I having months before
had to satisfy the claim by the use of other property. That afternoon,
some time later, I left St. Louis, intending to return to Cincinnati
and complete the arrangements there for the home of the Pitezel family.
Before leaving St. Louis, however, I arranged that Mrs. Pitezel and
the two other children should go to Galva, Ill., upon their intended
visit to Mrs. Pitezel’s mother, and also made private arrangements
to be informed of any movements that should be made by the attorneys
detrimental to my interests.
Upon my returning to Indianapolis I found that both the children were
apparently enjoying themselves. Hatch had received a letter from Miss
Williams (to whom he claimed he was married) asking that we both meet
her in Detroit. This meeting was delayed, as I had some more real
estate work to do in Indianapolis which had been neglected, owing to
the insurance work. While attending to this work I received word that
the attorneys were intending to make trouble for me, and almost at the
same time word came from Chicago that some Fort Worth detectives were
again there, and had heard of my being in Cincinnati, Indianapolis and
St. Louis.
After consulting with Hatch, who was very much worried lest if I were
arrested it would implicate him as being with me, and perhaps Miss
Williams as well, we concluded that we should go away at once. Finally
I decided to abandon the Cincinnati house, and have the Pitezel family
locate elsewhere, as the attorneys knew of my former trips to that
city. I therefore wrote Mrs. Pitezel at Galva, advising her to change
her plans and go to Detroit.
Up to this time, all that I had done for Mrs. Pitezel she had been
aware of, but I did not now think it prudent that she should know
of the probability of trouble arising from the insurance company.
I preferred having her locate in some large city at that time, and
explain to her afterwards about her husband’s death as he had requested
me to do, and also of the necessity of remaining quiet until I could
ascertain if any real danger existed.
Quite early upon the morning of October 10th, I went to the children’s
hotel, and found them eating their breakfast. I told them we were going
away that day, and went with them to their rooms and instructed them
to divide their belongings into three separate packages, they having
previously been contained in a very old trunk, which was not in a
condition to be taken further. There was left in this trunk some old
clothing, among which was a suit of heavy clothes which had belonged to
Pitezel.
I then asked the children whether they would go with me to Chicago,
and then to Detroit, or go with Hatch. Howard Pitezel chose to go
with Hatch, while the girls desired to go to Chicago, hoping, while
there, to have time to visit some of their former acquaintances. Having
some purchases to make before leaving, I therefore, after telling the
girls at what time to meet me at the station, left the hotel, having
instructed Howard not to leave until Hatch should come, in order that
he could direct him to come to the station before my train left. I met
Hatch and Howard later upon the street. This was the last time I ever
saw the boy Howard, at which time he was both well and contented. The
first few days after his leaving home he had been homesick.
[Illustration: HOWARD PITEZEL.]
While I was in the barber shop at the station upon this same morning,
I asked Hatch to go to the hotel and have the nearly empty trunk taken
to the station and have it checked to any destination he might choose,
there being nothing of value in it, and it not being desirable to have
it left at the hotel. Upon reaching Chicago, I took the two girls to a
hotel, as I had business in a distant part of the city. I stayed during
the one night I remained there at a new hotel upon the west side of
North Clark street, less than a block north of the Lincoln avenue car
junction.[6]
Not deeming it prudent, owing to the late news I had heard at
Indianapolis, to go to my attorney’s office, I had both him and my
agent meet me elsewhere, and arranging my work as quickly as possible,
I left Chicago upon Friday, October 12th, going directly to Detroit,
taking the girls with me. During the latter part of this trip my wife
was upon the same train, she having left Indiana that morning in
response to a request from me to do so.
Anticipating this, I had made arrangements with Hatch before leaving
Indianapolis to be at the Detroit Station to take charge of the
children. Upon our reaching Detroit I at once took my wife to a hotel
about one mile from the station, and as I was leaving the train I saw
Hatch helping the girls from the car in which they had traveled. About
a half hour later Hatch met me at the Western Union telegraph office in
response to a note I had given to Alice for him.
It was very late at night, and I returned with him to the hotel, where
he had taken the girls, to see that they were all right, and while
going there he told me that he had been delayed twenty-four hours at
some junction between Indianapolis and Detroit, so that he had only
reached Detroit that afternoon, and Miss Williams not wishing by any
accident to meet my wife had gone to Buffalo to visit some theatrical
friends, taking Howard with her. I did not think strange of this, for
I knew Howard had known and liked Miss Williams the year before, when
she was in my office in Chicago. The next day I engaged permanent board
for both myself and wife, and also for the children, in two separate
portions of the city, as I expected to remain there for some time, and
enlisting Hatch’s services, we proceeded to look for a house that, if
possible, could be bought in exchange for Chicago property, and by so
doing save money.
