The Murder filled Funhouse!

 That is correct I said FUNHOUSE! Although, it wasn't ACTUALLY a funhouse but that of a hotel. 

Gilmanton, New Hampshire. Herman Webster Mudgett. Or as most people know him as Mr. H. H. Holmes.If you think of H.H. Holmes and you DON'T instantly think about the "Murder Castle" then you should just ago ahead and stop reading now because you don't know H.H. Holmes. 

 

Born May 16, 1861 

 

Holmes, an American Con Artist and serial killer! Holmes was the subject of 50 different lawsuits in Chicago alone. As he took the path of the criminal, he was even married to 4 different women at the same time, which is looked down upon and illegal, a horse thief, and of course, as I stated before a MURDERER! He was active between the years of 1891 until 1894 when he was captured, thrown in a jail cell, left to await his trials and convictions for what he had done.

  Holmes was a very intelligent man, in 1882 at 18 years old he was not happy with the school he was attending and left. He entered into medical school and graduated in 1884 after passing all of the exams he was given. That's 2 years of attendance before testing out of MEDICAL SCHOOL! Holmes and Professor Herdman who Holmes worked under in the anatomy lab were graves robbers, they dug up bodies and took them back to the Medical School to present as cadavers. Years after that he apprenticed in New Hampshire under Nahum Wright who was actually a known advocate of human dissection. 

He moved to Chicago in August of 

1886 that is the time when he changed his name to H.H. Holmes.

Murder Castle started construction in 1887 on the vacant lot he purchased across the street from the Drugstore he worked at and eventually became the owner of. It started off as a 2-story building with apartments and retail spaces on the second floor of the building it even had a new drugstore. It wasn't until 1892 that the third floor of the building was added. He spread the word that the third floor was to be used as a hotel for the upcoming World's Columbian Exposition, the hotel portion was never finished though however, his personal living quarters on the third floor were complete. At the end of construction on all portions of the Murder Castel it was complete with 3 stories and a basement. The ground floor was a store front. There were more than 100 rooms in the hotel, some of which contained gas lines possibly for the purpose of asphyxiation and 

were also soundproof. There were trap doors, peep holes, locked stairways, chutes that connected to the basement, located all throughout the Hotel. And, of course, it would not be complete without the basement laboratory which of course held dissecting tables, stretching racks, a crematory chamber, and pits that held his chemicals he used.

Even though Holmes confessed to multiple murders (27 to be exact) carried out by his hand he was only convicted and sentenced to death by way of hanging for one murder. It's believed that he carried out over 200 murders within the walls,both seen and unseen, of the Murder Castle. Much of the stories surrounding the Murder Castle are thought to be exaggerated from the tabloids in those days. But it's hard to say for sure if they in fact are due to the ineffective police investigations that surrounded the allegations and crimes.Holmes made it difficult for researchers up to this day to obtain the truth due to the different statements Holmes provided. He went from pleading his innocence to stating he was possessed by the dark lord himself, Satan. 

He died at the age of 34 when he was hanged for his crime.

He is also believed to have been the Famous Jack the Ripper who was killing during the same time as Holmes. Even though Holmes victims were those close to him while Jack's were that of ladies of the night. So, most people do not believe they could be the same person due to these factors. But, if I were a murderer and was known for killing of a certain type of person, I would not flee to the U.K. from Chicago and begin killing of the same accord, I would do a 180 to take the heat away from myself and not set off any lightbulbs as to my whereabouts. It's hard to say or justify though due to not knowing exactly what goes on inside the mind of a serial killer.

What are your thoughts? Comments? Do you think that The Ripper and Holmes were the same person? Why? Why not? I want to hear your thoughts on these questions and this topic as a whole. After all Holmes was one of the first serial killers in America!

Peace, love, and positive vibes murder junkies! Until next time!