The Strange Case of Dr. H. H. Holmes

This afternoon found me working on a research paper proposal for my Gilded Age class. Now that I'm finally finished for the night I have decided to relax by...doing more writing. I know. My brain is weird. But in my defense, Castle is not on right now. Also, I was told this class was going to have some Holmes discussions and midway through the semester I can report that my favorite (very handsome) multi-murderer has NOT BEEN MENTIONED ONCE! And since he's not included in any of our books, I'm starting to wonder if I've been duped into this three hour lecture course with a promise as hollow as a chocolate bunny. I swear, if Holmes is thrown into a sentence for two seconds and then never brought up again...well I'm not sure what I'll do at the moment. Maybe I'll show up to my professor's office hours dressed like Holmes and ask for directions to the nearest medical school while discreetly motioning to the (fake) skeleton hand sticking out the top of my valise. (My professor thinks I'm a wee bit obsessed with Holmes, which I deny, so that would definitely freak him out).

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

A Message from the Mistress

Hi everyone.

I know it has been some time since something new has been posted. These past few weeks have been very busy and filled with various time consuming tasks, including an end of summer trek to Washington DC.

This week I began my third year of college and have been working on completing assignments, getting comfortable back on campus, and memorizing my constantly changing schedule (I had to switch around a few classes this semester).

Anyway, since I refuse to write, post, and have you read half formed thoughts, this message is here to tell you that the World's Fair Hotel will be closing for the next few weeks so the owner can focus on school work and finding an internship. I am NOT closing the blog forever. This is merely a short hiatus. In fact, I have some great posts planned (including one that concerns a fun little find from the Library of Congress) so make sure you stay tuned.

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate 

H. H. Holmes: Fan Maker

The other day I was out searching for a new bedroom fan since my old one began making this squeak noise that was impossible to sleep through. I finally found this one.

 

H. H. Holmes: Doctor, architect, businessman, multi-murderer, fan maker. I like it. (Imagine how that would look on a business card).

I'm happy to say that the fan works well. Which is good considering I purchased it mainly because Holmes is written on the front and it matches some of the décor. (I have a sign that says World's Fair Hotel and a hat that says Murder Castle as well).

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

Tomb Raider: Dr. H. H. Holmes vs. President Abraham Lincoln

This is the first time I'm doing a cross blog post and intertwining my Murder Castle blog with my Civil War blog. The Holmes related information is here. To find the Lincoln related information, click here: Lincoln's Tomb.

I figured that instead of just writing facts about the graves of both men, I would be a little more creative and compare and contrast the tombs to see which would be harder to break into (there are pluses and minuses to each). Which do you think will prevail? Will it be the tomb of the World's Fair Serial Killer, Dr. H. H. Holmes? Or will it be the tomb of 16th President Abraham Lincoln?

DISCLAIMER:

 

THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL (AND CREATIVE) POST DETAILING HOW THESE TWO MEN WERE BURIED. THIS DOES NOT PROMOTE GRAVE ROBBING OR BODY SNATCHING. LET THE DEAD REST IN PEACE! IF YOU DO NOT, YOUR DUMB ASS WILL BE ARRESTED AND I WILL NOT TAKE BLAME FOR YOUR STUPIDITY. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Now that all the bases are covered, here are the statistics concerning the burial of Dr. Holmes:

Good: There is a picture of his final resting place in Holy Cross Cemetery in Pennsylvania.

Bad: As the image shows, he is in an unmarked grave beneath a rather large plot (actually two plots combined) and the exact location of Holmes' tomb is unknown. We know he's somewhere under the dirt but that's about it.

Good: The man was a killer. No way around that fact. So there is little chance an armed guard is watching over his grave.

Bad: Because it is a cemetery, patrolling guards still could be present in the area. Some sides of the cemetery also back up to houses so there is the chance of someone seeing or hearing you moving about inside.

Good: Obviously no monument or memorial sits over his grave.

Bad: He is still buried ten feet down. (Remember that movie Holes? They only had to dig five feet). Some serious digging would be required in this situation.

Good: To get to him, just a shovel would be needed.

Bad: Should you actually get there, giant, heavy, and loud machinery will be needed to lift him from the grave since he is encased in a giant slab of cement. (Holmes' coffin was filled with ten inches of cement before he was placed inside. Once he was, his face covered with a handkerchief, the cement was poured over him and packed to the brim. The coffin was then sealed and taken to the cemetery. The next day, the double, ten foot grave was dug and the coffin was placed inside. It was covered with two feet of sand and cement. Finally, the dirt was shoveled back into place). It also took 24 men to move the coffin/cement slab to the grave in 1896. Unless you are actually Superman is disguise, I don't believe you will be able to move it with your own hands.