If this could not be accomplished, then a house that should be rented
for a few months, until such a trade could be made. A small house was
found so favorably located, with school advantages for the children,
that I thought it best to pay the small deposit required, five dollars,
to hold it for a few days.
On Sunday morning Mrs. Pitezel came to Detroit, and I did not think it
wise to tell her positively that she was to settle there until I should
have heard again from both St. Louis and Chicago. During the interval,
I had her board at a hotel; nor did I think it wise to tell her the
other children were in the city, until I knew that no further move
was to be made, lest she not understanding the danger of arrest—if
such danger I should find still existing—she would be unwilling to go
elsewhere, unless she supposed the children and her husband, or both,
had already gone.
I had brought with me a package of papers from Chicago, which I did not
care to carry in my own trunks, and it was arranged to conceal them
in the house lately rented in Detroit. I took them there in company
with Hatch, and proceeded to place them above the ceiling of the upper
story, when he suggested that in case of fire they would be lost, and
volunteered to prepare a place next day in the basement for their
safe-keeping. And this he did by first buying a new shovel, and then
making a small excavation in the earth, not using this shovel, as it
afterward appeared, but another found in the basement.
Upon the morning of October 17th I received startling intelligence
from both St. Louis and Chicago, and, upon holding a consultation, it
was with reluctance that we decided to leave Detroit and go either to
Canada or Europe; for I felt that any move, without regard to expenses,
was better than to have Mrs. Pitezel arrested and myself as well.
This day was a very busy one. Before Mrs. Pitezel left St. Louis I
had bought a large trunk, which I loaned to her to carry part of her
personal effects to her new house. When it was decided to make a move
into other lands, I arranged with Hatch that, while I was busy about
other matters, he should take the trunk to his room and repack it,
and exclude a multitude of worthless articles, after having told Mrs.
Pitezel that this was to be done.
It also became necessary to go to a city called Ypsilanti upon that
same day to get a package of valuable papers I had ordered forwarded to
me there, and, being so busy about other matters, I requested Hatch to
make the trip for me. He hesitated considerably about doing it, saying
he must see to repacking this trunk. I told him that I could better
take the time to do this than to go to Ypsilanti. He replied that I
could not well take it to his room, as I was not known to the people of
whom he rented. I told him I would arrange it otherwise, and he then
started for Ypsilanti.
At about one o’clock I found an expressman, and accompanying him to
a feed store near by bought a flour barrel with the address of a
party in Hartford, Conn., upon one end of it. We then drove to Mrs.
Pitezel’s hotel and had the trunk taken to the depot. There, upon the
platform, I took such worthless articles as Mrs. Pitezel had placed in
a separate part of the trunk and put them in the barrel, and leaving
the trunk at the depot had the expressman take the barrel to either
the United States or American Express Company’s office, and ship it
to Hartford, Conn. At about 2 P. M. I went to a livery stable on ——
street, and hiring a horse and buggy drove to the house that had been
rented and took the two girls with me for a drive. I entered the house
and procured the papers I had previously left there. I also left a note
instructing Hatch to the effect that if he came there from Ypsilanti
with the other papers, not to bury them. I then drove to Hatch’s room
and left a small note, and this accounts for the note being later found
in the house where I directed the authorities to search.
Earlier in the same day Hatch and I visited several large stores, and
at one obtained a $500 and two $200 bills, which, together with other
small bills, making in all $1,000, which sum he took to Miss Williams
to pay upon what was due her on the Fort Worth transaction. Before
leaving Detroit, Hatch brought to the depot the new shovel wrapped in a
paper, and wished to put it in the trunk, but upon my remarking that it
seemed more useless than things I had just taken out to make more room,
he said he had paid for it and did not care to throw it away.
The next morning my wife and I left Detroit for Toronto at 10 o’clock.
Mrs. Pitezel and the two children started two hours later. The next
morning Hatch took the two girls, Alice and Nellie, to the train and
they made the journey to the same city alone twenty-four hours later,
and over the same road I had come, while Hatch came to Toronto by the
way of Buffalo, where he stopped to see Miss Williams.
I reached Toronto early Thursday evening, October 18th, and went at
once to the Walker House. After taking dinner, I went to the station
and met Mrs. Pitezel, taking her to a hotel near by, and returned to
the Walker House for the night. Next morning we breakfasted at about
8.30. I visited Mrs. Pitezel at her hotel about a half hour, and then
with my wife visited several fur stores, purchasing a fur cape and
returned with her to the Walker House for the mid-day meal. Immediately
thereafter we went for a long country drive, and did not return until
about 6 P. M. I ate dinner and then, as upon the preceding evening,
went to the station. This time I met the two girls, Alice and Nellie,
with whom Hatch had started from Detroit that morning, as stated.
