Okay, that's a joke. I won't dress or act like Holmes. However, I am finding ways to incorporate Holmes, Pitezel, and the rest of the gang into my various class assignments. (It's not hard considering Holmes was the human embodiment of the Gilded Age. I'm serious. When we talk in class about the skills needed to survive in Gilded Age America, my mind is all like, "Holmes, Holmes, Holmes, Holmes, Holmes"). (Alright. Maybe I am a wee bit obsessed with him).
Anyway, the last essay I had to write was about how the idea of democracy changed during the Gilded Age. I used the example of Pitezel and Holmes' partnership to show how workers were dependent on bosses.
Today I worked on the proposal for the final paper in which Holmes is one of two people I will discuss in depth. Among the sources I am planning to use for research is the book The Strange Case of Dr. H. H. Holmes by John Borowski and Dimas Estrada. It is the written accompaniment to the documentary (also by John Borowski) H. H. Holmes: America's First Serial Killer.
The book is a collection of four primary sources, some published for the first time since 1895. The titles include Holmes' Own Story, the autobiography Holmes wrote while awaiting trial in Moyamensing Prison. The same one in which he claimed to tell the real story about his life and supposed crimes (ahem-bullshit-ahem). It, along with his prison diary, was originally printed in 1895 and until this book was released the only way to see it was to visit the Library of Congress (where one of the few known copies is housed) and transcribe all 200 something pages yourself. (I cannot imagine doing that. It took me all day just to photograph the book).
The Holmes-Pitezel Case was also printed in 1895. It was written by Detective Frank Geyer (his attempt to cash in for his role in the unfolding events) and details his search for the missing Pitezel children. Also included is some word for word dialogue from the trial which is helpful since the actual transcript has never surfaced.
The Holmes Castle is a lesser known book from 1895, authored by Robert Corbitt. It gives some descriptions of the Murder Castle and talks about the lives of Holmes and a few of the known victims (though not always accurately since there were still many conflicting stories about who died where, when, and how).
Finally, the book includes The Confession of H. H. Holmes. Though there are a few confessions, this is the main one, published shortly before Holmes' execution, in which he "confesses" to murdering 27 people and attempting to kill 6 more. I say "confesses" because no one really knows how much truth can be given to statements that were born in Holmes' twisted mind. My guess is that he blended fiction and (some) fact to make his notoriety something history would remember.
Since these writings can be difficult to find, I would recommend purchasing this book (which is readily available on any book selling website). Even if you are not as obsessed with H. H. Holmes as I am, you will still find the information fascinating. After all, the words on the page (even if they aren't always truthful) came from the hands of the real people who experienced the stories we now learn about. You can't get any closer to history than that.
It's also humorous to watch Holmes try and explain away his guilt with fanciful tales of his innocence and good will toward others. (Nice try, Holmes. But no one believes that bullshit about how Benjamin Pitezel committed suicide. You still lose).
Until next time.
XOXO, Kate