Good: You wouldn't have to blow up the cement block in the cemetery itself. Instead, you could attempt to move it up and out in one piece.

Bad: The graves are very close to each other and, according to Google Maps, Holmes is located in the center of the cemetery. Good luck getting a crane or a backhoe to and from the grave without damaging the other stones or attracting attention.

Looking at the facts, it would be a bit (a really small bit) easier to find Holmes' tomb than Lincoln's. However, you would most likely get arrested while attempting to drive a machine through the front gates. Let's face it. Both cases end with you getting hauled off to jail. But at least you can touch the ground in Holy Cross Cemetery before being overtaken by police. I doubt you would even get inside Oak Ridge Cemetery, let alone near Lincoln's tomb.

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

The Scarlet Mansion

The Scarlet Mansion is a book about the life and crimes of H. H. Holmes, beginning with his childhood in Gilmanton and ending with his execution in Philadelphia. It was written by Allan Eckert and published in 1985. After reading some reviews on Amazon and then procuring it from the library today, I decided it would make for a good first book review.

So far all I have read is the dust jacket. However, what stuck out to me there is that the tale is described as being "dramatic" but "lightly fictionalized." That is not necessarily a bad thing.

No one followed Holmes around every second of his 34 years and recorded what he did. With that being said, it is impossible to give a 100 percent accurate day by day account of Holmes' life. A light dusting of fiction sometimes means the author went above and beyond to get as close to the truth as possible and not embellish or insert his or her own opinion on what someone thought or did. However, it can also mean that the author considers "lightly fictionalized" merely getting names correct. Also, thankfully, nowhere have I noticed the two words historians dread.

BASED ON

Even though I hate seeing it happen, some authors choose to take the easy way out and put the words "based on" in the subtitle. Why? Because it means that the respective audience knows that just because something occurs in the story doesn't necessarily mean it occurred in real life. Therefore, the piece is not meant to be a learning experience. This also gives authors free reign to do no research and throw all historical accuracies out the window so they can write their own version of events with made up characters, incorrect dates, or, in the case of one example, ignore every first person account (including those written by Holmes), kill off characters at random, decrease the number of Pitezel children, and transform the skinny skirts of 1893 Chicago to the light up hoop skirts of a really bad Civil War reenactment. But I digress.

The reviews (13 in all) on Amazon, where the book currently holds four stars, go back and forth. One person gave it only one star and stated that the book was too long, filled with unnecessary information, and a work of pure fiction. Others gave it five stars for it's realistic feel and phenomenal writing.

I guess it's my turn to be the judge. Stay tuned.

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

Independence Day in the White City

On July 4, 1893, the dark storm clouds that threatened to cancel the World's Columbian Exposition's grand fireworks show parted to reveal a beautiful night. Chinese lanterns hung throughout Jackson Park while red lights illuminated from the Ferris Wheel. Out on the lake, hundreds anchored their well lit boats and waited for the first rocket. Thousands crowded the fair and every Columbian Guard (the fair's police force) was on hand should problems arise.

Among the throng was H. H. Holmes and his guests, Minnie and Anna Williams. The trio stood with hundreds of others on the roof of the Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building. This "roof" actually doubled as a large observation tower that visitors could access via elevator. It spanned the length on the gigantic building and was one of the best vantage points for taking in the sights of the fair (and the Fourth of July fireworks display).

 

Minnie, Holmes, and Anna

The band struck up "Home Sweet Home," the buildings became outlined in gold, searchlights on the Liberal Arts Building came alive, and colorful jets of water poured from MacMonnies Fountain. Soon fireworks from all directions exploded in the night sky and ended with a giant light up picture of George Washington that flared from Festival Hall. Some said being on the roof of the Liberal Arts building was as close to heaven as they would ever get. But heaven was much closer that year.

Holmes, Minnie, and Anna waited hours for a train back home. That night, as they talked together in the flat Holmes had rented (located at 1200 Wrightwood Ave) to get Minnie out of his hotel, Holmes told the two women that the next day they were going to leave on a trip to Europe. Giddy with excitement, Anna wrote a letter home telling her relatives that they "need never trouble any more about me." It was the perfect ending to the day.

The next morning, Holmes took Anna on a tour of the Castle. Most, if not all, of the guests were out at the fair. He returned to the flat alone. When Minnie asked where her sister was, Holmes said she was waiting for them back at the hotel. Giving her his arm, they departed. Neither Minnie nor Anna Williams were ever seen again.

Anna's clothing trunk arrived in Chicago but no one could find the owner.