[Illustration: NELLIE PITEZEL]
Upon their arrival I placed them in an omnibus running to the Albion
Hotel, in care of the runner for that house, and returning to the
Walker House had hardly time to prepare for the theatre, which I
attended that evening with my wife. The next morning, after eating
a late breakfast,[7] my first occupation upon this day was to go to
the Hotel Albion and visit the children. I found them in their room,
greatly interested in watching the immense open market across the
street. I remained with them until almost, if not quite, 10 A. M. I
then went to the post-office, making a few calls at some haberdashers
on the way. I reached the post-office not later than 10.30, when I met
Hatch, in accordance with an arrangement made before leaving Detroit.
He had visited Miss Williams at Buffalo, upon the trip to Toronto; and,
in answer to my inquiry, stated that the boy Howard was well, and that
he had wanted to come to Toronto with him, but he had thought it best
for him to wait and accompany Miss Williams if she came.
He then left me, as he stated, to find for himself a private room,
agreeing to meet me at the same place at 2 P. M.
Now, in this short time between 10.30 A. M. and 2 P. M., it appears
from the testimony recently taken in Toronto at an inquest, that a
visit was made to a real estate agent then in a distant part of the
city; a call was made upon the owner of the house at Vincent street
of sufficient length to arrange for renting the property, and to
enter into a detailed description of the family supposed to be the
future tenants, and become well acquainted with the owner; then to
take possession of the house, to call upon a neighbor and make
their acquaintance as well, and, presumably, to eat a lunch at some
restaurant, and buy a small amount of furniture for the house just
hired. Add to this the almost certain probability that the lessee had
visited other houses as well, it being hardly possible that he could
have found a house at once so well adapted to the purpose as this seems
to have been, and there is little time left for other work before 2 P.
M. of the same day.
My movements during these same hours were as follows: Leaving Hatch at
the post-office, I went to Mrs. Pitezel’s hotel, fully one mile away,
stopping upon my way at the telegraph office for fully fifteen minutes,
while a search was instituted in a different part of the building
for undelivered telegrams. After making a short call at the hotel, I
returned to the Walker House, went again to the fur store where our
purchase of the day previous had been made (one of two stores located
very near each other about two blocks west of the post-office and north
of K street). Here fully one-half hour was taken up in the work done
there, which included the purchase of two storm garments. We then went
to King street, made several calls at furnishing stores and one large
dry goods store, and then, after spending some time in selecting a good
pocket compass, returned to the Walker House for lunch; to do which,
and to write two letters, certainly occupied fully an hour, probably
more.
I then went again to the Albion Hotel, stopping to buy the children
some fruit and toys upon the way. At the appointed hour, I went to
meet Hatch at the post-office. He was late in keeping his appointment,
and I made several purchases in that neighborhood, and I think at this
time selected the material and was measured for a suit of clothes at a
custom tailor shop, upon the west side of Young street, near junction
of the street leading to the post-office.
Upon meeting Hatch, I told him I was to be absent from the city on
Sunday, and asked if he could see to the children while I was away,
and if they wished to go for a street car ride, he would accompany
them. This he agreed to do, and after making some further plans with
him for the following week, I went to the Hotel Albion again and told
the children of the arrangement made for their ride, then went to the
furnishing store on King street kept by a man named Dickson, I think.
When I found the grade of goods I had been in search of, and after
purchasing some, I returned to the Walker House with hardly time left
to be shaved and go to Mrs. Pitezel’s hotel, to let her know I was to
be out of the city the next day, and to catch the 4 or 4.30 train for
Niagara Falls.
At this time my wife’s trunk and the large trunk from Detroit, were
both at the Toronto Depot, and I asked that they be checked to Niagara.
I remarked to the baggage agent that I had no need to take the large
one, save to avoid storage. He asked how long I desired to leave it
there, and I replied that was uncertain, but perhaps a week. He asked
for a half dollar and said that there are no further charges if it
was taken away in a week’s time. The trunk never left the Toronto
Depot during my stay there. Sunday, October 21st, was passed by us at
the Falls, returning to Toronto by the way of Hamilton in the early
evening, at which time I went to the Palmer House.
During Monday I was busy about the city, returning to my hotel
often during the day. Part of the time I was with Hatch searching
for a suitable location in which he and Miss Williams could open a
respectable massage establishment, if they all settled there, which was
the real object of the Toronto trip, as I have reason to believe.
