Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-30
LATE NEWS BY WIRE
Holmes Becomes a Spectator at His
Trial.
STORY OF TEE PITEZEL INSURANCE
How Attention Was Directed to
the Accused.
TALE TOLD BY HEDSPETH

PHILADELPHIA, October 30.-There was
but one question passing from lip to lip
this morning when the Holmes trial was
resumed, What will the next sensation
be-"
The strange and startling developments
which have come crowding each other since
Monday morning have worked the nerves
of every listener to such pitch that what
ever may come hereafter will not be mar
veled at The interest never flags for an
instant in or out of court People are talk
Ing, writing, dreaming of the strange story
with its central figure.
Whether not Holmes Is guilty of all
or any of the crimes hanging over his head.
there can be no doubt that the man is a
genius. Last night he recalled the lawyers
whom he dismissed the day before, but it
is apparent that their presence Is even now
srperfiuous. 1t Is Holmes who is trying
the case. Scarcely a question Is put to a
witness without being first framed or sug-
gested by him to his counsel, or, should
- they take the liberty to ask anything with
out first consulting him, and the query does
not strike him as a felicitous one, he has
not hesitated to manifest his displeasure by
an irritable tapping with his pencil on the
railing Of the dock.
Sharp at 10 o'clock Holmes, with his
quick stride, came swinging along the
room. and under the escort of a big officer
took his seat in the dock. A moment later
the jury were ushered in from their cell
room. for so long as ths case lasts the
twelve good men and true'' are Under
lock and key In the big jury room of the
Messrs. Shoemaker and Rolan, who
achieved r0toriety Monday by withdraw
Ing from the case under Holmes orders, in
spite of Judge Arnold's threats, and who
came back to their client last night. held
= whispered consultation with him before
the taking of the testimony was resumed
The first witness today was Susan Hur-
ley, who keeps a boarding house at 1901
Race street. She said Pitezel boarded at
her house for week in August, 1891
Mrs. Alice Pierce of 1904 CallowhilI street
identified Pitezers picture as that of a man
VINO lived at 1916. She had known him
through his buying cigars at her store. On
man of cheerful disposition.
The Pite.el Insurance,
o. La Forest Perry, assistant to the pres
tdent of the Fidelity Mutual Life Associa-
ton, was then called. This Is the company
that was swlndled out of the $4,000 for
which PiteZels life was insured, and 1t was
Ferry who began the Investigation into the
conspiracy. He first identified the policy
issued. in which Carrie E. Pitezel, the
widow. is the beneficiary. 1t is dated No
vember o. 1893.
Next he identified receipt for 50. 1855,
the amount of the policy. less expenses paid
70 and receipted for by Jeptha D. Howe the
st. Louis attorney, who represented Mrs
Pitezel Tbs IS dated September "a, 1894
Perry was present wheh Howe received the
money. When Holmes came to this civ al
the request of the company, to identity the
body. Howe and Alice Pitezel were in the
OH e. Homes came in afterward and was
introduced to them. He and Howe met as
strangers, but he said lie had met Alice he.
fore and she remembered him.
After the payment IF the money. the mat
ter was closed. until a letter was received
by President Fouse of the insurance com
paDy from Superintendent of Police Harri-
gan of st. Louis. This contained the decla-
ration of Hedspeth. the train robber, that
while in Jail in ST. Louis he had overheard
Holmes and Pitezel talking Of forming a
conspiracy to defraud an insurance ccm.
pany out of $40 QUO by the substitution Of a
corpse for Pitezel. Inspector Gray of the
Insurance company was sent to st. Louis
and Interviews ed HedSpatn.
On the information thus obtained war
rant was sworn out for Holmes on the
charge of conspiracy, and upon this he was
arrested in Boston. The witness went to
that city and Identified Holmes. The latter
had male a verbal statement to the wit
dent Hanscom, Chief of Police Watts and
John Cornish of the Roston Pinkerton
agency in Chief Watts office.
II asked him where Mrs. Pitezel was,
said Perry, land he replied that he did
not care to tell Then asked him where
PiteZeI was and he said he was IN South
America or on his way there and the boy
Howard with him. Alice and Nellie, he said,
were in London with Minnie Williams. He
said he had given Howard to his father In
Detroit. and had sent Nellie and Alice from
short distance to meet Minnie Williams
either at Buffalo or Niagara Falls-l forget
which"
After an unimportant cross-examnatien
Perry was temporarily withdrawn from the
stand.
Inspector William E. Gray of the insur-
ance company told of a trip to st. Louis
This was produced, but not yet offered in
evidence. In consequence of 1t the track.
ing of Holmes was begun. He was first
located in Ogdensburg. N. Y, then at Pres
colt. Canada various points in New Hamp
shire, Burlington, VT, and Boston. Not
cross-examined and withdrawn temper
The Ares, of Holmes.
Orrin N. Hanscom deputy superintendent
Of police of Boston, directed Holmes ares
on a telegram from Fort Worth, Texas.
saying he was wanted there for Larceny
OF one horse"
Holmes smiled at this testimony.
When arrested Holmes said he did no
want to go to Fort Worth. but that HI
would go without requisition to Phladel
phia. where he had defrauded the Fidelity
insurance Company of $4,000 This wa.
entirely voluntary on Holmes part
Recess Taken.
Anna NJ Robbins. the stenographer wht
took the examination of Holmes by Deputy
Hanscom, Identified a copy of the state
ment.
District Attorney Graham offered tine state
ment in evidence. and Assistant Barlow
read 1t to the jury. When he had finished
the court took a recess.
Shortly after noon Inspector Hall of tn
Toronto police department arrived will
Mr.. Ryves. who Is expected to swear tina
he lent Holmes the spade with which h
dug the graves for the Pitezel girls. RIVE.
lived at Is st. Vincent street, next to tn,
house where the bodies were found and h,
was accosted by Holmes over the bacl
fence and asked for the loan of a spade.