The Oker family who rented Holmes the flat were surprised when Holmes sent a letter surrendering it. They had never seen anyone leave and had heard nothing about a departure. Books with torn out fly leaves (what people would sometimes write their names on) and several other odd items were found left behind in the room.

An Englewood resident named Cephas Humphrey who made his living transporting large objects (furniture, crates, trunks) was hired by Holmes to carry away a box and trunk. Later, he recalled Holmes' strange instructions to "come after the stuff about dark as I do not care to have the neighbors see it." Both items were heavy and when Humphrey leaned the coffin like box on it's side, Holmes ordered, "Don't do that. Lay it down flat." The box went on a train to an undisclosed destination. The trunk may have been given to Charles Chappell, the same man who had stripped and mounted the bones of Julia Conner.

A few days later, Holmes gave Benjamin Pitezel's wife, Carrie, some dresses, shoes, and hats that belonged to Minnie (who he said was a cousin that had moved east). He suggested Carrie use the fabric to make clothing. Pat Quinlan, janitor of the Castle, was given trunks. Carved into both were the initials MRW.

Minnie and Anna Williams became the fourth and fifth victims of H. H. Holmes.

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

Hotel Holmes

Post number 13 (which I consider good luck) finds me doing the blog's first (unofficial) review. I use the term unofficial because I am reviewing a video game (yes, a video game) that I have never tried, just seen.

Titled Hotel Holmes, the game was created by second year students at Teesside University (which is located in the United Kingdom in case you were wondering). The number of creators totaled 20 (10 artists and 10 designers) and this team (together known as the JourneyMan Project) had a mere 4 months to make a 3 level game.

I saw a good portion of Hotel Holmes on YouTube and have to give the genius creators some big merits. What these 20 people created in four months rivals what I have seen hundreds take years to create. They even did extensive research on the World's Fair Hotel, studying blueprints and records, so the virtual version would be as close to accurate as possible. And the fastest way to win points with me is to be concerned with the historical accuracy. (Every JourneyMan Project member gets ONE MILLION AWESOME POINTS). Aside from that though, Hotel Holmes was chosen as the best JourneyMan game of the year and was awarded with footage being presented at the University of Teesside booth at Eurogamer 2013.

This does not look like a basic school assignment. This looks like a real game that can be marketed and sold. As of now, there are no plans for this to happen. Believe me, I emailed one of the creators to check. But if the game ever did get released to the public, I would be first in line to purchase one. Yes, I would fly all the way to the UK to get the first game (and then blog about it). But onward to the good stuff.

Hotel Holmes consists of three levels that take place in various locations around the Castle (the basement, the attic, and the hotel). That might be the actual level order but don't quote me on it. The main (and only playable character) is a Priest (I cannot remember his name at the moment) who has been trapped in the hotel by Holmes. To escape, he must explore to building, completing puzzles and rescuing victims, all while evading the clutches of Holmes.

It's an interesting premise that in turn makes for an interesting game. But don't just take my word for it. Check out the action for yourself right here:

 

 

 

If the game was expanded, I think it would be awesome to play as Holmes or Benjamin Pitezel. You could even meet real life characters like Frank Geyer or Ned Conner in the game.

 

Personally, I would want to be Minnie Williams and subdue Holmes so I could take over the Castle myself. Maybe even open it as a real hotel and amass a nice fortune for myself. Female power!  

 

Until next time.

 

XOXO, Kate

 

And a shout out to Jonathan Cliff, the kind creator who answered my email. You can check out his website here:

 

http://jonathan-cliff.co.uk/

Music in the Castle

So I just discovered that there are a lot of songs about killers (thanks to the ever reliable Wikipedia that has an entire page devoted to track titles).

Of the dozens, I knew just one, the "Legend of Bonnie and Clyde" by Merle Haggard.

Fact: I like this song so much that I have it on my IPod. Another favorite and owner of a home on my IPod (though not owner of a home on the Wikipedia list) is "John Wilkes Booth" by Tony Rice.

Both songs are from the country genre (which I love). I find it is one of the best genres for songs like those mentioned above because it gives a good beat while still remaining calm and measured (I.E. no screaming) (which I don't find pleasing to listen to).

The Wikipedia list included a few songs on Holmes so I decided to look them up on YouTube and see if I could find another winner.

The first three were all death or thrash metal bands with scary cover art.

One song I couldn't understand because the lead singer was all but eating the microphone while yelling in a really deep voice that sounded (to me) like an abominable snowman impression. What I found amusing were all the comments that said something along the lines of, "YEAH MAN! I LOVE THIS SONG!" How did you understand the song? I needed either subtitles or a thrash metal translator.

