H. H. Holmes – America’s First Modern Serial Killer Documents

Description

H. H. Holmes: A Chronicle of Crime and Justice

1861:

• Herman Webster Mudgett (H. H. Holmes) is born.

1891:

• Emily van Tassel, who worked at Holmes’ drugstore, disappears. Holmes later confessed to her murder.

1893 (around the time of the Columbian World Exposition in Chicago):

• Holmes is believed to have committed a series of murders in Chicago, potentially targeting visitors to the World’s Fair staying at his hotel.
• Horace Williams is killed (accused by the Williams family in 1895).
• His sisters, Nina and Minnie Williams, are also killed (accused by the Williams family in 1895).

1894:

• November 20: Carrie Pietzel confesses to attempting to defraud Fidelity Mutual Insurance by faking her husband Benjamin F. Pietzel’s death with Holmes’ assistance. She confesses out of fear that Holmes had actually killed her husband.
• Holmes is arrested in Boston, Massachusetts, and charged with fraud against Fidelity Mutual Insurance.

1895:

• July 15: The bodies of three of Benjamin and Carrie Pietzel’s children – Etta, Alice, and Hettie Pietzel (ages 7, 9, and 13) – are found buried under a house Holmes rented in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at 16 St. Vincent Street.
• July 27: The Williams family accuses Holmes of killing Horace, Nina, and Minnie Williams in 1893.
• July 28: Chicago police discover two graves in the basement of the building Holmes constructed in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, later known as “Holmes Castle” or “Murder Castle.”
• July 30: Police announce their belief that Emily van Tassel is another victim of Holmes.
• October 28: Holmes’ trial for the murder of Benjamin F. Pietzel begins in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Holmes acts as his own lawyer.
• November 2: Holmes is convicted of the murder of Benjamin F. Pietzel.

1896:

• May 7: H. H. Holmes is executed by hanging at Moyamensing Prison in Philadelphia.

1897:

• The Trial Transcript for the murder of Benjamin F. Pietzel is published.

2003:

• Holmes is reintroduced to Americans by Erik Larson in his non-fiction work, The Devil in the White City.

Cast of Characters

Principle People Mentioned:

• Herman Webster Mudgett (H. H. Holmes / Dr. Henry Howard Holmes): An American con artist and serial killer, born in 1861 and executed in 1896. He became infamous for murders around the time of the 1893 Columbian World Exposition in Chicago. He was tried and convicted for the murder of Benjamin F. Pietzel, confessed to 27 murders (though law enforcement linked him to nine), and was the subject of extensive media coverage, often referred to as America’s counterpart to “Jack the Ripper.” He built what became known as the “Murder Castle” in Chicago.
• Benjamin F. Pietzel: A victim of H. H. Holmes. Holmes initially conspired with Pietzel’s wife, Carrie, to fake his death for insurance fraud, but Holmes ultimately murdered him. His murder was the only one Holmes was convicted for.
• Carrie Pietzel: Wife of Benjamin F. Pietzel. She initially conspired with Holmes in an insurance fraud scheme to fake her husband’s death but later confessed when she feared Holmes had truly killed him. She entrusted three of her children to Holmes’ care, who subsequently murdered them.
• Etta Pietzel: One of Benjamin and Carrie Pietzel’s children, aged 13, murdered by H. H. Holmes. Her body was found in Toronto.
• Alice Pietzel: One of Benjamin and Carrie Pietzel’s children, aged 9, murdered by H. H. Holmes. Her body was found in Toronto.
• Hettie Pietzel: One of Benjamin and Carrie Pietzel’s children, aged 7, murdered by H. H. Holmes. Her body was found in Toronto.
• Emily van Tassel: An employee at Holmes’ drugstore who disappeared in 1891. Holmes later confessed to her murder.
• Horace Williams: A victim of H. H. Holmes, allegedly killed in 1893. His killing was reported by his family in 1895.
• Nina Williams: A victim of H. H. Holmes, sister of Horace and Minnie, allegedly killed in 1893. Her killing was reported by her family in 1895.
• Minnie Williams: A victim of H. H. Holmes, sister of Horace and Nina, allegedly killed in 1893. Her killing was reported by her family in 1895.
• Patrick Quinlan: The contractor largely responsible for building Holmes’ “Murder Castle.” He and his wife testified against Holmes at his trial for the murder of Benjamin F. Pietzel.
• Mrs. Quinlan: The wife of Patrick Quinlan, who testified against Holmes at his trial.
• Detective Frank P. Geyer: A detective from the Bureau of Police, Department of Public Safety, City of Philadelphia. He authored The Holmes-Pitezel Case A History of the Greatest Crime of the Century and of the Search for the Missing Pitezel Children (1896).
• Samuel W. Pennypacker: The recipient of an autographed letter from H. H. Holmes, included in the bound volume of “Holmes’ Own Story – With Moyamensing Prison Diary.”
• Erik Larson: Author of the 2003 non-fiction work, The Devil in the White City, which retold the stories of H. H. Holmes and the 1893 World’s Fair, reintroducing Holmes to modern Americans.