The Holmes-Pitezel Case: A History of the Greatest Crime of the Century and of the Search for the Missing Pitezel Children

by Frank P. Geyer

Excerpt from The Holmes-Pitezel Case: A History of the Greatest Crime of the Century and of the Search for the Missing Pitezel Children
It is not possible to find in the annals of criminal jurisprudence, a more deliberate and cold blooded villain than the central figure in this story, nor would the most careful research among the records of the prominent murder trials that have absorbed public attention during the past century, disclose the careful planning that made possible the apprehension of Holmes, the prosecution to an almost miraculous ending of the search for the missing children, or the equal of the forensic skill and cunning that wove the close web in which this man of many names and many murders was entangled.
That Holmes committed four murders has been proven beyond the shadow of a doubt, and that his timely arrest prevented three more murders is equally sure. If the Chicago "Castle" could give up its guilty secrets, there is more than a strong suspicion that the list of Holmes crimes would be materially lengthened. We do know that fraud, deliberately planned and coolly executed, the blackest treachery toward his associates, a long term of brutal cruelty toward the helpless woman and her children who were in his clutches, and the marvelous duplicity and falsehood practiced upon the three women who each believed herself to be his lawful wife, are to be added to the list.
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Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime

506 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1896

Reviews

[P.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've learned from this book that Detective Geyer was in a bad housefire. The book starts out with the question, Who Is Perry? Perry is the name of the man whose death was staged and whose body was found in September by Detective Geyer, on the second floor. But the book should start with who is Detective Frank P. Geyer, and who is DA George S. Graham; Frank's narrative only starts at the ninth chapter. The first eight chapters of this 28 chapter book if you include the 04 appendixes at the end do not seem to be Frank's handwriting.

One thing can be said of Detective Geyer. He was a chronologist who detailed times and dates, up to a point, when it came for putting together certain facts and personal observations in chronological order at the beginning of Chapter 24.

George S. Graham gives a speech in the 01st appendix, which leads me to ask, what are the first 08 chapters all about? The 09th chapter starts Geyer's narrative. When and how did Geyer's house burn down?

[Barbara Wellnitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What lies Holmes could tell!