Another was just dudes that had hair like ZZ Top had beards, whipping their heads back and forth, and shrieking at decibels that have not been accessed in the natural world.

But the search was not hopeless because I did find one song that did not cause my ears to bleed.

Alkaline Trio, a rock band (and if you know me then you know I LOVE rock), released a song called "Torture Doctor." While the song never mentions Holmes by name, you can tell that he is the inspiration.

Starting with the title, "Torture Doctor" was one of the various nicknames given to Holmes after his arrest. Other examples, the Murder Castle stood in the south side of Englewood, he shed his life as Herman Mudgett when he arrived in Chicago, and got away with his various crimes for some time before being caught.

The torture doctor is in
Back here to confess his sins
Knowing damn well he was dead wrong
And I can't believe my eyes
Trouble and regret haunt my mind
I'll let you take the whole thing down brick by brick
Tonight

And there's a devil dancing in my head
As I'm hovering above your bed

Hey, ho
We know how this story goes
Hey, ho
The plot it thickens and grows
Hey, ho
There's nothing left to hide
Hey, ho
Down here on the south side

I was the worst of my kind
I left me old life behind
Can't believe I got away with it so long
At the end of the day
There is nothing to say
So tired of being wired wrong
All my life

And there's a devil dancing in my head
As I'm hovering above your bed

Hey, ho
We know how this story goes
Hey, ho
The plot it thickens and grows
Hey, ho
There's nothing left to hide
Hey, ho
Down here on the south side
Down on the south side

Hey, ho
We know how this story goes
Hey, ho
The plot it thickens and grows
Hey, ho
There's nothing left to hide
Hey, ho
Down here on the south side
Down on the south side
Down on the south side

 

I find the lyrics to be catchy and clever. Plus, you can't go wrong with a rocking beat that you can actually dance to.

 

 

Until next time.

 

XOXO, Kate

Marks of the Medical Profession

While doing some important Holmes related research (ahem-staring at his graduation photo-ahem) (no, I'm kidding, I was doing real research on the murder of B. F. Perry/Benjamin F. Pitezel) I came across a newsletter from the Philadelphia archives.

The article I read, CRIME, CRIMINALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RECORDS, was written by Ward Childs and published in 1982. But what interested me was the short section Childs included about Holmes' arrest.

Though I have seen the mugshots, I have never seen the record describing Holmes upon his arrest. You know, the thing that all his measurements and physical characteristics were written on that historians love to mention with a few vague words like "wrote down height and weight" before moving on to the next point and I'm just there like:

  

I NEED FACTS!

 

But anyway, the above article actually mentioned some of the more elusive information I was seeking to find.

 

Herman W. Mudgett or H.H. Holmes, the notorious mass murderer, who was later hanged at Moyamensing Prison on May 7, 1896, was entered in this record after his arrest on November 17, 1894 for conspiracy and the murder of Benjamin F. Pitezel. The entry in the Register of Descriptions of Criminals reveals that Mudgett, who was arrested under the alias of H.H. Holmes also used the aliases of H.M. Howard, Alex E. Bond and Horace H. Williams. The Register reveals that he was a physician and druggist, who was born in Germantown, New Hampshire and living in Chicago, Illinois, and describes him as white, 34 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches in height and 148 pounds in weight with a medium build, slate blue eyes, dark complexion, scars on the first joint left thumb, above first joint left index, below second joint right index; a small pimple in front of left ear on cheek, a small mole on right cheek, small scars on forehead and scar on top of the head. However, even so detailed a verbal description would not have been sufficient for the purpose of identification by the Police. The Police also probably photographed Herman W. Mudgett for their rogues' gallery which had been introduced into the Detective Department in 1859; and measured his body according to the Bertillion system of measurement, which the Police had adopted on July 16, 1892. ( If he had committed his crime just eleven years later, Mudgett also would have been fingerprinted at this time.)

There are a few minor mistakes in this statements (Holmes was not yet 34 at the time of his arrest and was born in Gilmanton, not Germantown. In fact, I don't believe Germantown, New Hampshire is even a real place unless it has been renamed to something else).

However, what I find the most fascinating is the detail given to Holmes' various scars. I'm not sure how he would have gotten a scar on the top of his head (depending on where the "top" was) but it's interesting how most of the scars are on his hands. On the first joint left thumb, above first joint left index, below second joint right index.

Scars on the hands might mean a person often working with knifes or other sharp instruments. Being a doctor, Holmes would have been inclined to cut himself if he was not careful.

