H. H. Holmes: Difference between revisions
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Holmes trapped, tortured, and murdered possibly hundreds of guests (only 27 have been confirmed) at his [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]] hotel, which he opened for the [[1893 World's Fair]]. |
Holmes trapped, tortured, and murdered possibly hundreds of guests (only 27 have been confirmed) at his [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]] hotel, which he opened for the [[1893 World's Fair]]. |
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The case was notorious in its time, and received wide publicity via a series of articles in [[William Randolph Hearst]]'s newspapers. Interest in Holmes' crimes was revived in 2003 by the publication of a best-selling book about him, ''[[The Devil in the White City]]''. |
The case was notorious in its time, and received wide publicity via a series of articles in [[William Randolph Hearst]]'s newspapers. Interest in Holmes' crimes was revived in 2003 by the publication of a best-selling book about him, ''[[The Devil in the White City]]''. In addition, a biography concerning his early life exists, concerning mainly his crimes, entitled ''[[Depraved]]''. |
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Although Holmes is sometimes referred to as America's first serial killer, his crimes occurred after those of others such as [[Thomas Neill Cream]], the [[Austin Axe Murderer]] and the [[Bloody Benders]]. |
Although Holmes is sometimes referred to as America's first serial killer, his crimes occurred after those of others such as [[Thomas Neill Cream]], the [[Austin Axe Murderer]] and the [[Bloody Benders]]. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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He was born in [[Gilmanton, New Hampshire]], son of Levi Horton Mudgett and his wife, formerly Theodate Page Price. His early criminal career was based on fraud and forgery, including a cure for [[alcoholism]], real estate scams, and a machine that purported to make natural gas from water. Holmes earned a doctor's degree from the [[University of Michigan]]. |
He was born in [[Gilmanton, New Hampshire]], son of Levi Horton Mudgett and his wife, formerly Theodate Page Price. Living in a poor environment with an alocholic father amongst taunting schoolmates certainly affected his later actions. Mudgett himself claimed an instance when he was younger influenced his thinking; he was forced by other students to view and touch a human skeleton. His early criminal career was based on fraud and forgery, including a cure for [[alcoholism]], real estate scams, and a machine that purported to make natural gas from water. Holmes earned a doctor's degree from the [[University of Michigan]]. |
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On [[8 July]] [[1878]], he married Clara A. Lovering of [[Alton, New Hampshire]]. |
On [[8 July]] [[1878]], he married Clara A. Lovering of [[Alton, New Hampshire]]. |
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On [[28 January]] [[1887]], he (bigamously) married Myrta Z. Belknap in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]; they had a daughter named Lucy. He filed a petition for divorce from his first wife after marrying his second, but it never became final. He married his third wife, Georgiana Yoke, on [[9 January]] [[1894]]. He was also the lover of Julia Smythe, the wife of Ned Connor, one of his trusted associates. She would later become one of his victims. |
On [[28 January]] [[1887]], he (bigamously) married Myrta Z. Belknap in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]; they had a daughter named Lucy. He filed a petition for divorce from his first wife after marrying his second, but it never became final. He married his third wife, Georgiana Yoke, on [[9 January]] [[1894]]. He was also the lover of Julia Smythe, the wife of Ned Connor, one of his trusted associates. She would later become one of his victims. |
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He managed to secure a [[Chicago]] [[pharmacy]] by defrauding the pharmacist, and built a block-long, three-story building on the lot across the street. He called this building "The Castle," and opened it as a hotel for the [[World's Columbian Exposition]] in [[1893]]. The bottom floor of the Castle contained shops, |
He managed to secure a [[Chicago]] [[pharmacy]] by defrauding and eventually murdering the pharmacist and his family, and built a block-long, three-story building on the lot across the street. He called this building "The Castle," and opened it as a hotel for the [[World's Columbian Exposition]] in [[1893]], using the rest of the structure for shops he rented. The bottom floor of the Castle contained these shops (one a jeweler, for example), his personal office, and the upper floors a maze of over one hundred windowless rooms with doorways that would open to brick walls, stairways to nowhere, doors that could only be opened from the outside, and a host of other maze-like constructions. Over a period of three years, Holmes selected female victims from among his hotel's guests, and tortured them in soundproof and escapeproof chambers fitted with gas lines that permitted Holmes to asphyxiate the women at any time. Holmes had repeatedly changed builders during the initial constuction of the Caslte, to ensure that no one truly understood the design of the house he had created who might report it to the police. In addition, according to law at that time, by firing workers every two weeks, he didn't have to pay them. Once dead, the victims' bodies went by a secret chute to the basement, where they were either sold to medical schools or cremated and placed in lime pits for destruction. Homles had two giant furances as well as pits of acid, bottles of various poisons, and even a rack to create a race of "giants." Because of the connections he gained through medical school, he was able to sell skeletons and organs with little difficulty. |