During the day he asked me if I would not spend Tuesday night with him
in and about the city. I gave him to understand that I might do so.
Tuesday morning we met, as had become our custom, at the post-office
between 10 and 11 o’clock.
I received additional and disquieting messages from the West, and by
noon-time we had made up our minds that the conditions favorable to the
business we had hoped to find did not exist in Toronto, and had decided
to go to England instead. Hatch particularly favored this plan, as they
had had a prosperous business there during the foregoing year, and he
at once wrote Miss Williams to that effect, and for her to meet the
two girls at Niagara at as early a day as possible, which she was to
appoint by letter.
She was to take the three children to London, while Mrs. Pitezel took
the others there a little later on, or as soon as we could become
settled again.
When Hatch again urged me to stay with him during the night, I finally
told him that since my terrible experience of the year before, which
the indirect results of my loose living had been Nannie Williams’
death, and more particularly since my marriage, I had endeavored to
live a clean life, and thought best not to deviate in this instance.
I returned to the Palmer House not later than 4.30 P. M. Later, in
thinking the matter over, I thought, inasmuch as he had helped me so
much during the preceding weeks, it seemed like ill-treatment towards
him, and decided that if he brought the matter up next day I would
spend a part of the evening with him.
Acting upon this decision, I told my wife next morning, Wednesday, that
I might not return until late, but later in the day I reconsidered my
former plan and returned to the Palmer House at about 2.30 P. M., and
my wife being absent and the room locked at the time, I threw some
flowers I had just bought into the room through the open transom, my
wife finding them upon her return a short time later.
During the day I had been buying a quantity of small articles to
send to my relatives in New Hampshire, and had gotten them together
temporarily at the furnishing store previously mentioned. At noon-time
I had eaten lunch with the children and in the afternoon Hatch had
taken them for a drive. In the evening I accompanied my wife to the
theatre, enjoying myself far more than the case would be had I been
going about the city together with Hatch and a guilty conscience.
On Thursday, October 24th, the day when it is reasonable to suppose the
two girls were killed, I was busy about the city during the forenoon.
The girls came to the post-office at about 10.30, and either went with
Hatch for a drive or a streetcar ride, they having been in Hatch’s care
more than with me while in Toronto, for the reason that their hotel
was so distant it encroached upon my time to ride to visit both them
and Mrs. Pitezel and do what work I wished. That morning we heard
that Miss Williams would meet the girls at Niagara upon the arrival of
the afternoon train. They ate lunch with me between 1 and 2 o’clock,
Hatch being elsewhere at the time. The girls returned to their hotel
afterwards for a few minutes to change part of their attire for some
that was warmer, which I had bought for them in anticipation of their
sea voyage. Later they joined me again and I bought them a number of
presents. I also bought Miss Williams a small brooch, which I gave to
Alice, together with a note, which she was to deliver personally to
Miss Williams.
My object in sending it in this way was that Hatch knew of our former
relations, and I had avoided sending by him as he then claimed she was
his wife. About half an hour before train time, which I think was 4.30
P. M., we were upon Young street. I sent the girls to a restaurant or
bakery near by to get some lunch prepared to take with them upon the
train, instructing them to then come to a large store which I pointed
out to them, where I would await their arrival. I then entered this
store and bought some small articles for the children, having in my
hands at the time some underwear I had previously purchased to send to
Howard, the boy, when I heard a familiar voice, and turning, saw Mrs.
Pitezel and the other two children.
I quote from her recent statement, made in Toronto, as to what took
place between us then, and state that it could only have been on this
day, for while there I asked her if she could get ready to leave
Toronto that evening:—
“I am convinced that my two children were right here in Toronto while I
was here,” said Mrs. Pitezel. “One day while I was shopping in a large
store here, I suddenly saw Holmes. He said you wait here a little while
until I return. I believe my children were right there in that store at
the time, and Holmes took them out some other way so I should not see
them.”
As a matter of fact, they were at the bakery before spoken of,
and I can only wish now that they had been with me, and met their
mother, though at the time I should have considered it an unfortunate
circumstance for the same reasons that obtained in Detroit.
I at once left the store and took the children to the depot, where
Hatch met me with some bundles of goods he had bought. I took the
children to the ladies’ waiting room and giving Alice $400, directed
her to go into the private waiting room and fasten it securely within
her dress, and later give it to Miss Williams. I also gave each of the
girls a small amount of spending money. I wrote a telegram, directing
it to myself at the hotel opposite the Palmer House, for Alice to send
me early next morning from Niagara, if anything happened to prevent
Miss Williams meeting them as had been agreed upon.
