Part 1, Don\'t Be Afraid Summary

Dr. Holmes' pharmacy and drug store were booming. He began to think of a woman he met years before during his travels in Minnesota, Myrta Z. Belknap. He traveled to Minnesota to court her and eventually married her on January 28, 1887. Two weeks later, he filed for divorce from Clara Lovering. The divorce was never granted because Holmes "failed to prosecute." Myrta became pregnant in the spring of 1888 and worked with Holmes in the store. This was fine for a while, but eventually Myrta became a hindrance and when her parents moved to Willmett, Illinois, Holmes talked her into moving with her parents until she had the baby.

Myrta moved to her parents' house, and Holmes began a new scheme. Under another alias, H. S. Campbell, he purchased the lot across the street from his pharmacy. The...