The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-28
HOLMES TRIAL TODAY
Accused of Many Crimes, He Is
Brought to Judgment
FOR THE MURDER OF 3. r. PITZEL
Whose Body wass Found Burned and
Blackened In a Philadelphia
House Sept. 8, 1884.

Philadelphia, Oct. TIL. II. Holmes, or
Herman Muagett, whose name. or alias,
has rung throughout the length ana
breadth Of the continent as the most I'M
scrupuious and skllful murderer OF mod
ern times, will De placed on trial for his
life tomorrow morning in the court OF
oyer and terminer, Of this city. The spe-
cshed charge 10 which he viii be called up
on 10 answer is the murder Of BanJamin
+. Pitzel. and he has already oniciaiiy
declared himself not guilty.
The revolving details OF the many crimes
with which Holmes name has been direct
~ or indirectly connected have been given
publicity, and the cold. implacaole cemean-
or which has characterized the man
throughout has been SO frequently COM
mented upon that the trial viii probably
pass into history as the most celebrated
case known 20 the criminal annals OF the
Western hemisphere. The commonwealth
has already expended thousands Of dollars
in its efforts to bring the prisoner to sum
mary justice, and there is an indication
that should a conviction for murder in
the first degree be obtained he VIII be
quickly ''railroaded'' to the gallows. Wit
nesses have been brought TO this city from
Boston. Chicago. Indianapolis, Irvington,
Ind, ad almost every city where Holmes
is known to have lived at various times.
What revelations these witnesses will
make has been kept a profound secret,
but there is expectation OF sensational de-
velopments. Detective Geyer has ceen for
months travelling extensively throughout
the country in search of evidence OF
Holmes movements, and he will be one Of
the principal witnesses for the common
wealth.
The skull and portions OF the body OF
Pitzel, as well as the remains OF the boy,
Howard Pitzel who is thought to have
been murdered by Holmes in Indianapolis,
x.~zfI -, h I'D Lx.v-s he Of .
trial Judge Arnold viii be upon the
bench. and he has already signified his in
tention OF holding three sessions a day,
morning, afternoon and night, 50 long as the
persons interested can stand the strain
The prosecution win be in the hands or
District Attorney Graham and corps OF
assistants, while the interests OF the pris-
oner will be guarded by Shoemaker and
Rotan. young members of the local bar.
Consequent upon the widespread publicity
given the case, IL is feared that several
days VIII be occupied in securing jury
of men who have not already formed de-
cided opinions concerning the guilt or in
nocence ofHolmes. 1t is impossible TO learn
even approximately the number of wit
nesses to be called on either side, but
tina. there Will be a goodly number Is ap-
parent from the precautions that VIII be
taken TO insure their entrance to the court
room. Announcements have been made
Will be admitted, ard that an increased
corps OF court officers, augmented by
detail Of reserve policemen, viii enforce
the order at the doors.
The murder OF PitZel, II murder IL was,
occurred more than year ago. The body,
burned and blackened as II by an explo-
sion. was discovered in the house, No. 1926
Callow Hill street, this city, on Septem-
Der 3, 1894. As he had been known as an
inventor named Perry, the supposition
was that he had met death by occ.dent
while experimenting. Subsequently. the
charge was made that Pitzel had been
murdered by Holmes in an attempt TO de-
fraud the Fidelity Mutual Life Association.
OF Philadelphia. cut OF $4,000, which had
been paid by the company TO Mrs. iPtzel,
who was supposed to have been party
TO the conspiracy. Holmes having first IN
troauced Piszel 70 the company. Holmes
was arrested in Boston November IL, and
Mrs Pitzel is in custody as probably the
principal witness against him. There Is
likelihood OF the case consuming several
weeks, unless circumstances arise to bring
IL 70 a speedy conclusion.
The remains of young Howard Pitzel.
found In the Irvington house, were brought
10 this city tonight by Detective Richards.
of indianapolis. They were carried in
small box and were Immediately taken to
District Attorney Grahau's office. where
they will be kept until such time as they
will be brought into the case.