I also gave them explicit directions as to where to stay, and told them
that I would surely go to them at once if any trouble arose. I then
asked if they were afraid to go alone. Alice answered, “Oh, no; I wish
you or Mr. Hatch were going along, though.” The train came so quickly
that I had little time to bid them good-bye, and therefore got upon
the train and accompanied them perhaps a mile to a station where the
train slowed up; Hatch going still farther, at his suggestion, to see
that the conductor took their tickets and agreed to transfer them at
Hamilton to the right train.
I sat in the seat with Nellie during this time, Alice being in the seat
in front. They spoke of their prospective voyage, gave me messages for
their mother and the baby, and asked how long it would be before we all
came to London. I told them to help Miss Williams all they could, and
especially cautioned Nellie about quarreling with Howard, which she was
apt to do when they were together, finally telling them that upon my
arrival there the three who had not quarreled would receive a present
of considerable value.
My opportunity to leave the train having now arrived, I hastily bade
them good-bye, and started to leave the car. Little Nellie followed
me to the door, and said, “Don’t forget about baby,” and reaching
up kissed me good-bye, and ran back to the seat again. With all
truthfulness, I most earnestly state that under the circumstances, and
at this time, about 4.30 P. M., Thursday, October 25th, I last saw
these children.
I immediately returned to the Palmer House, telling my wife we should
leave the city next morning, and said to her that if she had any more
purchases to make, she should attend to it at once, as certain of the
stores closed early. For the next hour I was busy collecting my various
purchases about the city, and taking them to the depot to place in the
large trunk, and at not later than 6.30 Hatch was again at the depot,
and stated that the conductor had taken the children in charge before
he left the train. He then left me, agreeing to meet me early next
morning at the hotel to learn if the children arrived all right. I then
returned at once to the Palmer House and ate dinner.
Without delay I went to Mrs. Pitezel’s hotel, and assisted her in
packing her trunk and having it taken to the train before 8 o’clock,
the larger trunk going upon the same train; but Mrs. Pitezel and Dessie
remarked to me later that they saw that trunk upon their arrival at
Prescott early next morning, and a day later the Custom’s officer at
Ogdensburg, during his inspection, came across the shovel Hatch had
insisted in placing in it at Detroit, remarking that he did not know
but that it was dutiable on account of being new.
If this trunk had been at the Vincent street house there would have
been no necessity of one’s going to the neighbors to borrow a spade
with which to conceal the evidence of the terrible crime committed
there. I returned to the Palmer House before Mrs. Pitezel had
started—not later than 8.15 P. M.—and during the evening aided my wife
in her preparations for the next day’s journey; and only left the
hotel before taking the train next morning at 8 o’clock, for about two
minutes, to step across the street and ascertain if the girls had met
Miss Williams, as was reasonable to suppose as no telegram was there.
Hatch was waiting for me at the hotel, and said he should wait one or
two days in Toronto to get his mail and to buy some dutiable goods to
take across the border.
I did no smuggling while upon this trip, nor was I even absent from my
hotel any evening or night, save when accompanied by my wife to some
place of amusement; nor did I ever leave my hotel before 8.30 A. M.,
save upon this last morning.
Thus it will be seen that this is not an unimportant statement, for
according to a witness named Rodgers, if his testimony at the inquest
at Toronto is correctly reported, he saw the two children at 1 P. M.,
Thursday, and that early next morning a spade that had been previously
borrowed had been returned to him.
In an informal talk upon this subject, Mr. Rodgers has several times
stated that this occurred quite early before working hours.
The hackneyed expression that “a spade is a spade” may be true, but I
feel that it but poorly expresses the full value and significance of
this particular article. Again, Mr. Rodgers states that “Some time—in
one published account some days later—the keys were left with me;
I fully believe that the children met their death and were buried
during the night, Thursday, October 25th; the spade returned before 8
o’clock—for Hatch was at that time at the hotel—that during the day
their clothes were slowly burned”—and this, while I was journeying
towards Prescott, Canada, a railroad trip of about eight hours, and
where I registered at the Imperial Hotel not later than 4.30 P. M. that
day.
