We’ve already spent a lot of time covering the real-life events of one H. H. Holmes, “America’s first serial killer.” If you missed them, check out Holmes story Part I, Part II, Part III, and the murder castle discussion. But maybe all of those are too depressing, considering the man didn’t actually murder 250 people in his custom-designed building. Maybe I’ve taken all the fun out of it.
So. Let’s talk about Holmes’ curse.
We already know that Holmes had his body placed in an extra-large coffin and encased in cement so that no one would be able to dig him up and use him for medical experimentation. He was eventually disinterred for an episode of American Ripper, to dispel the rumor that Holmes himself had snuck away and a lookalike was executed his place, but that just prevented people from reaching in. It did not, apparently, prevent Holmes from reaching out.
The death of anyone who had any connection whatsoever to the Holmes case was considered suspicious … and another victim to add to Holmes’ list. Holmes was said to have “the evil eye” – have you counted how many times Erik Larson mentions his eyes in Devil in the White City? – and, in the two decades or so following his execution, around 30 deaths were attributed to it.
The Superintendent of the Indianapolis Police Force, responsible for the invesigation into Howard Pitezel’s death, was thrown from his horse during a parade. He was, perhaps, lucky – he didn’t die, but he dealt with the effects of his injuries for the rest of his life.
One of the coroner’s physicians who had testified against Holmes at his trial suddenly dropped dead from blood poisining.
The trial judge and lead coroner both died suddenly from previously undiagnosed illness.
The prison superintendent at Moyamensing Prison, where Holmes was held and executed, committed suicide.
The father of one of Holmes’ victims was horrifically burned in a gas explosion.
Frank Geyer, the detective who had finally tracked down Alice, Nellie, and Howard Pitezel, was struck with a sudden illness. He did recover.
The office of the claims manager for the insurance company Holmes had cheated caught fire and burned. Apparently the only untouched items inside were a framed copy of Holmes’ arrest warrant and two portraits of Holmes.
The fiancee of one of Holmes’ defense lawyers died suddenly.
An occupant of Holmes’ Murder Castle committed suicide.
The jury foreman was electrocuted.
Marion Hedgepeth, who had informed on Holmes’ insurance scam, was shot and killed during a holdup.
The Murder Castle itself was mysteriously gutted by fire.
Holmes’ caretaker committed suicide and left a note that said “I couldn’t sleep.” His relatives said he had been suffering hallucinations and may even have been “haunted.”
The list goes on.
It reads rather like Holmes’ own confession to 27 murders, with a variety of people from different walks of life, with various connections to him, and different causes of death. They would never have been linked together at all if not for the name of H. H. Holmes … or for the rumor of the curse that Holmes himself began before his death.
What do you think? Is each and every death on this list completely explicable? Or was Holmes working to increase his body count from beyond the grave?
Rebecca Frost 