4.29 - Holmes, PT. III (Chicago, IL) - Less Taken

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
This taking contains content that may not be suitable for
all audiences. Listener's discretion is advised less Das July eighteen
ninety four, Saint Louis, Missouri, doctor Henry Howard Holmes is

(00:25):
under arrest for the first time, but it has nothing
to do with his criminal cohort and best friend, Benjamin Pitzel.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
No.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
Holmes winds up behind bars in Saint Louis because, much
like Chicago, he's building an incomplete structure and trying to
scam investors and insurance companies. He's charged of selling mortgage goods.
During his stint in jail, albeit a short one, he
bumps into a man named Marion Hedgepath, a man who

(00:56):
might as well be a hero at Holmes in some
circles as the Handsome Bandit and Derby Kidd and others.
Hedgepath lands himself a twenty five year sentence after robbing
a train of twenty thousand dollars over in Glendale. He
and other members of the Sly Wilson gang flee from
the scene at the crime in eighteen ninety one, only

(01:17):
to be caught in early eighteen ninety two, and just
a couple of years later, Homes in this outlaw bandit
are sharing stories of corruption, cash, and cadavers. While one
might imagine it's best not to confess the true crime stories.
While in jail, Homes filters very little, including new plans

(01:39):
to scam the insurance companies. Holmes plans on faking his
own death again. With the little cooperation from Hedgepath. He
offers an extra five hundred dollars just for the name
of a shady lawyer who, ironically, Homes will need the
trust with the scheme, jep The Howe is quick to accept,

(02:02):
noting how extraordinary and ingenious the plan sounds an easy
ten thousand dollars for Homes and surely a decent payday
for how Unlike many of his other body swapping con jobs,
Holmes pulls through this time. Only none of the insurance
companies are buying his bullshit, and he's smart enough not

(02:26):
to press them. Fast forward and now Holmes presents Pizel
with an almost identical plan. Heights On. Holmes will journey
over to Philadelphia, where Homes will help establish himself as
an inventor known as BF Perry. This new version of
Pizel will take out a ten thousand dollars insurance policy

(02:49):
with Homes listed as the beneficiary. He'll be splitting the
pot with Attorney, how of course, assuring him no harm.
Pizel will then fake his death, with Homes providing a
doppelganger or unrecognizable corpse. The reason this scheme is likely

(03:10):
the work is simple. Homes has improved it by removing
all the variables that failed him before finding a suitable corpse.
Is seeing diminishing returns, so Holmes plans unforegoing the body
swap altogether. There's no body double. Holmes never planned on

(03:31):
having one. September fourth, eighteen ninety four. The chloroform does

(04:04):
wonders for Homes or Pizel, depending on how you look
at it. Up until now. Knocking Pito out is easy
for Homes, and his friend remains unconscious while being doused
with benzene, a clear and extremely flammable accelerate used to
burn bodies at least in eighteen ninety four.

Speaker 2 (04:27):
It is.

Speaker 1 (04:30):
Unfortunately Holmes isn't so certain that his friend is dead
once he strikes a match and sets him ablaze the

(04:51):
problem of many Homes's recent scams is that he struggles
to find a genuine corpse, but in this case he
has pip Sol's actual body to collect an insurance payout,
and Holmes meant it that he looked after his wife
and children. Benjamin Pizel is safe and just lying low

(05:29):
while Holmes tries to cheat the insurance company out of
ten thousand dollars. At least that's what Holmes keeps telling
Carrie Carning, Heizel's wife. The parlor is quiet as Carrie
sits at a small table with a half dozen pages
of paper spread out before her. She picks up the

(05:51):
first page and runs her fingers along to course edges.
Maybe it's so she knows the documents are real. She
can hardly believe she's doing any of this. Homes sits
across from her, calm unnerved, emotionless. Children's laughter can be

