Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-11-07
THE HOLMES TRIAL.
ClpslnE Scenes and Incidents of the Fam
Gus Cuse-Boimes Found Guiity-MotloI
for IA New Trial.


Philadelphia, Pa, Oct 81. Holmes,
as calm and unmuved as ever, was
placed in the dock at 10 O'Clock this
morning. His counsel, Messrs. Shoe
maker and Rotan, promptly went TO
him, ana a long and earnest colloquy
ensued. Holmes did most Of the whisp-
ering, and was apparently Offering
suggestions, or perhaps delivering his
orders He appeared to be brighter
and more cheeIful than at any time
since the trial began. After his coun-
sci had resumed their seats. he chatted
and laughed with tho two court officers
stationed next to the lit le gold barred
cage in which he sat.
There was trfling delay before
work was resumed, because of the non
appearance of District Attorney Ora
ham, who did not come into court
until l0.20 O'Clock. The taking of
testimony was resumed promptly and
the first witness of the day proved to
be lively one.
This was Sidney Il. Samuels, a mem
Der of the bar of Fort Worth, Tex, a
young, clean-shaven man, with a
twinkling eye and tho most perfect
self-possession. He spoke quickly and
sharply and invariably referred TO
Holmes as the individual. {" This
amused even Holmes, who smiled
broadly whenever the term was used.
Mr.. Graham produced the note iden-
titled by Mrs Pitezel yesterday as the
one Holmes pretended to pay at the St
Louis bank, and for which purpose he
took s., 900 from her. Mr.. Samuels
said the body of the note was in his
handwriting. In the latter part of
April or early in May, 1894, he said,
there was in Fort Worth, man known
as H. M. Pratt. 1t was "this indi-
vidual." He was overseeing the erec-
tion of three-story structure as agent
for Benton Il. Lyman, the supposed
owner. Pratt came to the witness and
tried to negotiate loan of SIG, 600 by
! mortgaging the property and after
some transactions the note was drawn
up and signed "Benton T. Lyman. +"
II was dated May 10th, 1894. Subse-
quently Pratt claimed to have lost it
and told witness he had drawn up
second note, similar toit. The note
was originally drawn to the order of
B. p. Samuels, brother Of the witness.
The note was never endorsed nor the
loan made, however. Witness identi-
fled both the original note and the sub
stitute.
Inspector Gary of the Insurance COM
pany was recalled, Mr.. Graham saying
he proposed to prove by him that
Holmes was much married man and
that Miss Yoke was not.his lawful wife,
as he asserts, and is therefore compe-
tent to testify against linn.
Mr.. Gary said he had seen at tho pris-
onor's house in willamette, ILL.,, a
woman representing hetself as Mrs. II.
III. Holmes. He identified a photo
graph of her. Last December witness
saw Holmes in Moyalnenslng prison,
this city, when he told him of his visit
to willamette.
At this point, side door in the
room was opened, and Miss Yoke, or
Mrs. Howard, the alleged wife, was
ushered in. She was at once called to
the stand, and gave her testimony in a
whisper, which was interpreted by tho
crier.
For the first time Holmes broke
down. He gazed steadily at her for
few seconds, while his hands twitched
nervously and his lips opened and
closed, but she carefully avoided meet
ing his eyes. Then he suddenly bent
forward over the little desk in his dock
and the tears began to trickle down his
checks. He drew his handkerchief out
and for moment or two sobbed. Then
quickly recovering himself, he dried
his eyes, and bowed his head, busily
engaging himself with his notes, but
still occasionally giving way to a sob.
Georgianna Yoke, for so she gave her
name, is a tall, slender woman of about
% years, with ilaXen hair and blue
eyes She was stylishly attired in
black.
She said she knew the prisoner as III.
II. Holmes and Fl. NJ. Howard, in st.
Louis, in June, 1884. He was then in
the drug business. She engaged his
attorneys then when he was in Jail
there.
In answer to further questions, Miss
Yoke said:
~ came to Philadelphia the first
week in August 1884. The prisoner
met me at Broad street station and we
went to 1905 North Eleventh street, tho
boarding house kept by Mrs. DIR.
Alcorn. | remained there as long as
| was in Philadelphia, four weeks.
The prisoner was in tho copying bust
ness, looking after leases, deeds, &c. :"
She said he had caller on the even
ing of September 1st whom Holmes
said it was B. +. Pitezcl.
Holmes conducted the cross -examina-
tion of his wife for awhile, and then
told the Court that he would reserve
what other questions he had until ho
called tho witness directly for the
| defence.
Philadelphia, Pa, Nov 1.-The
progress of the Holmes trial reminds
ono of book of hints TO young play
| rights. The one point upon which
stress is laid is to keep the interest on
an ascendant scale. The now celebrated
trial has done this better than the
strongest play ever penned, and its sue
ceoding act having been such that one
witnessing them in play, would say /:
'.This is very strong and all that, but
then it is a play. Such things never
happen in life. "
expectancy in the court room seems to
be more pronounced and thus far it
| has not been disappointed. When to-
| days session was begun, everybody was
looking forward to the prospect of
Holmes going on the stand, as he an
nounced the other day. Tho common
wealth has promised to close its case
| to-day, and in all probability. .the pris-
| oner will be the first and perhaps the
only witness for the defence. There is
pretty general belief that if he goes
on the stand he will do more to hang
himself than all the evidence of the
commonwealth,
Although the strange case is still
the one topic of talk. interest in it has
been considerably lessened by Judge
Arnold's decision last night that no
! avidenpe hearinp on the murders of the