The Red Cloud chief., 1895-11-01
HOLMES rs ON TRIAL.
THE CRIMINAL ARRANGED
IN PHILADELPHIA.
Roth Of ISIS Attorneys Dismissed the First
Thing. he Having Decided "a Conduct
ISIS Own Dsfsnse--An Motions for .
Continuance Overruiet.

PHILADELPHIA. Oct. 80. - II. II.
Holmes, who is placed by the police
authorities of many cities of this
try at the head of the list Of modern
criminals, was put on trial in the
court Of oyer and termincr this morn
ing for the murder OF benjamin 4.
Pietzcl, one of his partners In past
crimes. Arralgncd against him as the
commonwealth prosecutors were Dis.
trict Attorney George 3. Graham and
his special assistant. Thomas w. Bar
low. The counsel who appeared for
the prisoner were William A. Shoe
maker and Samuel y. Rotam, young
members Of the bar of this city. but
just after the case was called both
were forced to withdraw ut Holmes
request and he began conducting his
wi case.
Only enough people were admitted
to well Ill the court room without UNI
comfortably crowding 1t. The wit
ncsscs brought from Canada and diff
fcrent parts OF this country were
brought Ia shortly before 10 o'clock by
Detective Gcyer. Promptly at 10 o'clock
Holmes was arraigned. He looked
pale but neat. lie was plainly
and looked about the room with q
shifty expression in his blue eyes.
occasionally he would lear forward
and address a whispered word TO his
counsel.
Mr.. Graham, for the prosecution
first asked that the ease proceed.
Holmes was then ordered to rise and
was formally told of his right TO chal.
lcngc the jurors.
Mr.. Shoemaker asked for n continu.
ancc of the case. He urged tho lack
of time for the preparation Of the dc.
Tense There arc three homicide
eases involved in this case" he urged,
and we have had only as much time
as would bs adequate preparation on
one
Mr.. Graham protested against tho
granting OF n continuance which hc
said would mean the absolute destruc.
ton Of the commonwealth case. lie
dwclt upon the severe strain under
which Mrs. Pietzcl was placed aud said
an examination into her mental con-
dition made 1t apparent hat were q
continuance granted tho
wealth would lose its most important
witness.
uC VlN1 WINS ONtTEutCo Nv JuuXO
Arnold and the attorneys SAID that II
the Judges decision was iirevocnblc
they would withdraw from the case.
Judge Arnold declared that u member
II the bar who would withdraw from
u murder case on the very eve of its
trial would be called upon to show
aus why he should not be disbarrcd
for unprofcssionai conduct. Counsel
did not appear anxious u accept this
alternative, but before they could re.
ply Mr.. Graham aro,c. AS fur ms the
plea OF lack Of money is concerned"
he said, al have positive knowledge
that large sums of money were offered
within the last week tn prominent at
torneys At this bar to como into tho
case ar associate counsel for the de.
Tense, showing that there are funds at
hand"
Call n jury" said Judge Arnold.
''Wnl your honor allow the case TO
10 over until tomorrow morning."
pleaded Mr.. Rotsn.
Gal! "a jury. SAID the Judge firmly,
and the calling OF u jury was begun.
One juror had been admitted by the
commonwealth. when Holmes arose in
the dock and said in n quivering voice
10 Judge Arnold: May it please tho
court, I have no inclination to con
tinuc with the trial OF this case with
Mr.. Rotan and Mr.. Shoemaker as my
counsel. feeling that, in view Of their
desire to withdraw, my interests
would be damaged. therefore dis
charge them as my counsel"
''fou cannot discharge them, Mr..
Holiness answered Judge Arnold.
THAT Is for the court to do, and IL
they withdraw from this case they
will be punished.
III" continued Homes. his tones
trcmulous, ''if Your honor will give
me until to- morrow to secure addition
~The examination OF jurors was about
TO be proceeded with when Shoemaker
again arose and stated that the pris.
one absolutely forbade them tn repre-
sent him in The ease and declared that
he Wolmesl would examine the Jurors
and witnesses himself.
Judge Arnold said that he would per-
init Holmes to question the jurors, IL
he SO desired. while counsel considered
the question Of their proceeding.
Holmes armed himself with pencil
and paper and Enoch Turner. the first
juror, wa turned over TO him for cx-
animation. HS began with the SUR
prising queries: "Mr. Turner, are you
a married man? Are you physically
well? Are you in n condition to serve
in this case without delaying it?' Re-
ceiving satisfactory answers, he took
mp the question of having formed an
opinion and challenged peremptorily.
At i;45 O clock the twelve Jurors had
been selected and the court then took
n recess till : o'clock. Lawyer Moon
DECLINED to participate in the case I'M
less q continuance was granted. and,
as Judge Arnold declined to do this,
Holmes will have to act us his own
lawyer.
The commonwealth has already ex-
pended thousands of dollars in it's
cnorts 10 bring the prisoner to sum.
mary ~iustice. Witnesses have been
brought 10 this city from Boston, Chi.
cago' Indianapolis, irvington. Ind,
and almost every city where Holmes
was known to have lived at various
times. What revelations these wit
nesses will make has beer kept n pro-
found secret by the prosecuting of.
heers. but there is expectation Of sen