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Following the World's Fair, Holmes left Chicago and apparently murdered people as he traveled around the country. He was arrested in 1895 when |
Following the World's Fair, Holmes left Chicago and apparently murdered people as he traveled around the country, though only his close associate and children were ever located. He was arrested in 1895 when police discovered his connection with this former business associate, Benjamin Pitezel, and three of his children. The same year, Holmes's "castle" in Chicago burnt down on [[August 19]], revealing the carnage therein to the police and firemen. His habit of taking out insurance policies on some of his victims before killing them may have eventually exposed him regardless, but it wasn't until his custodian revealed to the police that he was never allowed to clean the upper floors that terror seized the local department. Inspections of the damage and the rest of the building revealed Holmes' true intentions. The number of his victims has typically been estimated between 20 to 100, and even as high as 230 by some estimates, using missing persons records at that time. However, the only verified number is 27, though police had commented that some of the bodies in the basement were so badly marred and distorted that it was difficult to tell how many there actually were. His victims were primarily women, but included some men and children. |
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Holmes was put on trial for murder, and confessed to 27 murders (in Chicago, [[Indianapolis, Indiana|Indianapolis]] and [[Toronto, Canada|Toronto]]) and six attempted murders. He was hanged on [[May 7]], [[1896]], in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]]. The New York Times reported, Holmes said to the executioner, "Take your time: don't bungle it |
Holmes was put on trial for murder, and confessed to 27 murders (in Chicago, [[Indianapolis, Indiana|Indianapolis]] and [[Toronto, Canada|Toronto]]) and six attempted murders. He was hanged on [[May 7]], [[1896]], in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]]. The New York Times reported, Holmes said to the executioner, "Take your time: don't bungle it" after pretending to convert to Christianity on his way to the noose. Some believe the executioner may not have tied the knot properly, but regadless Holmes' took over 10 minutes to die. After his death, and as requested, his body was buried encased in cement so science could not study his brain in the future.ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | title=Holmes Cool to the End | publisher=The New York Times | page=1 | date=[[1896-05-08]]}}</ref> |
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== Notes == |
== Notes == |
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<div class="references-small"><references/></div> |
<div class="references-small"><references/></div> |
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Revision as of 20:02, 10 August 2006
Herman Webster Mudgett (May 16, 1861 – May 7 1896), better known under the alias of "Dr. H. H. Holmes," was an American serial killer.
Holmes trapped, tortured, and murdered possibly hundreds of guests (only 27 have been confirmed) at his Chicago hotel, which he opened for the 1893 World's Fair.
The case was notorious in its time, and received wide publicity via a series of articles in William Randolph Hearst's newspapers. Interest in Holmes' crimes was revived in 2003 by the publication of a best-selling book about him, The Devil in the White City. In addition, a biography concerning his early life exists, concerning mainly his crimes, entitled Depraved.
Although Holmes is sometimes referred to as America's first serial killer, his crimes occurred after those of others such as Thomas Neill Cream, the Austin Axe Murderer and the Bloody Benders.
Biography
He was born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, son of Levi Horton Mudgett and his wife, formerly Theodate Page Price. Living in a poor environment with an alocholic father amongst taunting schoolmates certainly affected his later actions. Mudgett himself claimed an instance when he was younger influenced his thinking; he was forced by other students to view and touch a human skeleton. His early criminal career was based on fraud and forgery, including a cure for alcoholism, real estate scams, and a machine that purported to make natural gas from water. Holmes earned a doctor's degree from the University of Michigan.
