Holmes explained that he had been doing some dissection but now had completed his research. He offered Chappell thirty-six dollars to cleanse the bones and skull and return to him a fully articulated skeleton. Chappell agreed. Holmes and Chappell placed the body in a trunk lined with duckcloth. An express company delivered it to Chappell's house.
In "The Devil in the White City," Holmes shares that he has finished his dissection research and proposes a deal to Chappell. He offers him thirty-six dollars to clean and assemble the bones, including the skull, into a complete skeleton. Chappell accepts this offer, agreeing to restore the remains as requested.
To facilitate the transfer, Holmes and Chappell package the body in a trunk lined with duckcloth. They then arrange for an express company to deliver the trunk to Chappell's residence, ensuring that the body is handled discreetly as they proceed with their plan.