(06:12):
heard somewhere behind them. His voice is low and steady
as he reviews the custody papers with Carrie. The pen
trembles in her hand. Holmes has convinced her it might
be best if he'd gained full custody of a few
of her children. He assures her it's in her family's

(06:33):
best interest. Carrie whispers her words as she fills in
some of the details, names, dates, and a promise of
care of the five children. Carrie grants Holmes custody of
thirteen year old Alice, nine year old Nelly, and seven
year old Howard. Holmes doesn't interrupt, doesn't speak until Carrie

(07:01):
signs her name on the last page of the custody paperwork.
He moves quickly, organizing the documents, neatly folding them and
tucking them in his coat. Little time passes before the
children pack their belongings and prepare to live some duration

(07:21):
of their lives with Holmes. Carrie kisses her three children
one last time. She hopes Alice can help look out
after her younger siblings. Olmes promises them they'll be penpals
with their mom soon enough, and he'll make sure the
girls write often, and before they all know it, he'll

(07:45):
reunite them all with Benjamin. Carrie watches the lot of
them walk down the street, Olmes leading the children trailing behind.
She stands in the doorway well after they're out of sight.

(08:08):
When she finally steps back inside, the parlor falls quiet.
The house feels empty. In her mind, She's done the
right thing. Holmes is a friend. Benjamin Piitzel is alive,
and soon they'll have their shares of ten thousand dollars.

(08:29):
The kids will be back soon enough. But if only
she knew what she's done, If only she knew none
of the words of H. H. Holmes were true, If
only she knew what peril she's placed her and her
children into. You're listening to Homes, Part four from Less

(09:14):
Taken Season four Polo Lands Now. We originally said that
we would do three episodes featuring homes, but there's so
much to cover, so we need one more installment. So
this will not be the conclusion of Homes. That'll be
next time for Homes Part four, But for now and
part three, we'll focus on Benjamin Pitzel's demise and how

(09:38):
Holmes convinced us his wife to hand over three of
his children, and the dark paths they all travel together
from then on. Be sure to let us know what
you think of this episode when you're done by leaving
a fair rating and review. Wherever you're listening. You can
also leave reviews. Check out all things Less Taken and
pick up our merch at Let's Taken pod dot com,

(10:03):
and be sure to follow us before we follow you
on Facebook, Instagram, and threads under the handle at less
taken Pod. And you can also suggest future story ideas
by visiting our website let's takenpod dot com or writing
to us at less taken Pod at gmail dot com.
A quick note on our storytelling. While we do our

(10:24):
best to stick to the facts, we sometimes take creative
liberties to maintain narrative cohesiveness. I'm Seem Humphreys and this
is less Taken real life horror stories from the Midwest.
Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy Homes Part three,

(11:22):
October eighteen ninety four, Detroit, Michigan. The bedroom smells of
mold and cigar smoke. Alice sits by a window sill,
studying street cars as they pass below. Fun fact eighteen
ninety four is a pivotal moment in automotive history during

(11:42):
which animal drawn vehicles are traded in for electrical powered ones.
Don't think cars, think trolleys. Alice isn't just fascinated by
the vehicles. She's shocked by all that she sees outside
of her little window. Detroit is much colder than she
here at the tip of the Midwest. It's getting frigid.

(12:06):
The leaves are turned, frost collects on glass panes. Homes
sometimes mentions traveling to Toronto. She can't imagine what it's
like further north. Speaking of which, Holmes leaves the girls
alone again the check on arrangements across the border, but

(12:26):
he never mentions which ones. Nelly curls up on her
bed while Howard sits on the floor, using match boxes
and rubbish as toys. They don't interrupt each other in
this rare moment of peace. Alice pulls out a notepad
from the dresser and begins to write.

Speaker 3 (12:49):
Dear Mama, we are in Detroy now, mister Haws says
Lucie Papa Simons his tapas in London. But I don't
think that's true. I think you are CFF. We miss you,
Love Alice.