It may be asked how at this late date I can fully remember what
occurred upon one certain Saturday, nearly a year previous to the
writing of these pages, to distinguish it from the preceding day or any
other day that is less important? Upon first hearing of the children’s
death, I was no more in a position to be positive in regard to this
particular day than any other, until after thinking of the matter for
hours and days together, as I believe only a man can force himself to
think when he feels that perhaps his life depends upon such exertion, I
arranged the facts in my mind in something like the following order:—
Being first sure, from some written memoranda, that I arrived in
Toronto upon Thursday, October 18th, upon the next day, which was
Friday, I was sure that no purchases had been made, save the fur
garment referred to, because this took up the entire morning, and
our ride occurred the same day, which fact was firmly impressed upon
my mind by remembering that the livery conveyance came to the Walker
House. This could not have occurred on any other day, as next afternoon
we were going to Niagara, and at all later dates we were at the Palmer
House. I also remember that the second purchases at the fur store,
that of the storm coats, were made upon the day following our previous
purchase; this being further strengthened and impressed upon my mind by
remembering that upon my return from Niagara the day following these
purchases, a delay had occurred of several hours at Hamilton. The
weather being such as to require it, I went to the baggage car, and
after considerable conversation with the baggage man, was allowed to
open our trunk for this garment.
This date brought to my mind that the compass had been used while at
Niagara, showing that that, too, was bought upon the day previous. This
in its turn made me think that the purchase of the compass had occurred
while passing from one furnishing store to another, looking for the
special grade of underwear I wished, and which was bought later in the
day, showing me clearly that at least a dozen other calls had been made
at different other establishments for a like purpose, and which must of
necessity have occurred prior to the purchase which ended my search.
My suit of clothes was promised to be delivered to me upon the
following Tuesday, if possible, and upon Wednesday at the latest, and
I was required to call once in the meantime to have them fitted. If
instead of Saturday I had been measured Monday, and told to call the
next day to be fitted, they could not have been promised to me upon
Tuesday, and so on in regard to the other visits made after this day,
until I became so thoroughly convinced that I have not yet verified
them by tracing the several stores, not knowing their names; but I
fully believe that the order books and delivery slips of at least three
responsible establishments will show that I must have been transacting
business in their stores at the very hours when it had been sworn I was
in remote parts of the city paying friendly visits to the owner and
neighbor of the Vincent street house.
From there the remainder of my journey was by private conveyance,
hired for that purpose, and through a blinding snow storm. My pen
cannot adequately portray the meeting with my aged parents, nor, were
it possible, would I allow it to do so for publication. Suffice it to
say that I came to them as one from the dead, they for years having
considered me as such, until I had written them a few days before.
That after embracing them, as I looked into their dear faces once more,
my eyes grew dim with the tears kindly sent to shut out for the moment
the signs of added years I knew my uncalled-for silence of the past
seven years had done much to unnecessarily increase.
For the next two days I tried to feel that I was a boy again, and when
I could go away by myself for a few minutes, I would wander from room
to room, taking up or passing my hands lovingly over each familiar
object, opening each cupboard and drawer with the same freedom I would
have used twenty years before.
Here I found some letters written to my mother when I was a boy,
and later as a young man; then as a physician, giving her careful
directions regarding her health; then the letter written the day
before my supposed death, all bearing evidence of the many times she
had sorrowfully read them. There also I found toys that years before
had seemed so precious to me, and old garments carefully laid away,
principally those which I had worn, and which I felt sure mother had
purposely caused to be placed separately, thinking me dead, for if such
had been the case it would have been the first death in our family.
And, moreover, I had always been looked upon by the others as “mother’s
boy.” When I went to the room where, times without number, I had been
given such faithful teachings, and prayed with so earnestly, and had I
been the earnest Christian my mother had then entreated me to become, I
could have prayed for guidance beside the same dear old chair in which
she had so often sat with me. I could not stay here, I felt it was too
sacred a place to be entered now, and with tears in my eyes, that come
again as I write, I reluctantly closed the door and went away.
Later, I visited what had been my own room, finding it much as I had
left it twenty years before. Many of my old school books were here,
but my most precious though worthless possessions I had carefully
placed elsewhere; and now I took them, dust laden, from their places
of concealment. First, a complicated contrivance that when finished
was to have solved the problem of perpetual motion, then a piece of a
wind-mill so arranged as to make a noise when in operation sufficient
to scare the crows from the corn field; going further I came to some
small boxes containing almost everything from a tooth, the first I
remember of having extracted, to a small bunch of very tenderly-worded
notes and a picture of my little twelve-year-old sweetheart. These
experiences were repeated next day when I drove to the old farm my
grandfather had owned during his life-time. Here mother had lived as
a child, a girl, and a young woman, and accompanying me she no doubt
saw many things as dear to her. I, too, had lived here for a time, and
could not leave the place until I had found my “marks” denoting my
height at various times—the first of which was less than three feet. I
also explored the yards and barns. Here many changes had taken place;
even my initials that had been deeply cut in one of the large elm trees
that grow so slowly had become obliterated. This touched me deeply,
seeming so much in keeping with what had in reality occurred to the
name itself; and feeling that I must find one unchanging remembrance,
I went to a huge boulder upon a hill near by, having to cross the
brook with much difficulty that in earlier years had offered no
impediment to the progress of my unclad feet.
