Comments on: 'Da Serial Killer

'Da Serial Killer

jonson — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 21:15:18 -0800

Shortly after Jack The Ripper retired, a man named Henry Holmes moved to Chicago. Using insurance fraud money, in 1892 he built an elaborate mansion with over 60 rooms. This mansion, which became known as The Murder Castle, was perhaps the first extraordinary building in a city that has become known for its architecture, from Frank Lloyd Wright to the Sears tower. In his home, which he ran as a hotel for the unfortunate traveler, Holmes murderd & disposed of as many as 200 victims over the course of the next four years... (more inside)

By: jonson

jonson — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 21:16:01 -0800

Holmes' hotel drew a great deal of business from the 1893 World's Fair, the Columbian Exposition that helped mark Chicago as one of the world's pre-eminent cities. Holmes killed lodgers, and employees, and even lovers he grew tired of. The home was a madhouse of hidden rooms & passageways, gas chambers, lime pits and a torture chamber in the basement, replete with surgical table & tools. Holmes was eventually done in by an insurance scam gone wrong, but now, a century later his name is lost to the mists of time, while the Ripper lives on in books & movies. For those interested in more about this long dead & overlooked victorian era madman, Erik Larsen, the historian behind the book Issac's Storm, the story of the Galveston Flood, has written a new novel about Holmes & the Columbian Exposition, entitled The Devil in the White City.

By: mkn

mkn — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 21:35:36 -0800

Somewhat related: a new text adventure (!?) game by a Chicago historian has just been released: 1893 - A World's Fair. The setting is that of Holmes, but whether he exists in the game at all, I don't know (haven't played it).

By: ericost

ericost — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 21:41:05 -0800

That book excerpt, though morbidly interesting, has some fantastically bad writing. Good stuff: She accepted the job and came to the Castle -- only to never leave it.

By: jonson

jonson — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 21:47:50 -0800

Yeah, it's a tad melodramatic. Wish I could have found something as detailed, yet not as goofy. Oh well, like I said, there's not much out there about this guy.

By: Monster_Zero

Monster_Zero — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 21:59:14 -0800

A fascinating/frightening read. But, I'm curious - was your line "Shortly after Jack the Ripper retired..." supposed to implicate that Holmes was the Ripper? Or just give us a timeframe?

By: fishfucker

fishfucker — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 22:26:06 -0800

great post; thanks.

By: namespan

namespan — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 22:41:36 -0800

Well, maybe from now on, I'm only staying at places that are AAA approved. And don't boast Pool, HBO, Jacuzi, Lime Pit, Gas Chamber.... On the other hand, some of the discount rates at those hostels are just fabulous....

By: jonson

jonson — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 22:45:41 -0800

Just a timeframe, Monster Zero. And to compare the relative crimes. Eight prostitutes killed on the streets of London, and you're eternal. 200 good citizens murdered in an ingenious deathtrap, and you're on history's dustbin. It's called first mover advantage, people!

By: banished

banished — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 22:47:24 -0800

Not necessarily just a timeframe, some legends say H.H. Holmes admitted to being the ripper as he was being hanged.

By: jonson

jonson — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 22:58:12 -0800

But he was only 36 when they killed him. He'd have to have been a mighty young ripper. It's pretty coincidental... Also, makes me feel bad for not having accomplished more.

By: Mack Twain

Mack Twain — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 23:30:05 -0800

I wonder if Pogo the Clown heard about Mr. Holmes. Nice find, jonson.

By: juv3nal

juv3nal — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 23:46:37 -0800

Also, makes me feel bad for not having accomplished more. another reason not to have your physical location listed anywhere online if at all possible ;)

By: quin

quin — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 00:08:15 -0800

i first heard about H.H. Holmes (a.k.a. Herman Webster Mudgett) right here on metafilter, i was shocked to discover such an amazing story that had happened so nearby where i live, yet i had never heard of him. My research provided me with this link which seemed to provide a good background in his history, i also discovered that a movie was in the works. i guess he won't be unknown for much longer.

By: quin

quin — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 00:11:00 -0800

That would be this link. [closes eyes and crosses fingers]

By: lucien

lucien — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 01:47:35 -0800

Other books.

By: asok

asok — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 03:42:14 -0800

some believe that jack the ripper was the first american serial killer. banished - 'some legends say H.H. Holmes admitted to being the ripper as he was being hanged.' he is not the only one.

By: Johnny Assay

Johnny Assay — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 06:17:14 -0800

Cecil Adams' article on Henry Holmes. I don't know that Jack the Ripper is more famous because he was first; I always thought that some of the enduring fascination of the Ripper murders was that they were never solved. Sure, Holmes' crimes were more horrific, but at least he was caught...

By: 111

111 — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 06:19:38 -0800

And to compare the relative crimes. Eight prostitutes killed on the streets of London, and you're eternal. 200 good citizens murdered in an ingenious deathtrap, and you're on history's dustbin. jonson, I know you don't mean it, but once again somebody falls into the trap of implying that the lives of "eight prostitutes" are somehow less worthy than, well, "citizens".

By: ook

ook — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 06:40:39 -0800

200 "citizens".

By: 111

111 — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 07:01:58 -0800

200 "good" citizens.

By: ook

ook — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 07:09:48 -0800

Well, maybe they were eight "good" prostitutes. yes yes I see your point, and in general I'd agree, but the 25:1 ratio is maybe a bit more relevant to jonson's point than his choice of adjectives.

By: hyperizer

hyperizer — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 09:35:11 -0800

I believe one of the stories in the 2002 Best American Short Stories was inspired by this guy (or was it 2001?). I can check when I get home.

By: aladfar

aladfar — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 09:39:32 -0800

This was just featured on Wild Chicago the other day. Perhaps more creepy than his crimes were his burial requests, which were carried out after his execution: He had his body encased in concrete within a coffin, and then burined beneath more concrete - to a depth of 10 feet. As to why he hasn't received more attention, I can only join the speculation. Jack taunted the police, leaving notes and clues behind him. Holmes operated in secrecy. What's more, he was eventually apprehended and executed. Jack the Ripper was never identified. Which perhaps makes for a more interesting story. Whatever the case, both of them give me the creeps.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 10:27:58 -0800

Anyone have a link to a more detailed drawing of the house? Sounds interesting in a architectural sort of way.

By: Monster_Zero

Monster_Zero — Tue, 04 Feb 2003 20:31:48 -0800

Yes, there's a tantalizing but way-too-small diagram on jonson's link. I'd really like to see a big floorplan. Not, y'know, not because I'm thinking about it...*cough*

By: sgt.serenity

sgt.serenity — Thu, 06 Feb 2003 10:03:45 -0800

after he retired , did they have a ceremony ? did he get a commemerative clock or anything?