So even though Holmes kept the bloodstained tools of his trade hidden away, he actually wore the marks of his dangerous medical practice right on his skin.

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

Not Unless that Pillow Decorated Holmes' Bed

So this is what happens when you search H.H. Holmes on Etsy:

 



Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

Happy Birthday, Herman Mudgett

On May 16, 1861, Herman Webster Mudgett was born to Levi and Theodate Mudgett in the small hamlet of Gilmanton, New Hampshire. He was raised in a house that still stands in Gilmanton, though the private residence is not open to the public.

The Mudgett house in modern day Gilmanton.
 



His mother raised him to be a devout Methodist but his father, a hard drinking alcoholic, beat him senseless whenever he broke one of the strict house rules. I believe that the constant abuse as a child shattered young Herman's innocence and later became one of the reasons for his violent temperament, need for constant control, and disgust for all alcoholic beverages. Mudgett would carry his given name through his years on the Gilmanton farm and in medical school. It was when he arrived in Chicago around 1886 that he changed his name to Henry Howard Holmes. H.H. Holmes (which all documentaries like to say immediately after as if I can't figure out on my own what letters "Henry" and "Howard" start with).

The graduation photo of Herman W. Mudgett. It was taken around 1884 and still hangs in the hallway of his alma mater, the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor.

 

H.H. Holmes would live to be 34 years old. He would spend his final birthday in a Philadelphia prison before being executed there on May 7, 1896, just days before his 35th birthday. In his lifetime, Herman Mudgett/H.H. Holmes would change himself from a small town farmer to a doctor, architect, successful businessman, and the most dangerous man in America. He would earn, among other nicknames, the notorious title we still remember him by today: American's First Documented Serial Killer.

  

 

One of three known H.H. Holmes mugshots. This photo might have been taken upon his arrest in 1895.

 

Side note: I come close to sharing a birthday with Holmes. I was born May 15, one day sooner. Of course (in my mind) one day is pretty much the same day and therefore our almost shared birthday is still super awesome.    

 

Until next time.

 

XOXO, Kate

I'm Supposed to Read This?

Since there have been no posts about the Chicago World's Fair, which was stationed about a mile away from Holmes and his Castle/Hotel, I figured I would make one.

There is one professor, who totally rocks by the way, that I have taken four classes with in two years. (And you know who you are if you're reading this). He's really fascinated with the World's Fair/White City so I brought in some opening day newspapers to show him. (In case you were wondering, the Chicago World's Fair opened on May 1, 1893).

What is fascinating about the papers is that the word are set over sketches. That is really hard to describe so I'm just going to post a few pictures.

 

I didn't know that they printed on picture paper as far back as 1893. I would have guessed that to be a more modern practice.

But here is the real question. How am I supposed to read that VERY SMALL TEXT over the picture? Seriously, how are you supposed to read that? Please enlighten me because just looking at the page is giving me a headache. My guess is that the piece was more for enjoyment (and to show how cool Chicago papers were) than providing information.

Until I can find some glasses to read with.

XOXO, Kate

You Know You're a Holmes Historian When...

You know you're a Holmes historian when you hear people talking about Holmes and automatically start thinking about the attractive (well he was) doctor that just so happened to operate a Murder Castle in Englewood, Chicago...and then realize that the conversation is about Sherlock Holmes and not H.H. Holmes.

 

The only Holmes when you're a Holmes historian.

 

Until next time.

 

XOXO, Kate

Life Insurance for Chickens

As much as I love historical facts, sometimes I like a little historical levity too. And with the 149th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's assassination tomorrow, I'm in need of a giggle. (Speaking of Lincoln, be sure to check out my Civil War blog tomorrow for all things Lincoln assassination related).

While reading through the book Depraved (author: Harold Schechter) I found a section that detailed a cartoon published while Holmes was in prison. During the time that his various crimes starting coming to light, other crimes (that he didn't commit) were being pinned to his name. Similar to what would happen years later with Bonnie and Clyde, when the police couldn't fine a perpetrator, they would hang the blame on Holmes.

In one example, according to Schechter, "newspapers throughout the country had published sensational accounts of a massacre in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A tribe of 'hostile Bannocks' had butchered every white settler in the area."

The story turned out to be false. The problem arose because local cattle rustlers wanted the land and were attempting to drive the Bannocks off it. The Chicago Tribune ran a self mocking article before the truth was revealed.

"In the drawing, Holmes is shown standing in his jail cell, holding up a newspaper whose front page reads, 'BANNOCK INDIANS ON WARPATH - SETTLERS MASSACRED.'"