Reaching the rock I raised my voice, uttering the same words I had used
as a child, and listened for the echoing answer. It did not come; it,
too, was dead, owing, no doubt, to the woods upon the surrounding hills
having disappeared meantime. Returning I found my brother had come in
answer to my request that he should visit me. He was accompanied by
several sturdy boys whom I had never seen, and in whose faces I could
see my brother and myself of years ago; but when, in conversation, they
spoke to and of their father as “Arthur,” his given name, I could but
wonder if he thought of what would have been our portion had we ever
addressed our parents in like manner. The day before I came away father
told me of what disposition he had made, when he thought me dead, of
the portion of his property that would have belonged to me if I had
lived, and told me that he would rearrange it. This I begged him not
to do, and a good occasion having thus been brought about, I had him
bring from his trunk of private papers the several promissory notes
that he had guaranteed for me years previous, and later had paid, and
after adding the interest, I insisted upon his taking the money so
represented. The next day, after a leave-taking nearly as pathetic and
hard to bear as my meeting had been, I left them. I have seen neither
of them since, nor do I ever expect to do so. Each prison mail delivery
I receive with trembling hands, expecting it to be an announcement of
their death, caused by this great sorrow and shame so cruelly forced
upon them.
The morning following my return to Burlington I visited the post-office
and received my mail. It had been handed to me and I had stepped to
a small desk to open some of it when, glancing toward the delivery
window, I saw what seemed to me to be the entire office force staring
with all wonder at me. I knew instantly that I was in danger, and this
was made more sure to me by the manner in which they at once sought to
dispel this feeling by dispersing from the window. I at once resumed
my reading, for I felt that it would be hazardous to have them know
I was aware of their acts. As soon as I could do so safely I went to
Mrs. Pitezel’s house and told her I had been hastily called to Boston
and New York; that she should remain in Burlington until I should
return or send for her prior to her going to the children. At this
time (when I knew that momentarily there was a possibility of officers
coming to the house for me) she reminded me that the supply of coal
was nearly exhausted and, not wishing to go upon the street to order
more, I accompanied her to the basement and, after removing some of the
decayed boards from the floor of the coal bin, I shoveled together a
considerable quantity of coal that had accumulated there. It was this
circumstance that later, when she was suffering so acutely in Toronto,
she distorted into the statement that she believed I was then preparing
to take her life. The dispatches I had received in my Burlington
mail left no doubt in my mind that detectives were following my
movements, although I could not determine then how they had undermined
my apparently safe plans. Later I found that, by making absolutely
erroneous statements to the Post-Office Department at Washington, they
had been given the right to examine all of a certain line of mail
matter, thus accomplishing their purpose.
Having made these arrangements with Mrs. Pitezel, I left Burlington
Tuesday morning, November 13th, and reached Boston the same evening at
the Adams House. The next day I secured some rooms in a quiet street
for my wife and myself, and proceeded at once to arrange for Mrs.
Pitezel’s departure for Europe. But that evening while writing some
letters at the Parker House, a careless shadower, in his earnestness
to learn their address, allowed me to know that I was being watched.
As in Burlington, I tried not to have it known that I had observed
it, but from that moment I knew I was in their hands. After leaving
the hotel and entering several crowded stores to ascertain the number
and vigilance of my followers, I adopted the only feasible plan I
considered was left open to me. I wrote Mrs. Pitezel a letter, asking
her to meet me upon a certain day at Lowell, Mass., intending to see
her and instruct her as to taking the trip alone. After throwing off
my followers, I sent this letter to Burlington by express, including
tickets and full directions for their journey. I then returned to my
rooms, intending to tell my wife of my threatened trouble and the
causes that had led up to it. I could not do it.
We had been married less than a year, and during that time I had
endeavored to shield her from all annoying influences, and to cause her
such great unhappiness now, until I absolutely knew it was upon me,
was impossible. The next day I was continually shadowed, and finally
returned to my room, and while my wife was absent made a small opening
in the now famous trunk.[8]
I then went to a relative, living in a suburb, intending to ask him
to aid me in making my escape, by means of the trunk, if absolutely
necessary. Here again my courage failed me, when I had visited him,
lest it should involve him in some difficulty, and I returned to my
room resolved to meet whatever was in store for me.
Saturday P. M., November 17th, I left the house intending to send
two letters, if possible. I had proceeded hardly a block when I was
surrounded by four greatly excited men, two of whom said, “We want you,
you are under arrest, and it will be useless for you to try to escape,
as there are four of us.” I said, “I shall make no effort to escape.”