On 8 July 1878, he married Clara A. Lovering of Alton, New Hampshire. On 28 January 1887, he (bigamously) married Myrta Z. Belknap in Minneapolis, Minnesota; they had a daughter named Lucy. He filed a petition for divorce from his first wife after marrying his second, but it never became final. He married his third wife, Georgiana Yoke, on 9 January 1894. He was also the lover of Julia Smythe, the wife of Ned Connor, one of his trusted associates. She would later become one of his victims.
He managed to secure a Chicago pharmacy by defrauding and eventually murdering the pharmacist and his family, and built a block-long, three-story building on the lot across the street. He called this building "The Castle," and opened it as a hotel for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, using the rest of the structure for shops he rented. The bottom floor of the Castle contained these shops (one a jeweler, for example), his personal office, and the upper floors a maze of over one hundred windowless rooms with doorways that would open to brick walls, stairways to nowhere, doors that could only be opened from the outside, and a host of other maze-like constructions. Over a period of three years, Holmes selected female victims from among his hotel's guests, and tortured them in soundproof and escapeproof chambers fitted with gas lines that permitted Holmes to asphyxiate the women at any time. Holmes had repeatedly changed builders during the initial constuction of the Caslte, to ensure that no one truly understood the design of the house he had created who might report it to the police. In addition, according to law at that time, by firing workers every two weeks, he didn't have to pay them. Once dead, the victims' bodies went by a secret chute to the basement, where they were either sold to medical schools or cremated and placed in lime pits for destruction. Homles had two giant furances as well as pits of acid, bottles of various poisons, and even a rack to create a race of "giants." Because of the connections he gained through medical school, he was able to sell skeletons and organs with little difficulty.
Following the World's Fair, Holmes left Chicago and apparently murdered people as he traveled around the country, though only his close associate and children were ever located. He was arrested in 1895 when police discovered his connection with this former business associate, Benjamin Pitezel, and three of his children. The same year, Holmes's "castle" in Chicago burnt down on August 19, revealing the carnage therein to the police and firemen. His habit of taking out insurance policies on some of his victims before killing them may have eventually exposed him regardless, but it wasn't until his custodian revealed to the police that he was never allowed to clean the upper floors that terror seized the local department. Inspections of the damage and the rest of the building revealed Holmes' true intentions. The number of his victims has typically been estimated between 20 to 100, and even as high as 230 by some estimates, using missing persons records at that time. However, the only verified number is 27, though police had commented that some of the bodies in the basement were so badly marred and distorted that it was difficult to tell how many there actually were. His victims were primarily women, but included some men and children.
Holmes was put on trial for murder, and confessed to 27 murders (in Chicago, Indianapolis and Toronto) and six attempted murders. He was hanged on May 7, 1896, in Philadelphia. The New York Times reported, Holmes said to the executioner, "Take your time: don't bungle it" after pretending to convert to Christianity on his way to the noose. Some believe the executioner may not have tied the knot properly, but regadless Holmes' took over 10 minutes to die. After his death, and as requested, his body was buried encased in cement so science could not study his brain in the future.ref>"Holmes Cool to the End". The New York Times. 1896-05-08. p. 1. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)</ref>
Notes
References
- Borowski, John (Director), H.H. Holmes, America's First Serial Killer (Motion picture documentary), Waterfront Productions, 2004.
- Borowski, John (2005). Dimas Estrada (editor) (ed.). The Strange Case of Dr. H. H. Holmes. ISBN 0975918516.
{{cite book}}:|editor=has generic name (help) - See also the list of many references on the Memorabilia page.
- Borowski, John (2005). Dimas Estrada (editor) (ed.). The Strange Case of Dr. H. H. Holmes. ISBN 0975918516.
- Geary, Rick (2004). The Beast of Chicago: The Murderous Career of H. H. Holmes. Nantier, Beall & Minoustchine.
- Larson, Erik (2003). The Devil in the White City. New York: Vintage Books.
- Schecter, Harold (1994). Depraved. New York: Pocket Books.
- Michod, Alec (2004). The White City. New York: St. Martin's Press.
- Adams, Cecil (1979-07-06). "Did Dr. Henry Holmes kill 200 people at a bizarre "castle" in 1890s Chicago?". The Straight Dope.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links