Holmes looks dismayed, not because of the deaths, but because he knows he'll be blamed for them (even though he's locked in a prison cell). His caption reads, "I AM INNOCENT!" However, when I found the actual cartoon, I saw that it said more than what Schechter had written.

The rest of the caption reads, "I HAD NO INSURANCE ON ANY OF THOSE SETTLERS." Holmes was known for taking out insurance policies on victims, then killing them and claiming the money. At the time, he was suspected of murdering Benjamin Pitezel in this way and the cartoon's artist was not letting the chance to poke fun at the doctor pass without notice. Personally, I find this cartoon rather humorous and clever. And it wasn't the only time someone made a witty insurance remark at Holmes' expense.

In one interview, Holmes claimed to have hatched a chicken in his cell, kept it, and took care of it for a month. I'm not sure how much truth there is in that tale since I can't see how no one would notice or hear a chicken, even though Holmes claims he hid it. (Where? I don't know considering he was living in a space the size of a telephone booth). However, Holmes said to his visitors, "it died, as all the things we love die in the world." Upon leaving the room, one of the two men remarked that sometime after hatching the egg, "Holmes doubtless had the chicken's life insured." 

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

At the Corner of Wallace and 63rd Streets

As the World's Columbian Exposition closed its gates in October of 1893, H.H. Holmes also departed from Chicago, leaving his Castle, and whatever secrets were contained within the walls, behind him. However, he did attempt one final scheme in Englewood before turning his back to the city for good. Whether it was for the money or his own personal protection cannot be said. But knowing the score of Holmes, it was probably for both.

  

Unfortunately, no picture of the Castle has been found from when Holmes occupied it. Above is one of the earliest known photos and it was probably taken around 1895 when Holmes was in prison. The name on the pharmacy window reads "Robinson" and not "Holmes." 

 

During construction of his building, Holmes took out a fire insurance policy for it. The beneficiary was a man named Hiram S. Campbell, one of many fictitious alter egos used by Holmes. No one knows for sure if Holmes himself or one of his fellow conspirators (some suspect Patrick Quinlan, the hotel janitor) started the fire. It broke out in multiple places on the top floor, decimating most of the interior but causing minimal damage to the exterior or other floors (as shown by the picture above). Holmes then tried to collect $6,000 in insurance money. According to Erik Larson in Devil in the White City, "An investigator for one of the insurance companies, F. G. Cowie, became suspicious and began a detailed investigation. Though he found no concrete proof of arson, Cowie believed Holmes or an accomplice had started the fire. He advised the insurers to pay the claim, but only to Hiram S. Campbell and only if Campbell presented himself in person." Campbell never appeared to collect his money and the fire would not be the first change that would happen to the World's Fair Hotel in its proprietor's absence.      

On August 19, 1895, as Holmes sat languishing in his prison cell in Philadelphia, the money making dreams of a man named A. M. Clark went up, literally, in smoke. Clark had planned to lease the hotel and open it as a "murder museum" tourist attraction. The charge of 15 cents per person would buy a guided tour of the morbid site. However, just before Clark could receive his first paying customer, fire broke out at Wallace and 63rd streets shortly after midnight, destroying the top two floors of Holmes' building and causing slight damage to the first floor. According to Harold Schechter in Depraved, "At precisely 12:13 AM, George J. Myler - a night watchman at the Western Indiana railroad crossing - spotted flames shooting from the Castle's roof. Before he could turn in an alarm, a series of explosions rocked the building, blowing out the windows of Fred Barton's ground floor candy shop. By the time the first engines arrived the fire was already out of control. A half hour later the roof collapsed, taking down part of the building's rear wall. By the time the blaze was extinguished, at around 1:30 AM, much of the Castle had been consumed." No one ever discovered who started the fire. Some say it was an act of God but most historians believe it was either an accomplice trying to get rid of evidence the police had missed during the excavation or some outraged citizen that didn't want the building becoming a permanent part of the growing city.

Either way, the fate of the building was further condemned. The top floors were gutted and removed from the structure. However, the first floor shops were allowed to reopen about a year later. All remained in business until the building was finally torn down. For years the barren plot of land was left alone, bearing no signs of what had once stood there or who had crossed the threshold. It looked just as it had when it was first seen by Holmes. In 1938, the land was purchased by the United States government and a post office was placed (somewhat) on the site.

I say "somewhat" because the post office does not sit on the exact same area the Castle was built on. Just like Englewood itself, the plot does not look the same as it did in 1893. Part of the land is home to a parking lot, an overpass, a sidewalk, and a tree. The post office mostly sits next door to the Castle with a small overlap on 63rd street.

The Castle was shaped like the letter L, with the longer side being on Wallace, the shorter side being on 63rd, and the two sections meeting at the corner intersection.

