More than a century after his execution, H.H. Holmes, born Herman Webster Mudgett, remains one of America's most notorious figures, often labeled the nation's first serial killer and linked to a Chicago building dubbed the 'Murder Castle.' However, historian Adam Selzer argues that much of Holmes' enduring legend is built on myth rather than historical fact. After more than two decades of research, Selzer contends that Holmes was primarily a fraudster whose notoriety has been exaggerated over time.
Holmes, who studied medicine before establishing himself in Chicago, built a mixed-use building that became known as the 'Murder Castle.' His crimes earned him nicknames like the 'Beast of Chicago' and 'Torture Doctor,' and inspired books, including Erik Larson's bestseller "The Devil in the White City," further cementing his place in criminal folklore.
Selzer's research, which involved examining microfilm reels and crumbling Victorian-era documents, suggests that the widely circulated claims of Holmes murdering up to 200 people lack historical support. He believes Holmes likely killed around nine individuals, primarily people he knew, such as former lovers, business associates, or those who obstructed his fraud schemes, rather than random visitors to the 1893 World's Fair.
One of the core myths Selzer seeks to dismantle is Holmes' claim of killing 27 people. According to Selzer, some individuals Holmes confessed to murdering never existed, while others were demonstrably alive at the time of his confession. Selzer noted one woman was so alarmed to be listed among the victims that she publicly declared she had not been murdered.
The infamous 'Murder Castle' itself has also been subject to exaggeration. Selzer states the building was not a hotel designed as a killing machine. The first floor housed businesses like a drugstore and restaurant, with apartments on the second floor. A third floor was intended for hotel space but was never completed or opened. Selzer argues the building's expansion was largely a vehicle for swindling, allowing Holmes to acquire merchandise on credit and resell it. Hidden rooms, he suggests, were used to hide goods from creditors, not bodies. Claims of basement dissection tables, cremation ovens, and acid vats are also not supported by historical evidence, according to Selzer, who described the basement as simply unfinished.
Holmes' downfall began with an insurance scheme involving his business associate Benjamin Pitezel. After Pitezel was found dead in Philadelphia in 1894, Holmes claimed the incident was a staged insurance fraud. However, a fellow inmate tipped off an insurance company, prompting an investigation that uncovered years of fraud allegations and disappearances, eventually linking Holmes to the deaths of Pitezel and three of his children. This investigation led to Holmes' conviction for Pitezel's murder and a death sentence.
On May 7, 1896, Holmes was hanged in Philadelphia. While officials at the time believed his death was instantaneous, Selzer notes his heart continued beating for approximately 15 minutes. This detail, though shocking by modern standards, was not unusual for 19th-century hangings. Before his execution, Holmes made a final, unusual request: that his coffin be encased in concrete and buried ten feet underground, a desire Selzer believes was a last attempt to prevent grave robbers from disturbing his remains.
Selzer suggests that Holmes' primary motivation was not murder itself, but rather financial gain through fraud. His victims were typically individuals who had become obstacles to his schemes. Methods for disposing of bodies were often unsophisticated, and Holmes made amateur mistakes that investigators were able to piece together. The legend of Holmes, Selzer argues, has been amplified by popular culture, transforming him into an American folk legend rather than a historical criminal.