Speaker 1 (13:10):
Alice folds the note and looks around. She wants to
ask mister Holmes to mail the letter to her mother
like he promised, but what if he reads it. The
answer to that question comes soon enough.

Speaker 2 (13:26):
You've been writing, I see.

Speaker 1 (13:28):
The door opens and Holmes steps in, after dusting off
the snow from his boots. His words catch Alice off guard.
Hesitant at first, Alice nods and be grudgingly hands over
the letter.

Speaker 2 (13:44):
I'll see that it's mailed off first thing, But.

Speaker 1 (13:49):
Her mother will never read the letter. The only place
Holmes is sending the letter is straight into his coat pocket.

(14:46):
October eighteen ninety four, Cincinnati, Ohio. H. H. Holmes drops
his bag on the floor like he's back from any
other trip, and not like he's someone who's crossed multiple
state line with someone else's children. The house is eerily still,
the sound of his bag like an abrupt thunder in

(15:08):
the silence. Georgiana's eyes dart up from the newspaper, her
gaze portraying both delight and confusion. Your back, you really,
Georgiana greets Homes warmly, helping him take off his coat.

Speaker 2 (15:24):
The train made a good time. I guess.

Speaker 1 (15:28):
He doesn't say much more. In fact, he doesn't really
seem to want to talk at all. She asks if
he's hungry. He says no. She asked about his day,
and he talks about the weather. Oh, and he thinks
there might be a new bakery in town. As she

(15:48):
goes to hang up his coat in the closet, a
small piece of folded paper slides out from an inside pocket.
Homes quickly pivots and snatches it up from her. He
says it's just a receipt he should probably hang on
to Georgiana is probably suspicious of Holmes, but she doesn't

(16:09):
question him. He's probably got dozens of secrets she'd rather
not know about, like the fact that she really is
just his side piece and not his only wife. He
tells her he might have to leave again soon, just
a short trip this time.

Speaker 2 (16:29):
You're always chasing something.

Speaker 1 (16:32):
Holmes grins, but she can tell he's not pleased by
the comment. Holmes promises Alice and Nilly their brother Howard,

(17:12):
will be absolutely safe, but he'll have to be elsewhere.
There will be a nice house with a big yard.
They just need to split up the gang a little
to stay safe. Still its own town, apart from Indianapolis, Irvington,
Indiana offers Howard a chance to live a little more freely.

(17:35):
There will be fewer eyes, fewer lips. Even as the
eldest daughter, Alice, isn't sure what that means. There are
many times where she might wonder if mister Holmes's words
or merely words and completely void of any meaning. October tenth, Irvington, Indiana. JH.

(18:24):
Holmes and the children arrive at a house along a
quiet Irvington street, two stories of red brick and an
old chimney blackened by sood. Holmes tells Howard to take
a look inside while the girls stay back. Holmes explains
again they'll be staying elsewhere. Inside, all of their rooms

(18:53):
are empty. There's no guard dog, and hardly in the furniture.
Howard gazes around, stunned but silent. Has anyone lived here
recently or at all? Holmes says it's time to call
it a knife for Howard, and he's arranged for Alice

(19:16):
and Nelane to be taken back. There will only be
a part for a few days, and then they'll all
be reunited again. June eighteen ninety five, Irvington, Indiana. By

(19:42):
the time Detective Frank Geyer reaches the neighboring Indianapolis area,
he's already been on the dusty roads for weeks. Holmes
is in custody. Over in Boston. Heiitel's death is evaluated
and confirmed not an accident, but a chloroform and a
forged will. Vitol's insurance company is determined to get their answers,

(20:07):
as is Benjamin's wife Carrie, who has no idea where
three of her children are. They were only meant to
be separated for a few days, and that was roughly
seven months ago. Detective Guyer hopes he can help out
both parties by retracing the steps of HH Holmes. He

(20:29):
reads through ledgers and receipts, the kind of stuff people
forget they leave behind, the kind of stuff that can
tell you a lot about a person. He prides himself
in these kind of details. Cincinnati, Detroit, Toronto. Has come
across things from all of these towns, but one that's

