Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-18
Startling Charges Against a Phila-
delphia Lawyer.
said TO HAVE BOUGHT TESTIMONY
Efforts to Secure a New Trial for
Holmes.
EXCITING SCENE IN COURT

PHILADELPHIA. Pa. November 49,
The Holmes case took another sensational
turn today. The main actor in this. the
most startling and unexpected since the
celebrated case has become public, was
the senior counsel for the defense. William
A Shoemaker.
Charges of manufacturing evidence in be-
half of the alleged multi-murderer by brib-
ing a woman who knew nothing of the
case to in his favor were publicly
made in court, and the manner in which
this was received by the court left little
doubt in the minds of those present of the
gravity of the attorneys situation.
Today had been fixed for the argument of
motion for a new trial for Holmes, and
Judge Arnold, who presided during the
trial of two weeks ago, which resulted in
Holmes conviction for the murder of B. F:
Pite2el, was Joined by Judges Thayer and
Wilson, sitting as the court in banc.
The proceedings were begun by Mr.. Shoe
maker, who arose fro m his seat beside his
associate counsel. Mr.. Rotan, and asked
that the argument be postponed. He urged
that since the verdict had been rendered
they had come into possession Of new in
formation and additional clues of vital i'm
portance to their case, and which would re-
suit in Holmes acquittal. Subsequent to
the trial. he continued. they had obtained
Information of person who had known
Pitezel when he lived at 1916 Caliowhill
found this person and procured an affidavit.
This document the lawyer then produced
and read. 1t was mace by one Blanche A.
Hannigan. and was. in substance, as fol-
lows:
In August, 1894, she kept a cigar store
at 1893 Callowhill street, and had known
and talked with Pitezel. then known as
Perry. On August %. wheE he was In her
store. she told him she would have to leave
the store and visit dying friend, where
upon Pitezel spoke IF the uncertainties of
life, saying he mad more troubles than any
one would suppose, and that he would not
care II it was he who was dying instead
of her friend He spoke of his many trou-
hles. and added that 1.-The end would come
seen, as he could not stard it much longer"
All his actions and words tended to show
thoughts of suicide.
In. presenting this affidavit Mr.. Shoe
maker said that Mrs Harnigan would have
come forward with this testimony before
but she dislik1d notoriety, and had been
out OF the city for some time. AS soon
however. as she found that there was a
life at stake she had come forward
BESIDES this important new testimony
Shoemaker went on, there were many other
clues to lie run down, some of which had
come to their knowledge as late as last
Saturday. They therefore pleaded for
pcstporement of the argument.
MIR. Graham's Startling Charge.
District Attorney Graham here arose and
asked that before this application be pass
9l upon Mrs. Hannigan be called to the
stand.
Mr.. Rotan replied that they had been I'M
afle to find her, that the affidavit had been
procured by John Sweickler a detective
ard II at counsel would not permit her to
testify until they had an opportunity to
examine her privately and sift the truth of
her statements.
In response to questions from the court
MIR. Shoemaker said that the affidavit had
been written by himself at the dictation of
Mrs. Harnigan.
Upon this Mr.. Graham arose, and, with
the utmost gravity, said it became his duty
to make a painful declaration. During the
early part of the recent trial he had re-
ceived Information that efforts had been
made TO procure false testimony by bribery
AT that time he had merely Instituted a
sharp watch. Later he learned that these
efforts were being prosecuted TO the end.
Thereupon he sent for the person thus
employed to furnish evidence, and she was
In court at the present time.
Il will produce her and show that she
was employed by Mr.. Shoemaker; that she
was taken to his office and questioned; that
she said she knew nothing about the case,
and the attorney told her that was all
right, and that she was induced, upon the
payment to her of so. to Sign the affidavit
which had already been prepared"
This declaration came like a thunder5olt
Mr. shoemaker grew pallid. the judges
eyes opened wider, and 1t was some mo-
mentS before the buzz in the court room
could be stlled.
Then Mr. Rotan tried to protest against
this impeachment of his colleague and Mr.
Shoemaker made an attempt to be heard
but the court ordered that the witness be
first heard.
Mr.. Graham here said he first desired to
call Detective Grier.
Detective Grier's Story.
Mr.. Grier, upon being sworn, told the
whole story. During the trial he was called
upon by John Sweckler, who said that
Mr.. Shoemaker had asked him to procure
woman who lived around 18th and Cal
lowhill or Vine streets, who would swear to
certain facts. The next day Sweckler again
called and showed him the typewriter affl-
davit. This was even before the woman
had been looked for. Mr.. Grier submitte
the matter to the district attorney, and, on
his advice, after the trial. Grier procured
the woman. He introduced her to Sweck-
Ter, who in turn took her to Shoemaker.
After several interviews with him she
signed the affidavit and received the money
In. two $40 bills, which she had marked
with her initials for the purpose of identi-
fcation.
The supposed Mrs. Hannigan, who said
her name was Margaret Reah, took the
stand and corroborated this story In detail
producing the money
She declared that Shoemaker had neither
read nor told her of the contracts of the
affidavit and she signed in absolute igno-
rance. The statement made in court this
morning by Mr.. Shoemaker that she had
dictated it to him was false in toto.
Mr.: Shoemaker here arose and excitedly
cried:
Il did not say so. 1 explicitly"
One after the other the three Judges in
terrupted him with There Is no doubt
whatever of your having said It,"
The district attorney then declared that
he had copy of the affidavit made and
In his office before the woman had been
found.
Mr.. Shoemaker then pleaded for time to
refute these charges against his characte
and Judge Thayer meaningly retorted:
you are certainly in a position requiring
thoughtfulness."
John Sweckler was next called. and he
TOO. corroborated the preceding witnesses
saying that he was first employed by Shoe
maker to get the woman on November t.
BONAPARTE FOR SENATOR,
Reform League Republicans Agree nm