The herald., 1895-11-02
Today TELLS THE TALE
Whether the Great Grim
inaI Will Hang
VERY RAPID PROGRESS IS MADE
In Presenting Evidence in the
Pitzel Case
THE RULING OF THE COURT
Shuts Out the Testimony of Geyer,
the Detective,
And the Wondered Bones OF the Little
Pitzel Boy
The Defense Takes notion to Dismiss and
Then Announces Its Determination to
Submit the Case to the Jury
on Argument Alone
And the Wondered Bones OF the Little
Pitzel Boy
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire
PHILADELPHIA. Nov. L. Tomorrow
night the world will probably know
whether or not Holmes will hang. Incl
dentally, Holmes, who is not now part
OF the world, but mere snrunken figure
with a number, o cage, and all mems
enmity, will himself know.
Apart from this small army of e1-
hausted men, lawyers. court off. Gals and
newspaper reporters, Will offer up thanks
for tho termination OF, in many respects.
the most extraordinary case tried since
Lady Justice bandaged her eyes and
started in business.
When the trial began last Monday every
body anticipated seige of at least two
weeks, but yesterday the case took sud-
den turn and today another, which will
help to push it to a swift conclusion. The
decision of Judge Arnold that no testi
mony would be admitted other than bear
ing directly on the murder of Ben amin
i. Pitzel had the effect OF keeping out
group OF gTuesome exhibits and silencing
about thirty witnesses brought here from
Canada New England and the west, and
supported for six days at the common
wealth's expense 1t prevented the Offer
ing IN evidence of the m ouliered bones
of the boy Howard Pitzel; the stove in
which he was burned; the clothes he
wore when be h I'd nody to put inside
of them; the toys he played with; and
the trunk which smothered out the lives
of the girls, Alice add Nellie. Besides,
it put a quetIs on Detective G+yer,
whose detailed narrative of his travels
over the continent in successful search
for evidence OF Holmes destructive move
mems would have made a thrilling tale.
District Attorney Granam fought as hard
as he knew how to get this evidence in,
but the Law was against him and the de-
tense scored its first victory.
When he found himself bested, he said
he would close his case this morning and
he kept his word. He did not even ex-
hibit the skull OF Pitzel. thereby disap-
pointing lot OF people who love AMI
revel in the horrible.
"That is our case" had scarcely fallen
from the lips of the wealth 8
pro ecutur before counsel foi the defense
had calmly arisen and made what many
persons characterized as "a bold buff, ~
and many more as playing the last card
left.
They confidently told the court that the
commonwealth had not made out its case
and asked Judge Arnold to tell the jury
30 and wind up the trial then and there.
District Attorney Graham smiled an
official smile and said this was too alb
eurd to answer, but Judge Arnold ex-
pressed no opinion other than that the
case would have to proceed.
Then counsel made the astonishing
statement that they wanted time to find
out what the defense was going to be, be-
cause they had been so busy listening to
the evidence against them that they had
not had chance TO prepare an answer
to it. The court was not very anxious to
create another delay, bet finally suspend
ed business and gave the attorneys an
hours talk with Holmes.
This over, they came back to court and
pleased everybody, except the morbid
MOP peering over one another's heads in
the back part of the room, by declaring
that they would Call no witnesses ana
would submit tue case on argument alone.
This will begin tomorraw morning and.
the lawyers said, would end before the
day is over.
There is an impression that Lawyer r.
o. Moon will do the talking for the de.
tense, and his forensic ability is OF no
mean order. 1t was he whom Holmes
called upon last Monday when he dis
missed his lawyers, MIR. Moon declining
the task thorugh lack OF time for pre-
paration. He admitted being fam liar
with the maiu facts and will be well
enough to address, the jury.
There was no change IN Holmes de-
meanor today, although keen observer
might have perceived deeper pailoT on
bis checks and in his blue eyes the sub
Gued glare of a wild beast tracked to
cath at last. But it needed a keen eye
~ detect it, if it was there.
T0day's session was begun by the call
ing OF Mrs. Pitzel. Mr.. Graham asked
her ii there were any cuffs to the shirt
she identified yesterday as her hus bands
and sne replied that Holmes had taken
them from the trunk and destroyed
them.
On cross examiration Mr.. Shoemaker
rigidly que TONED the unfortunate wo.
man concerning her travels with Holmes
and her subsequent arrest for cons piracy.
Ills apparent intention was TO show that
blrs. Pitzel had been the controlling in
duence III the ram bllngs throughou the
country but that she carried Ii dimes
about in an attempt to evade arrest.
"4 GU want TO owe that she was not
TrilbS but Sveneali?' suggested Judge
Arnold, THAT she led him."
Tnis remark was drowned out by a dis
putt, over the relevancy of the cross ex.
animation which was not pushed further
the com monwealth offered in evidence
the letters, papers, pictures and the
Holmes book, and rested its case,
The defense here asked to recall Mis-.
Yoke for cross-eXamination on the
question OF her marriage with Holmes
which was not brought out III her exam
ination yesterday. She was brought into
court ana given seat on the witness
stand.
Mrs. Holmes" began Mr.. Rotan 10
the woman who calls herself Miss Yoke
''were you ever married ~ the prisoner2n
81 was -
when and whe req"
"On January H. 1894, at Denver by
Rev. Wilcox"
''At tbs time OF this marriage did Won
know OF the existence OF this willamette
woman"
~ believe | did,
''Was she cnlled Mrs HoInss,,i