We were near the police headquarters, where I was at once taken into
Inspector Watts’ private office. I knew that no time would be lost in
sending to my room to search my belongings, and I therefore asked that
my wife be called to me, preferring to tell her myself of what was in
store for her. The request was granted, and in a few minutes she was
ushered into the room.
Of this scene I also cannot write. No one was present save Inspector
Watts, and I can never forget or fail to appreciate his efforts to make
it as easy for her—for us both, for that matter—as was possible. Before
she had left me I told her what had brought about my arrest and also
my right name. Only true-hearted, loving wives, who have been made to
suffer in the same way, can know what the blow meant to her. They also
alone can understand her feelings expressed to me in a letter months
afterwards, from which, sacred though it is to me, I quote these words,
“Our idols once shattered, though cherishing the broken fragments as
best we may, can never be the same.” After she had returned to our
rooms I had a long conversation with Inspector Watts, a representative
of the Insurance Company and a Pinkerton detective. I found I had been
arrested upon the charge of stealing horses in Texas; that I was to
be held upon this charge until requisition and other papers could be
obtained from Pennsylvania in order to have me tried in that State
upon the charge of conspiring to defraud the Insurance Company in
Philadelphia. I at once waived the necessity of requisition papers, and
told them I was ready to go with them.
I was then closely questioned regarding the whereabouts of the Pitezel
family, and knowing that Mrs. Pitezel would in a few days be in Lowell
with no one to plan and care for her, and fearing lest she should see
an account of my arrest and become alarmed thereby, I thought it best
to tell them where she was, asking them to meet her upon her arrival.
They thought it best to go to Burlington, and it was there arranged
that they should escort her to Boston, but it was agreed not to place
her under arrest. I told them that Pitezel and the other children were
in the South, not wishing to deviate from Mrs. Pitezel’s understanding
of his condition until I could see her. In my interview with Mr. Perry,
the company’s representative, it was agreed that in consideration of
my aiding them in clearing up the case, that I could depend upon the
company’s influence and aid in selecting a suitable location for a home
for my wife in Philadelphia. That my name, then only known to a few
persons, should be withheld, allowing me to appear before the public as
H. H. Holmes, thus shielding my relatives from disgrace. That I should,
upon reaching Philadelphia, see and talk with Mrs. Pitezel, and plan
for her future, and that my wife should visit me upon my arrival there.
No one of these promises was kept save to obtain a boarding place for
my wife, and that principally that they could use their best endeavors
to so prejudice her against me that she would not care to visit me.
Upon the following Monday evening I started for Philadelphia in company
with Detective Crawford, being chained to him, in fact. Upon this trip
my wife came into the car in which I was traveling to visit me for a
few minutes, and while there saw Mrs. Pitezel and her two children for
the first time in her life—they being then in the same car. Nor had she
even known of the existence of such a family until my arrest in Boston.
She had known of Pitezel in Fort Worth as a man working for me by the
name of Lyman.
Upon reaching Philadelphia I was placed in a darkened cell in the
City Hall, and here, figuratively speaking, the thumb-screws were
applied. I was not allowed to see or hear from my wife, save that
she was seriously ill. Mrs. Pitezel and the two children I knew were
in the same place of confinement, but only by hearing their voices
or the cries of the child, as I was not allowed to speak to them.
After a time I was taken to the photograph department and weighed and
measured, a process which has been too often described for publication
to be of interest, save to say that so scientifically is it done that
a person once placed under the ban in this way has little chance of
ever escaping recognition. Later my photograph was also taken with
what must have been a magical camera, judging from the thousand and
one different reproductions from time to time appearing in print.
Returning to my cell, Superintendent Linden visited me and advised me
to see no attorney, and wishing to retain his good-will, if possible,
I for a time gave heed to this. He also urged me strongly to tell him
Pitezel’s exact location. Upon Friday, October 23d, I was committed to
prison upon the conspiracy charge, but before I went I made a detailed
statement of our attorney’s connection with the case, for I had found
that he had been the cause of my trouble, and was then standing back,
as he had said he should do, relying upon his reputation as a member
of an influential firm of lawyers, to escape trouble himself. What
followed during the next weary months of my life I feel that I can best
express by copying from my prison diary, kept during this time, which
now lies before me. I give such portions as relate more particularly to
my case, stating first, however, that during all my life I had always
been active and had taken much out-of-door exercise, and that on this
account, together with worrying about my wife’s safety, and financial
affairs, it seemed for a time after my imprisonment commenced that I
should die from the effect thereof.