The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-11-03
a VERDICT OF GUILTY
OF Murder in the First Degree Returned
Against Holmes, the Mult-Murderer.
HE WAS JUST AS lNpASSlVE AS EVER.
'Thc Prisoners Face Was Absolutely
ENprrSsi0nlcss. aud t1nIy II Ncr.
Won" rwitcFin: ofthc EycIi,is ana
the and Diin..o,. orths
Eyes Showed That Ilc was Ewing.

Philadelphia, Nov. 2-llerman w.
Mudsett. or as he is better known. II. IL.
Holmes, was Tonight convicted Of mur-
der in the first degree for killing Bcnia-
min F. PictZel In this city on Scptcu-
Der 2. 1891 The jury needed but one
ballot to reach this decision Th. Jury
retired at n:+6 at the conclusion of Judg,,
Arnuld's charge. After the retirement
oil the jury from the court room the
spectators strollcd out into the corii-
dors and eagerly discussed what the
verdict would probably be. There was
considerable difference of opinion. as
many believed the Commonwealth had
not thoroughly established Its case
against Holmes, but the majority were
inclined to believe that the jury would
convict him. At S:35 word WAS sent To
judge Arnold that the jury was ready
To return the verdict When Judge
not nearly as many aeoplc present rs
had attended the day session. The
prisoner was brought in and placed
IN the dock. He was as impassivc as
ever, az he took his seat Tile jury
came in and took their places nmd il
needed but little Skill as II mind reader
To know what The word would he that
the foreman WOULD pronounce. The
court ordered Holmes to arise and then
IN reply to the question of the Court
the foreman OF The jury pronounced the
tata! words: Guilty of murder in the
first degree
The verdict Of guilty was greeted
with absolute silence The charge Of
he judge must have foreshi,dowcd
what his fate would he but the word
guilty fell upon Holmes With stun
ming force. He made no uutcry or eX-
tihitod amy emotion of any kind-thc
bloW was too stunning for noisy ont
breaks. lie sat down and while the
jury was pollcd each man answered 10
his name. and as each pronounced his
sentence Holmes stared vacantly be-
fore him. His face was that of ~
corpse 1t was as absolutely express
st2nlcss as mask Only q nervous
twitching of the cyelids and the con
traction and dilation Of the eyes show
ca that there was living breathing
man sitting in the dock. As the ef-
fects of the blow began to die away
Holmes slowly rccov.dcd. He real
lied that his counsel WAS making II mo-
tion for Il new trial. His under lip fell
aud he ran his tongue across It moiStcn-
ing the dryncsS ana clasping his hands
together. He leaned forward to listen
10 the judges decision. When Judge
Arnold said that lie would hear the
application for new trial on Mon
something like hope broke across his
duh face. Turning to the court Off
Gers he said in an eager whisper
Monday, November 18TH"
These We're the only words he uttered.
Judge Arnold then expressed 10 Mir
Rutan ana Mr.. Shoemaker his apprc-
citation of how difficult their task had
been and he complmentcd them that
they had been able to m kc as good a
show Of the defense as they did. He
intimatcd that their withdra wa! from
The ease was Il device OF the prisoner.
In a manly, honest way. Mr.. Rolan
gave the Court To understand that their
withdrawal WAS no device of their own,
but done from Il sincere conviction he
cause they believed they had not been
given time to prepare their case. Judge
Arnold then ordered the prisoner re-
moved
l<y this Holmes had received much
Uf his CoulpnSurc ana he walked from
the court Toom with the quick, Springy
step that is natural to him The Judge
thanked the jury for their attention
and discharged them. and so ended the
trial OF the most notorious and infa-
nous murderer that has ever been
convicted in the courts of philadelphia
ana probably in America.
If ever The va!ue OF n good name
would have been n shield and buckler
10 "A man in his hour Of peril that man is
Holmes. If ever Il mans black deeds
rose up to confront and convict him
th0t man is Holmes. If Holmes had
only been III the dock for the murder
Of Pci,2cl it is an open question IL the
prosecution would not have failed of
conviction bat inquest ionnbly his
bloody record scrvcdto condemn him
'fEc jury was never in doubt When
they retired from the court room they
took their suppcrs and then Il brief dis
cussion took place. One ballot was
taken and every man voted To convict
They consumed three hours after their
retirement from the court room, but
they could have found a verdict in
fifteen minutes if they had wished To DO
so.
Hnidcu s.asf Might.