The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-03
GUILTY OF MURDER
Holmes Nerve Did Not Forsake Him
When the Verdict Was Read.
A TRAGIC SCENE, INDEED
The Jury. for "Deoency's" Sake,
Did Not Return After One Min
ute's Deliberation, But
Talked IL Over.

Holmes. was convicted of murder In
the first degree at s:51 o'clock tonight
for killing BENJAMIN F. Pitzel. The
jury retired to deliberate at $50
o'clock. According to one of their
number they had reached their verdict
before the doors of their room closed
upon them. For hunger's sake they
ate their suppers first. Then they took
ballot and without hesitation every
men of the IL answered guilty of
murder in the first degree" But. how
ever atrocio1s the crime, however
fiendish the criminal. 1t is hard to send
a man to the gallows in one minutes
time. So. for decency's sake they
talked about the case for a seemingly
period of about an hour and a half Then
word was sent into court that they had
agreed. 1T took half an hour to get
the court in readiness to receive the
verdict.
Holmes spoke to his counsel. Rotan
and Shoemaker. in the cell room, be-
fore he was taken back to the prison.
He said: II feel that this condemns
me. 1t was an unjust trial" He
would say no more than that. Imme-
diately after the verdict the usual ap-
plication to file a motion for a new
trial was made. District Attorney Gra-
ham did not oppose the mo ton and
Judge Arnold fixed the 18th of this
month for a hearing. The principal
reason urged will be lack of time for
the preparation for the defense. Should
a new trial be refused an appeal will
be taken to the supreme court and ar
guments heard at dts next sitting in
this city, January. 1896. So even II
everything goes against him. Holmes
has yet some time to spend on the
earth from which he is alleged to have
sent so many fellow mortals. The
verdict was a surprise to many per-
sons. who did not believe the crime
had been fastened upon Holmes beyond
a reasonable doubt.
There was no word of sympathy for
the condemned felon. He is regarded
as a menace to society. Up in Gilman
ton, N. H.. there are two old people,
his father and mother: and he has
also two brothers and two sisters. Not
one of his kin was heard from during
the trial.
When the jury went out an indefinite
recess was taken. Judge Arnold said
he would remain in the building until
midnight If necessary and II no verdict
had been reached by that time he
would come to the court at 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning. Nobody believed
there would be occasion for this. There
were many wagers that the verdict
would be in tonight. and more as to
it's nature. At 20 minutes of 9 o'clock
there Was tustle Of moving people in
the packed court room and 1t became
known that the jury was coming In.
A moment later Judge Arnold took his
seat. District Attorney Graham and
his associates entered and the jury
filed solemnly In and took their seats
in the box. Then Holmes was brought
in and placed in the dock.
The silence was literally painful and
every heart in that crowded room
throbbed. The man who was about to
hear his doom pronounced stood erect
in the dock. the same deathlike pallor
which could grow no deeper, on his
face. He stared at the jury blanlxly,
his hands clasped behind his back.
Then from the deep voiced court clerk
came the awful words. "Jourors, look
upon the prisoner; prisoner look upon
the jurors. How say you. gentlemen
of the jury. do you find the prisoner
at the bar. Herman w. Mudgett, alias
H. H. Holmes. guilty Of the murder
of Benjamin f. Pitzel. or not guilty?"
The condemning syllables came from
the foreman: Guilty OF murder In the
first degree"
"Ahem," uttered Holmes, clearing mis-
throat but his shr71nken form never
trembled; his lips betrayed no CULVER;
his marvellous nerve had not forsaken
him. There was only a tighter clasp
of his hands folded behind him. Then
he slowly sat down, and at the request
of counsel. the jury was poaled. AS
each name was called, Holmes wrote vt
on the margin of a newspaper in his
hand. and the fingers holding the pencil
never shook. The verdict was formally
recorded by the court; the motion for a
new trial was made. and after Judge
Arnold had spoken a word of regret to
the counsel for the defense because OF
last Mondays occurrence when they
from the case. and apprecia-
tion for their arduous but fT71itless la
Dor. Holmes was taken to HIS cell room
a few minutes later; the jury was
for Its attention and labors
anu sent hoineS Nue NOunl dlJOurned,
and rthe most extraordinary case in ohe
annals of American counts was ended.
The last day was unevenSful except
for the last tragic scene. District At
torney Graham opened the session with
his address to the jury. He was follow
ed by Mr.. Rotan who. in his speech,
presented the only form OF the defense
that Pitzel had committed suicide.
resting on the assumption that the
had not made out a
case beyond a reasonatle doubt. Judge
Arnold charged the jury for more than
an hour. The distrtct attorney reviewed
tire evidel IN detail Beginning with
the question OF the Identity OF the
corpse found in the CaNowhin street
house. he weu- over the testimony OF
each witness who positively said dhak Il
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