(20:51):
persistent is Irvington. Through some digging and prodding, Dyer concludes
Holmes rented a house somewhere around Irvington under the name
Alexander E. Cook. And this all happens within days of
Howard Pizel's disappearance. Perhaps expecting another dead end, Geyer must

(21:15):
find some relief when he discovers the two story brick
house is still standing. It's a dark, weathered place with
a yard plagued by weeds. The landlord tells Geyer Holmes
promised a cash payment for the place. As far as
the landlord knows, a young boy did go into the

(21:36):
house once but he's never seen him again. If he's inside,
he never steps outside, not even the play. The landlord
isn't sure that the boy ever came out. Detective Geyer

(21:57):
steps inside. There's a stale thickness to the air. Wallpaper
peels around nearly every corner. He walks slowly, scoping out
every room. In the kitchen, he finds a scrap of
paper with sloppy handwriting, likely that of a child's. In

(22:26):
the parlor, he discovers more labels, ledgers, and receipts, this
time for tinctures and sedatives from a local pharmacy. Then
then there's the fireplace. Then there's the fireplace. Detective Geyer

(23:14):
crouches as low as his legs will let him and
begins running his hand along the edges of the fireplace.
The hearth is definitely scorched, but perhaps not recently. He
feels around the inner brick, ash, soot, and then something darker.

(23:37):
Geyer pulls out a small metal tool and starts to
scrape away a flake of bone, followed by another. It's small,
perhaps a rib. Is it an animal? No, it's a child's.

(23:57):
He sets the charred bone on a square cloth before
returning to the fireplace and reaching deeper, he finds a tooth,
and unfortunately a few more someone approaches from the doorway.
You find what you're looking for. It's the landlord. Geyer

(24:22):
doesn't answer, and quite frankly, he doesn't have to. He's
staring at the back wall of the firebox. There's a
dark smear back there, and no way it's soot. It's older,
he can tell by the way it's cooked in. He

(24:44):
stands up, slowly brushing the soot and ash from his pants.
The room is dead silent again until Detective Geier finally speaks.
He says one word, a name. Howard. October twenty fourth

(25:16):
through twenty fifth, eighteen ninety four, sixteen Saint Vincent Street, Toronto, Canada.
The house in Toronto is much smaller than the last one.
It only has two rooms and a cellar with a
gas line that hisses like a snake anytime to stove
is lit. Holmes promises Ali and Nelly that they won't

(25:41):
be at this new house for very long. He says
Howard is already in London, safe and back with his father.
He says not to worry, there'll be joining Benjamin and
their brother soon. How many times have the girls heard
some variation of those same words. Alice has grown exhausted

(26:03):
and rarely asked questions anymore, but Nelly still does. She
asks why she can't write to her mother anymore, and
Holmes says there's no need and they'll all be together
soon enough. She wants to know why Carrie never wrote
back to them. Home says he isn't sure, although he

(26:27):
knows damn well he didn't mail a majority of their
letters back to their mom. It's also not safe right now,
there can be too many eyes. Holmes buys them books, apples,
a new hair brush. Despite the unusual circumstances, He's usually

(26:47):
kind to the two girls, but he also locks the
door every time he leaves, explaining it's only for their
own protection. Never answer the door, never unlock it. At night,

(27:13):
Nellie cries. Alice holds her sister's hand and tells her
fantastical stories, some she even makes up on the spot.
Maybe Alice doesn't believe many of them herself, but Nellie
desperately needs something, anything to hold on to. October twenty fourth,

(27:58):
eighteen ninety four, Buffalo, New York. Carrie Pitzel hasn't seen
her children in over a month. Homes swears all three
of them are in London with their father waiting, but
she's starting to not believe him. But Holmes says he

(28:18):
has everything in order. Says it's safer this way. They're
in Buffalo now under the names mister and Missus Pratt.
These names are ridiculous, but Carrie's grown tired and doesn't
question why they need them anymore. She just misses her girls,

(28:40):
misses her little Howard too. She asks if they'll have
a moment to stop off and mail her children a
letter or two. Holmes says there's no time and no need,
as he's already sent word to be thrilled to hear
from you. Holmes smiles a crooked smile at her.

