The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-31
Only Once or Twice Did Holmes show
Around His Bloodless Lips.
MRS. PIETZEL'S WANDERINGS
HOW SHE WAS LED FROM PLACE TO
PLACE BY THE ARCH FIEND,
And How She Was Kept Away by Spe-
cfous Tales from Her Loved Ones
The Life Insurnnce Conspiracy.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 30.-F0r four long
hours to-day under the scrutinizing gaze
of a court room crowded with strangers,
a pale. worn woman underwent an ordeal
which we'll might have broken the nerve
of many a strong man. She was Mrs
Carrie Alice Pietzel. With bravery and
fortitude she stood the test. in spite of
the fact that her physical condition has
been so shattered by the battalions OF
woes under which she has al but sue
cumbed that she was obliged TO inter-
rupt her pitiful narrative at frequent in
tervals to accept spoonfuls OF medicine
from the trained nurse who attended her,
In a voice broken with grief. she told tho
whole distressing story. How her husband
was spirited away from her and murdered
out of sheer greed of. gain; how she b2de
her little ones goodbye, confding them TO
the care of the man Holmes in all trust
fulness. little thinking that when next she
would set eyes on them the two little girls
would be lying side by side on the marble
slab of a morgue. cold i'm death, and the
boy a parcel of moldering bones. Be-
tween her bitter sobs she related every
detail--from the first meeting with Holmes
almost up to to-day. and SO affecting was
the story that even District Attorney
Graham, long used to tales of misery and
distress, paused in the examination TO
wipe away furtive tear. The woman's
physical condition was such that the court
crier had to repeat her testimony after
her. because of her weak voice.
Throughout it ALL the shrunken, pallid
figure in the dock-who to one unfamiliar
with the shocking story would never be
taken for the arch criminal of the age
sat -unmoved.-s Na' a. muscle quivered. not
lash moved. even when the strain be-
came so great that the hearing halted to
give the wretched woman an opportunity
to recover herself. Indeed, once or twice,
as some statement from her lips struck
chord in his breast-if chords there be
in such a mana malicious sneer played
around his thin and bloodIess lips But
never once did the woman look towards
him. During every moment OF the long
examination she kept her eyes riveted on
the Commemorative officers or counsel for
the defense. as if fearing to shift them
to either side lest in their course they
should fall on the face of the man in the
dock. There were other witnesses called
but, naturally, Mrs. Pietzels testimony
was the feature of the day. She went on
the stand at 2:3o in the afternoon. imme-
diately on the reassembing of court, and
remained there, except for the evening in
PERMISSION. until $50 o'clock tonight.
The other Incidents of the day were the
reading of the statements made by Holmes
to the Boston police when he was first ar
rested there Nov. IL last, telling the story
of conspiracy to swindle the insurance
company out Of the $4,000 on Pietzers life.
,.~~s~~
was conducted actively by Messrs. Shoe
maker and Rotan, the lawyers whom
Holmes dismissed on Monday and recalled
last night. but it was apparent that it
was really Holmes himself who was con-
Quoting the defense. He continued to take
copious notes. and almost momentarily his
attorneys were at the dock side accepting
suggestions from him.
Interest in the case. instead of tagging,
has grown with each successive session.
and it is not confined to the morbidIy
curious general public, for during the
greater part of the day Judge Arnold was
at intervals receiving well-known men on
the bench. while in the court clerks
Enclosures sat group of gayly dressed So
ciety ladies. friends OF the common
wealth. gazing curiously at the various
actors in the story and drinking in every
word of the testimony.
Still the wonder continues at the exhibit
ton of coolness and nerve made by the
man Holmes. Hardly a change passed over
his features during the day, and at many
critical points of the testimony he sat care
lessly reading a newspaper. In the opin-
I ion Of those who heard 1t, except possibly
Holmes and his counsel, the evidence ad-
duced to-day is in itself strong enough
to send him to the gallows. Slowly, but
none the less surely was the chain forged
round him, and it is chain which will
be hard to break. There will be a pretty
point of law in the case presently If any,
thing associated with it can be called so.
There is a law here that wife cannot
testify against her husband. In spite Of
| this Mr. Graham declared that he would
call the alleged Mrs. Holmes, or Howard.
! TO the stand. This is why he has been
| combating Holiness assertion that this
woman. whom Mr. Graham insists in call
| ing Miss Yoke. is his lawful wife.