The Indianapolis journal., 1895-11-03
MIR. GRAHA,rs ADDRESS.
The Prosecutor Reviews the Evidence
and Asks the Jury to Convict.

and Asks the Jury IN Convict.
Col. William B. Mann. the venerable
prothonotary, whose eloquence. when district
attorney, years ago, sent many a felon TO
the gallows, came into court TO listen TO
Mr.. Graham's address. This was begun at
1885 o'clock. He opened by referring 20 the
relief with which the jury must contemplate
the approaching end of the trial. 81 am go
ing TO ask you," he continued Ito give me
your best attention and your best thought
while reason with you about the evidence.
and then my young friend will do the same
for the prisoner. The Commonwealth OF
Pennsylvania is the prosecutor in this case.
and it asks no victim. If you are satisfied
when We have done that this prisoner did
not commit this crime you must and ought
TO acquit him. My task is to point out from
the evidence the fact conclusively that this
prisoner at the bar did this murder-so con-
clusively that there must be no doubt lurk-
ing in your mind-so that you, conscien-
ti0cs Jurors, shall find but one yerdict-a
verdict of murder in the first degree. The
from the initial step down 10 the last sylla-
BILE of evidence. The Commonwealth has
done SO; One by one we have established
each link, making the chain complete and
perfect
The district attorney reviewed the evi-
denee ip detail Beginning With the cues
found in the caIlowhili-street house.
he went over the testimony Sf
Ha'V t Was that Of Pietzel Ti Them he prol p@oa
ceeded TO the explosion theory, and the
condition Of the body, which, he con-
vertibly proved could not have been pro-
duced except by chloroform. Thus, he said
the jury reached the first step In the case
that the man died of chlonoform poison
ing. The next was that this chloroform
was not seif-administered, and was proved
testimony. Leading up TO the motive for
the murder Mr.. Graham rehearsed in min
ute details Holiness every trans.
murder tracing his movements from place
10 place and drawing out every little cir
cumstance that weighed against the prison
er. with Infinite clearness and force.
When Mr.. Graham came 10 the testi-
mony OF Mrs. Pietzel he told the jury
that never i'm his official experience had
he heard such tale as that told in the
broken sentences OF that despairing, hope
less woman whom he had kept fitting
from place TO place in the vain hope or
meeting her husband. And all the While
he knew he was carrying with him three
separate detachments-Mrs. Pietzel. Miss
Yoke and the children-all within four
blocks of each other almost travelling to-
gether under Holiness leading strings and
yet each party ignorant of the presence
of the other two. What marvellous Ingc-
nuty: what craft; what cunningf" cried
the district attorney: Why did he resort
10 all this duplicity? Why did he adopt
so many subterfuges. and why did he ten
these many stories? IL was because ne
had murdered Benjamin r. Pietzel"
one word Of evidence TO show that Pietzel
had committed even contemplated sui
eide. BY the statements OF Holmes himself.
made more than once the speaker declared.
his presence I'm that house on the day OF
the murder had been fixed. From 10 O'Clock
on that Sunday morning TO in the after
noon, he was in the callowhill-street house.
This was fixed by his own statements and
his questions to Miss Yoke oa the witness
stand leading her on 10 say that he was
hot flushed and excited when he returned
home that afternoon. Mr.. Graham said he
desired the jury to consider only the evil
dence connected with the murder of Pietzel
in the Callowhiil-street house and nothing
else. He paid a glowing tribute 10 detective
Geyer for his work i'm unfolding the story.
This strange trial Is drawing rapidly 10
a close" said the district attorney .'The
question is, has the Commonwealth made
out it's case? j have tried 20 convince you
that II has. / appeal TO your manhood 10 do
what Is right. As the crier asks you, 50
do I-stand together, good men and true
I know the courage required for your duty
I ask you TO stand as men. and IL you be-
lieve this man Is guilty. aye. though 10 in
volve DEATH be true to your conscience and
find a true and just verdict. / ask you TO
do your duty as men, even though IL be re-
pellant-to face the issue. 10 face the duty
and 10 acquit yourselves like men. II you
have doubt, this man is entitled TO the
benefit OF il; but not such doubt arises
from the performance OF an unpleasant
duty. ask you 10 remember TINS teStl-
mony: / ask you 10 remember that IL is
uncontradicted. unchallenged, admitted. In
the face OF that testimony there can be hut
one conclusicn-that this man is guilty IN
the manner and form as he stands IN
dscted."
Mr.. Graham's address. which was cen
fined for the most part 10 a review OF the
details OF the evidence. lasted two hours
and half. Holmes appeared TO shrink from
the district attorneys accusing finger and
neryously shifted In his seat as the thunder
Gus tones OF the prosecuting officer -ang
through the court room. At the conclusion
OF his address a recess was taken until 30
p. m