Speaker 2 (29:01):
You know what, why don't you write them now?

Speaker 1 (29:08):
Carrie sits at a desk and scratches at three letters,
one for Alice, one for Nelly, and one for Howard.
Of course, she tells them that she loves them, misses them.
She hopes wherever they are they're being good. She promises
she'll see them soon. She folds the letters when she's

(29:32):
done and hands them over the Homes.

Speaker 2 (29:35):
I'll make sure the mails these on my way to
the station.

Speaker 1 (29:40):
Carrie forces a smile. She believes them, if for no
other reason she has to October twenty fifth, eighteen ninety four, sixteen,

(30:23):
Saint Vincent's Street, Toronto, Canada. H. H. Holmes returns that afternoon.
He's in great spirits. With a smile. He tells Alison
Nelly he's got their tickets ready. They'll be leaving for
London first thing tomorrow morning. It brings back tea and toast,

(30:45):
a new ribbon for Nelly's hair. A trunk sits in
the center of the room, open insider folded blankets, a
pillow in a small tin box. Homes says it's for packing,
but that's it. They'll have to travel light. Alice doesn't

(31:07):
ask why. It reeks a fresh varnish. Nelly asks about
Howard again, though, and all she gets is the classic
you'll see him soon enough bit. Again and again. Holmes
locks the door behind him, again, promising it's for their
own safety. The house falls silent, way too quiet too. Calm.

(31:36):
Holmes told them they get some rest before he took
off to wherever again, but their bedroom might be the
most quiet room in the entire house. That night, the
gas line hisses, but the stove is in on. There's
no one else home. It's a thin, steady whisper threading

(32:02):
through the uneven floorboards. Alice springs up in bed. Something's
wrong the hissing sound. The hissing sounds wrong. It sounds
almost like something is leaking. Alice crosses the room and
follows along the floor trim nothing. He leans down and

(32:27):
presses one of her ears against the cold floorboards. The
hiss is much louder beneath them. It's as though the
cellar breathes. Alice drops down and sits on the back
of her heels. Her head throbs. She rushes across the
dark room to crack open a window, but it doesn't

(32:49):
help much. She lays down beside Nelly and holds her
sister's hands tight. The hiss doesn't stop, and the trunk
now sits in the corner of the room. Alice might
not believe it's we're traveling overseas anymore. It might be

(33:11):
there waiting until next time. Unless taken. Thank you for

(33:43):
listening to Homes. Part three from Less Taken Season four,
Paulo lands again. We did say we were going to
cover homes in three installments, but there's just so much
to cover, so there needs to be one more. So
please tune in soon for a preview and in the
full episode of Homes Part four, in which we cover

(34:04):
Homes's demise and wrap up the tales of America's first
serial killer. In the meantime, please let us know what
you think of the show by leaving a fair rating
and review wherever you're listening. You can also leave reviews
at less takenpod dot com, where you'll find all things
Less Taken, including our merch Be sure to follow us

(34:26):
before we follow you on Facebook, Instagram, and threads under
the handle at Less Taken Pod. A quick note on
our storytelling. While we do our best to stick to
the facts, we sometimes take creative liberties to maintain narrative cohesiveness.
I'm Cum Humphreys and this is Less Taken real life

(34:48):
horror stories from the Midwest. Once again, thanks for listening,
and come back soon for a preview of Homes Part four.

Speaker 2 (35:38):
Let's take it to the Chase County Production Chase County
Productions

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4.29 - Holmes, PT. III (Chicago, IL)

Episode Transcript

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