 

The top photo shows the street layout while the other two show what sides of the building were on which street. (The middle one shows the Wallace side and the bottom one shows the 63rd side).

This is about where the post office sits:

 

So even though people love to say that they occupy the exact same space, they actually do not, though climbing the tree would put you into one of the asphyxiating rooms on the second floor. However, there is a slight overlap in the two structures. Part of the post office basement overlaps with what would have been the creepy Castle basement. In fact, there is a small section of a brick wall in the post office basement that is speculated to have been from the Castle, though this has never been proven. The idea of stepping into a piece of the Castle basement has lured many ghost hunters and their expensive equipment to Englewood. The above photo showing the overlap actually came from the following website where you can check out some of their paranormal related research:

 

http://www.mysteriouschicagoblog.com/2008/10/murder-castle-today-or-good-grief-more.html

The various transformations of H. H. Holmes' Castle show that nothing material can last the test of time. However, stories can live forever, always finding new ears to intoxicate.

 

Until next time.

 

XOXO, Kate

Yours Truly, E. Alice Pitezel

After posting about a letter from Edwina Booth to her father, Edwin, I decided to stick with this letter theme and post about another, though much sadder, letter. A letter from Alice Pitezel to her grandparents.

At the time the letter was written, Alice and her sister, Nellie, were traveling with H.H. Holmes. Her brother, Howard, had already been killed. Being in hotel rooms for days on end, Alice passed the time by writing letters to her grandparents and to her mother, Carrie. She would then give them to Holmes to send. However, Holmes never sent them, instead keeping them in a small tin box for unknown (aka sociopathic) reasons. When he was arrested, the letters were found in his possession, confiscated, and given to the police. Because each letter had a date and place written on top, detective Frank Geyer was able to follow Holmes' twisting path across the country and find the dead bodies of Alice and her two siblings, sealing the fate of Holmes.

Many of the letters Alice wrote described her loneliness, homesickness, and sadness that her mother was not responding to her and had yet to come and visit even though Holmes had been promising to bring her. Holmes would leave the children alone for days to plot his next move. Aside from moving the three Pitezel children from city to city, he was also moving his "wife," Georgiana Yoke, and the children's mother, Carrie Pitezel, keeping up the charade that her husband, Benjamin, was still alive (Holmes had already killed him too). At one point, Carrie was staying less than a block away from her children with neither party knowing of the other. Below is a real photo of Alice and a newspaper sketch of her. She was 14 years old but some sources say she was 15.

Detroit, Michigan

Oct. 14, 1894

Dear Grandma and Grandpa,

Hope you are all well. Nell and I have both got colds and chapped hands but that is all. We have not had any nice weather at all. I guess it is coming winter now. Tell momma that I have to have a coat. I nearly freeze in that thin jacket. We have to stay in all the time, Howard is not with us now. We are right near the Detroit River. We was going a boat riding yesterday but it was too cold. All that Nell and I can do is draw and I get so tired sitting that I could get up and fly almost. I wish I could see you all. I am getting so homesick that I don't know what to do. I suppose Wharton walk by this time don't he? I would like to have him here. He would pass away the time a good deal.

Yours truly, 

E. Alice Pitezel  

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

Benjamin and Carrie Pitezel

Dear Universe,

It's P-I-T-E-Z-E-L not P-I-E-T-Z-E-L. Please get your shit together and print one CORRECT spelling.

Signed,

Aggravated historian

Victory! I have finally memorized the correct spelling of Pitezel (and just in time for my Pitezel post).

I haven't had much time to update this blog due to having one hell of a stressful week. But now that spring break has finally arrived I can get back to posting here and on my American Civil War blog. Speaking of, you can find my Down Yonder Diary here:

http://downyonderdiary.blogspot.com/

Anyway, I am currently working on a longer post about the childhood life of H.H. Holmes in his hometown of Gilmanton, New Hampshire. But since that post is not finished at the moment and I want to get a new post up, here is a short one about some new pictures I found of Benjamin and Carrie Pitezel.

Benjamin (who has his picture featured on the header) was Holmes' assistant and one of his final victims. Holmes was eventually tried and executed for the murder of Benjamin.

One thing that you will quickly learn about me, I am a romantic. I love the relationship of Carrie and Benjamin (or Benny as he was affectionately called by his wife). The more you read about them, the more you see how dedicated and devoted they were to each other, even when times were tough. Their love story was so caring and romantic, one of the reasons their separation was so tragic and heartbreaking. Why, Holmes? Why did you destroy the beauty?

