HH Holmes (FSCI case studies)

Early Adult Life

Rich wife, Clara A. Lovering, supported him through medical school with inherited money. He later abandoned her and their son. Never divorced.

Murder Castle

-3 stories+ basement -60 rooms -He was his own architect. No one but him really knew the design -Fired lots of workers and refused to pay bc poor work -1st floor contained stores (Jewlery, restaurant, barbershop, pharmacy) -2nd floor contained office, his living quarters, and guest rooms. (only female boarders) -Completed in 1892

How did HH Holms' gain his pharmacy?

-Answered ad from Mrs. Holton in 1886. -Very successful in increasing business and allowed to take over the books. -Eventually talked Holton into selling after her husband died. -When he didn't pay she took him to court, but disappeared while pending.

Childhood

-Beaten by drunk father who was both wealthy and well respected. -Bullied -Fascinated by Surgery. Experimented on Animals. -Intelligent -Trouble maker

Murder Castle

-Began construction in 1888 -50'X150' lot on the corner of 63rd and Wallace -Hotel for Columbian Exposition 1893

Jennie Thompson

-Blonde hair, blue eyes, 17 years old.

Murder Castle Torture

-Kiln w/ cast iron doors in basement -Vats of corrosive material -Secret passages -Hidden chutes directly above zinclined tanks -Sealed rooms w/ gas jets -Stairs that led nowhere

Insurance Fraud

-Lawyer, Marion Hedgepath -Turned on him after not being paid -St. Louis police notified -Insurance company notified -Pinkerton Agent hired (Frank Geyer) -Arrested 2 months later. -Hanged for horse swindle or confess to the fraud? -Plead guilty in June 1895. -Followed for 8 months after. -Ben's family found -Pinkerton agent and several Chicago detectives used this to enter the castle.

Georgianna Yoke

-Married in 1894 -Arrested for Texas horse swindle in July 1894

When did the murder castle burn down?

August 19, 1895

How much were his employees insured for?

$5,000

Pinkerton Search of Murder Castle

-Narrow winding passages -Doors that open to brick walls -Hidden stairways -Concealed Doors -Blind hallways -Secret Panels -Hidden passages -Clandestine Vault -Homemade gas chamber -35 rooms w/ no windows and air tight if door closed. Lined with sheet iron and asbestos. -Trap Doors -Trap door in his personal bathroom that led into the basement and onto the street outside. -Surgical tools and torture devices -Jars of poison -Wooden box of female skeletons -Ball of women's hair

Ned and Julia Connor

-Ned, watchmaker/ jeweler. Julia, bookkeeper. -Julia invited her sister Gertie (18). -Holmes asked Gertie to marry her and she refused. -Holmes' affair with Julia became obvious. -Ned left her and his daughter with Holmes. -Julia was 6' -Disappeared after Holmes' engagement to Minnie.

Alluring Victims

-Offered Jobs -Advertised for Marriage -Packed all things and brought all money -Told to keep it a secret for security purposes. -Operated for 4 years -50 disappearances linked to him during this time.

Ben Pietzel

-Planned to commit insurance fraud. -Holmes killed him and collected insurance -Gave family $500 which he took back to invest.

Minnie Williams

-Said he was an inventor named Harry Gordon -She was an heir to a Texas real estate fortune -They got engaged -Lived in castle for <1 year. -Her sister Nannie slept with Holmes. -Minnie "killed her in a rage". -Minnie and her brother were later killed after Holmes got control of their money.

Emeline Cigrand

-Tall, blonde, blue eyes -Planned a December wedding. -She signed envelopes for wedding invites. -Closed her into walk-in safe. -Holmes listened to her scream for hours. -Family later got letters saying she moved to England.

Trial and execution

-Tried in Philadelphia in 1895 -Lasted 6 days -Represented himself -Jury took 2.5 hours deciding -Found guilty -Sentenced to death on Nov. 30, 1895 -Hanged on May 7, 1896 -Told lawyer he killed 133 people but only admitted to 28.

Myrta Belknap

-Wealthy father -Had a daughter in the 1st year of marriage. -Sent to live with parent after angry outbursts. -Divorced.

Pansy Lee

-Widow from New Orleans -Hid $4,000 from him -Killed and cremated in the basement.

Where and when was he born?

Gilmantown, NH. Civil War (1860's)

Education

Graduating from UM Medical School in 1884. Stole, disfigured, planted, and collected insurance from cadavers. ($12,500)

Herman Webster Mudgett

Henry Howard Holmes. The most cunning, depraved, and prolific.