The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-28
scores Of Witnesses at Philadelphia
Ready to Testify Against the Al
legged Slayer of b. r. Pietsel.
CAREER OF THE ARCH FIEND
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT
HE HAS KILLED TEN PEOPLE.
Many Others Supposed to Have Been
Victims of His PlOts-The Finding
Of Howard Pfctxel's Bones.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. N.-H. II. Holmes.
or Herman +. Mudgett, whose name or alias
has rung throughout the length and
breadth Of the continent as the most un-
scrupulous and skillful murderer of modern
times will be placed on trial for his life
tomorrow morning in the Court of Oyer
and Terminer. of this city. The specific
charge which he will be called on to
answer is the murder of Benjamin F. Piet-
eel. and he has already officially declared
himself not guilty. The revolving details
of the many crimes with which Holiness
name has been directly or indirectly con-
nected have been given such publicity and
the careless demeanor which has charac-
terized the man throughout has been so
frequently commented on, that the trial
will probably pass into history as the most
celebrated case known to the criminal an
nails Of the western hemisphere The Com
monwealth has already expended thousands
OF dollars in its efforts to bring the pris-
oner to summary justice. and there is an
indication that should a conviction for mur-
der in the first degree be obtained, he will
be ''railroaded' to the galIows.
witnesses have been brought to this city
from Boston, Chicago, indianapolis, Ir-
vington. Ind, and almost every city where
Holmes is known to have lived at various
times. What revelations these witnesses
will make have been kept a profound
secret by the prosecuting officers, but there
is expectation of sensational developments.
Detective Geyer, who has been for months
travelling extensively throughout the coun-
try in search of evidences of Holiness
movements. Will be. one of the principal
witnesses for The Commonwealth
The skull ana portions of the body of
Pietzel. as we'll as the remains OF the boy.
Howard Pietzel, who is thought to have
been murdered by Holmes in Irvnston,
Ind, Will be exhibited during the course of
the trial.
Judge Arnold will be upon the bench, and
he has already signifed his intention of
holding three sessions day-morning, aft
ernoon and night-so long as the persons
interested can stand the strain. The prose-
cution Will be in the hands of District At
torney Graham and corps of assistants.
while the interests of the prisoner will be
guarded by Messrs. Shoemaker and Rotan,
young members OF the local bar Conse-
quent on the widespread publicity givef, tho
case, IL is feared that several days Will be
occupied in securing a jury of men who
have not already formed decided opinions
concerning the guilt or innocence of
Holmes 1t Is impossible to learn even an
proximateiy the number of witnesses to be
called on either side, but that there will be
a goodly number is apparent from the pre-
cautions that will be taken to insure their
entrance to the court room. Announcement
has been made that only those who have
business therein will be admitted, and an
increased corps of court officers. augmented
by detail of reserve policemen. will en-
force this order at the doors.
The murder of Pietzel, if murder it was
occurred more than year ago. The body
burned and blackened as If by an explosion
was discovered in the house. No. 1926 Cali
lowhill street, this city, on Sept. 5, 1884, and
as he had been known as an inventor
named Perry, the supposition was thai his
death was caused by accident while expert
menting. subsequently,. the charge was
made that Pietzel had been murdered by
Holmes in an attempt to defraud the Fidei-
ity Mutual Life Association of Philadelphia
out OF $4,000, which had been paid by the
company to Mrs. Pietzel, who was supposed
to have been party to the conspiracy,
Holmes having first introduced Pietzel to
the company Holmes was arrested i'm Bos-
ton Nov. Il. and Mrs Pietzel is in custody,
as probably, the, principal witness agains.
him. There is a likelihood of the case oc-
cupying several weeks time unless unfore-
seen circumstances arise to bring it to a
speedy conclusion.
The remains of Howard PietzeI, found in
the Irvington house, were brought to this
city tonight by detective Richards, of In
dianapolis. They were carried in a small
box and were Immediately sent to District
Attorney Graham's Office where they will
be kept until such time as they will be
brought into court