The truth behind H.H. Holmes: legend or murderer of 200?

The truth behind H.H. Holmes: legend or murderer of 200?

Englewood, Chicago, Illinois, USA - Herman Webster Mudgett, better known as H.H. Holmes, is often referred to as America's first serial killer. The notorious "Murder Castle" in Chicago is considered an unimaginable atrocities that made Holmes the central figure of many horror stories. However, as Vol.at reported , many myths are based on his crimes on exaggerations. In his book "H.H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil", author Adam Selzer clarifies that the current representations are often exaggerated. Although Holmes was convicted of nine murders, some stories of up to 200 victims whisper. However, most of these alleged deaths were people whom he knew as part of his fraud.

Holmes, a charismatic fraudster, built the famous "Murder Castle", a confused building that was supposedly equipped with secret rooms and traps in which he kept his victims captive. During this horror of history.com , historians believe that many of the details described are exaggerated or even invented. The "Murder Castle" was built during the world exhibition in 1893, which attracted an unspeakable number of visitors to Chicago. The high -gloss reports on affiliated case doors and creepy basement systems that served to destroy the victims are often the result of exaggerated Yellow Journalism.

The end of the murderer myth

1896 Holmes was executed because of the murder of Benjamin Pitezel. However, the rumors about his rule over the "Murder Castle" did not end with his execution. It was even speculated that he could have staged his execution. In 2017, his descendants requested DNA tests to his remains, which finally confirmed that the bones were actually part of him. The place of his crime was demolished in the 1930s after a devastating fire devastated the building. Nowadays the Englewood post office is there - the setting for a dark chapter of American crime history remains a simple postal service.