Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-04
CONVICTION OF HOLMES
It Did Not Take the Jury Long to De-
eide.
Verdict of Murder In the First De-
gree Promptly Rendered-Parents
of the Prisoner Informed.

OF the Prisoner Informed.
Herman W. Mudgett, known as Henry H
Holmes, was convicted of murder in the
first degree Saturday night at PHILADELPHIA
for killing Benjamin F. Pitezel.
MIR. Samuel F. Rotan, counsel for the
prisoner, followed Mr.. Graham's closing
speech, printed in Saturdays Star, in an ar
eument for acquittal, on the ground that
the state had not proved beyond a reason
abe doubt that Pitezel had not committed
suicide.
Judge Arnold delivered long and careful
charge to the jury. and the case was COM
mitted to their hands.
The jury retired to deliberate at $40
O'Clock in the afternoon. and had reached
their verdict before the doors of their room
closed upon them. Being hungry, they ate
their supper first. Then they took ballot
ard without hesitation every man of the
twelve answered Guilty of murder in the
FIRST degree" Not wishing their action to
for seemly period-about an hour and a
half. Then word was sent into court that
they had agreed. This was at S:15 o'clock
1t took a half hour to get the court in
readiness to receive the verdict.
Announcing the Verdict.
After Judge Arnold and the counsel and
court officials had taken their places, the
an oppressive silence, Holmes was brought
in and placed in the dock. For a moment
there was not sound. The silence was
painful. and every heart in that crowded
room throbbed faster. The man who was
about to hear his doom pronounced stood
erect in the dock, the same deathlike palIor,
which could grow no deeper, on his face
He stared at the jury blankly, his hands
clasped behind his back. Once or twice he
nloistened his lips with his tongue. There
was no other sign of agitation.
When the foreman. in answer to the usual
question said Guilty Of murder in the
first degree" Holmes cleared his throat,
but his shrunken form never trembled. his
lips betrayed nc quiver-his marvellous nerve
had not forsaken him. There was only d
tighter clasp of the hands folded behind
him.
Then he slowly sat down. and at the re.
quest of counsel the jury was polled; that
is. each of the twelve men separately lis
tened to the clerks query and responded
with the finding AS each name was called
paper in his hand, and the fingers holding
the pencil never shook.
For u New Trial.
Immediately after the announcement of
the verdict the usual application for leave
to file motion for a new trial was made
District Attorney Graham did not oppose
the motion. and Judge Arnold fixed the 18th
of this month for hearing. The principal
reason urged will be lack of time for the
preparation of the defense. Should new
trial be refused, an appeal will be taken to
the supreme court and argument heard at
its next sitting in Philadelphia Eext Janu-
airy. So. even If everything goes against
him, Holmes has yet some months to live.
Holmes spoke to his counsel in the cell
room before he was taken back to Moya-
mensing prison. To them he said: Il feel
that this condemns me. 1t was an unjust
trail" He would say no more tnan that.
Holmes Parents Informed.
A Boston special describes the reception
of the news of the conviction of Holmes
by the parents of the convicted murderer.
The correspondent says:
Old Mr. Mudgett answered the knock on
the door, He led me into the parlor. where
his wife and his convicted sons first wife
were sitting. Mrs. Holmes looked haggard
and carewOrn.
II have brought news to you about the
result of the trial of Holmes. VIII You
permit me to tell you about it?' 80 II
ale Is discharged, I Suppose said
Holmes mother, but they won't let him
be free. They will take him for something
else now" she added. -
He is free, I suppose" said old man
Mudgett.
pare yourselves for the worst J. answer
Holmes wife became faint. She closed
her eyes and lay down on the lounge. SEEM
y.
bad news. and when 1t was broken to her
she be came almost hysterical. Mr.. Mud
gett simply mumbled to himself, as II alb
sokltely overwhelmed with his great sor-
row.
Mrs. Mudgett at length said:
The newspapers have done US great in
justice in this awful ordeal. I want you
to say that until Herman left US some six
years ago he was the cleanest youth in
town. We are not responsible for his con-
duct since
II Think said his wife, "he must be out
of his mind" The elder Mudgett was now
shedding tears. Holmes mother maintain
ed, to all appearances, a stoical indiffer-
ence, while her daughter-in-law appeared
childshly simple. 1 took dinner at Nor
rison's, in Tilton, with Holmes fourteen
year-old son Robert. The young man was
in ignorance of the verdict.
Robert" I said. after supper, you might
as we'll learn now that your father has
been found guilty Of murder in the first
degree"
Robert said nothing, but hung his head
and shed tears copiously.
"Oh, my poor papa" he cried. do you
think they will hang him?"
While the majority of the members of
the family spoke as though they thought
Holmes might have been acquitted of the
crime of which he has been tried, they
evidently believed he could not prove his
innocence of all the crimes he is accused
of. In fact, his wife seemed to expect just
the kind of a verdict that has been rem
dered