There are not many images of the Pitezel family. In those days, unless you had money (which the Pitezel family did not) you didn't take many photos because it was still very expensive. The most common image seen of Carrie is this one taken in her later years.

There are two common images of Benjamin, usually shown together to compare his features before and after he became a compulsive drinker and a worn, beat up shadow of his former self.

 

However, I stumbled upon these two images the other day. I'm not sure when Benjamin's photo was taken but the one of Carrie shows her much younger and I've never seen another that does.

I hope they have found each other again. 

Until next time.

XOXO, Kate

???

While leafing through my Holmes file to find blog inspiration, I came upon a portion of his Wikipedia profile that I printed when I first began researching him.

I circled the number of victims this editor attributed to Holmes.

Is that for real? 200 people? He really killed 200 people? In the span of, what, a few months?

I know. It's baffling when you first see it. But here is something even more baffling about the victims of HH Holmes. This is the real number: ???

Holmes actually killed an unknown number of people. History has never discovered how many died by his hands or who the first victim was. Will we ever know? Probably not. We'll just have to rely on stories and theories. Unless someone invents a time machine and we can go back to 1861 when Holmes was born and follow him through every second of his 34 year life. Just a note, I would be the first in line to sign up for that trip. I mean, have you seen that man? He's gorgeous. Of course, I would also be packing some serious heat under my corset to make sure he would always show me the real exit.

Anyway, there is little concrete proof of Holmes murdering anyone, even the nine victims history has "identified" as much as possible. Nothing that could classify as incriminating was found during the excavation of the Castle. Just a few bones (some of which turned out to be animal bones) and various scraps of fabric and clothing here and there. One reason for this, Holmes was a master at destroying evidence. He knew the fastest way to getting caught was to leave a trail behind. He designed and built the Castle in such a way so that it would be perfect for the disposal of such evidence.

In the end, Holmes was only executed for one murder, Benjamin Pitezel, his friend and business partner. Holmes was never convicted of murdering the Pitezel children or anyone in the Castle.

So where do all these numbers come from? I have no idea who came up with 200. Furthermore, the number changes constantly. One source said over 50 people who went missing from the World's Fair were traced back to the Castle. If they were, no evidence of their presence has ever been discovered. Other sources say there were dozens of police reports taken out for people who had seemingly vanished. Throughout the years, the number has climbed from there. Can all of these cases be contributed to Holmes? No. After all, Holmes, born Herman Webster Mudgett, had changed his name and begun a new life. What was to stop others from doing the same?

Aside from the insane figures, there are more rational numbers that historians across the board seem to accept.

While awaiting execution, Holmes was paid by William Randolph Hearst to write a confession. In it, he confessed to 27 murders and 6 attempts that, if successful, would have brought the total to 33. However, deceit was a trait ingrained in Holmes' nature. He lied about everything. He couldn't help it. Even when it was in his best interest to stick to the truth, he lied. His words cannot be taken as 100 percent factual. In fact, some of his confessed "victims" were still alive. Most historians believe that since Holmes knew he was going to die, he left his mark by confessing "to every crime anybody had ever suspected him of and threw in a few more for good measure."

Historians have further whittled the number down to nine. Of course, nothing can be confirmed 100 percent. However, these nine people were identified as the most likely to have been killed by Holmes (and probably were).

First were Julia and Pearl Connor. Pearl was the eight year old daughter of Julia and her ex-husband, Ned. Then there was Emeline Cigrand. Next was Minnie Williams. Some historians claim that Holmes and Minnie Williams were married. But since no record has ever been found, some say that it was just another lie. Next was Anna Williams, the younger sister of Minnie. Benjamin Pitezel was Holmes assistant. And finally Alice, Nellie, and Howard Pitezel, the children of Benjamin and his wife, Carrie. They were 14, 10, and 8.

 

(Julia Connor)

 

 

(Pearl Connor)

 

 

(Emeline Cigrand)

 

 

(Minnie Williams)

 

 

(Anna Williams)

 

 

(Benjamin Pitezel)

 

 

(Alice Pitezel)

 

(Nellie Pitezel)

 

(Howard Pitezel)

 

Until next time...

 

Kate 

Welcome to Englewood

Welcome to the World's Fair Hotel.

The infamous structure, known today as the "Murder Castle" or just "The Castle," stood at the corner of Wallace and 63rd Streets in Englewood, Chicago, Illinois. It was designed and built by Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, America's first documented serial killer.

Although it was constructed before and existed after, it is remembered most for being the mirroring, darker image of the World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair) of 1893.

So come along with me through the twisting, mazelike corridors and discover the secrets behind the murders, the madness, and the man who changed America.