The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-11-15
BLACK BART C0NFHSSHS.
He Tells in Court the History Of
his EyentfuI Life,
HIS VERY PECULIAR EXCUSE
For his Crimes He Received an In'
jury in tho Head and Committed
his Daring Deeds While Under
"Spells"-The Prosecution.

BRssENER, MIcI, Nov, l4,-Reimuna
Holzhay ("Black Bart"l on trial for the
murder Of Banker Fleischbein, Of Belle'
vile, ILL.,, and the robbery Of the Goge'
bic stage, took the stand in his own de-
Tense to-day and made a confession,
HoI7hay told the story Of his life from
the day OF his birth In Germany to that
Of his arrest at Republic, Mich. He
admitted that he robbed the Milwaukee
X Northern train six months ago that
he held up the Wisconsin Central train
at CABOT, Wis a month later, and that
he waylaid the Gogeblc stage aud shot
Banker FleisChbein. Holzhay claimed
that he, several years ago, was hurt bya
fall from a horse, and since that time he
has been subject to "spells" during
which he did not know what he was
doing. He said he was under this
spell" when the various crimes were
committed.
HIS STORY IN DETAIL
Holzhay was put on thestand the first
thing this morning and in a very reluc'
tant manner told the history OF his life,
~ was 90 years old the second, Of last
month, was born In Germany and
my parents still live there. All the
schooling ever received was In tho old
country. | never attended school in
America. ICame TO the United States
seven years ago and, not having any
trade, | went TO work at my unCle's
planning mill in Green Bay, Wis, !
worked there about two years and then
took u trip to Portland, Oregon, but
remained there a short time aud soon
returned here"
In answer to questions put by his at.
tOrney, Holzhay stated that while in
Washington Territory he was injured by
his horse falling on him; that he land
unconscious for sometime afterward,
and tha. while his health previous to
this accident had been good, since then
II had been bad. lie could not describe
Just how 1t Affected him, bu 1t affected
his whole system, and particularly his
head.
Ordinarily he feltquite good, but these
bad spells would come over him aud
would last probably u day, sUMetimes
more. He said that during these spells
he felt strange but could not desert .
the feeling, The spells came on him
quite unexpectedly, and he
always had to look out Tor himseli, aud
at times he felt an irresistible impulse to
do something bad or desperate. He had
several OF these spells since his capture,
and probably had dozen or more since
ho was injured,
Holxhay said he remembered the day
he was arrested and who arrested him,
He colld not tell why he had held up
the stage. In regard to the holding up
OF the Wisconsin peptrRl apd Alichig4n
aud Northern traina, HUlShay said he
felt the spell about the .Ralue as ut tho
time Of the Gogebic stage robbery, aud
did no. remember any incidents Of the
affair. HolzhAy did not remember who
was In the GUgebiC stage; did not re-
member seeing either Fleischbein or the
the driver, aid failed IN identify the
watch and pocketboOd said to hage bp.
longed to FleisChbein,
HoLguAY FRUSTRATED,
Attorney Plannisan frustrated the
prisouer somewhat when be said !
"Holzhay, why did you carry two guns,
knowing that you were liable to have
one Of these spells at any time and shoot
somebody. When you lelt one OF these
spells coping on, why didn't you leave
these guns somewhere until after you re-
CoveredP"
Holzhay appeared somewhatstaggered
by the dlrectness Of the question, and
hO replied:
" carried the reyolyers 10 protect my.
self from wild animals In the woods,
and did not like to leave the many where,
as ! might not Anq them agaip,H
"ls II necessary for 0 nun 10 carry two
revolvers to protect himsGliln the woods
OF this country2"
"Yss, sir" said Holzhay, ~ think
y is."
" This reply seemed to satisfy tho pros.
eCution, as HolEhay was removed from
the stand aud shortly aiterward returned
to jail. Holzhay's examination lasted