The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-10-30

PHILADELPHIA, Oct 29.-It became
apparent tonight that the picturesque
and startling features Of II, II. HOlmea'
career were not to bo confined to his
destructive WanderinGs over the Amer
lean continent, for with each successive
day comes something still more strange
and unexpected.
Yesterday ho dismissed his counsel
and began to Try his own case becauio
the court roluaod to grant tho plea
made by them for continuance. They
LETT tho court in spite OF Judge Arnold's
threats 10 disbar them, and religiously
kent away. Tonight, after fighting
tooth and nail single.handed Hgainat
tho tremendous machinery OF the
commonwealth and the apparently conf
ple,e chain OF evidence which has been
forged around him, he throw up his
hands aud sent for his lawyers, MOssrs.
Shoemaker aud RoIan. Then he told
the court what he had done aud re-
luclant consent to their continuing
with the defense was given. There was
an Impression that this was but an
other pieca OF by.play following
Holmes personal failure to catch the
sympathy OF tho court aud jury by
making bimSOlf out much wronged
man, forced to fight alone what may
prove TO bo his last battle, in spite OF
his ignorance OF tho, teChnicalities OF
the law, aud his alleged physical in
trinity.
The big work oil the trlal-tRkinE tes'
timony-waa begun this morning at 10
o'clock and with the exception oi brief
inlermissions ut lunch and supper
time, was continued until nearly o
o'clock tonight. Ii had been the inten'
lion Of the court to sic until ~, but the
absence OF q witness hinderod this, and
an Adjournment was taken, Tho star
witnesses OF the ttial-Mrs. Pietzel, De-
tectivo Geyer, Agent Perry, OF tho
sWindled Insurance company, aud the
arch-criminal himIelt-yet remained to
bS heard, as also nearly two score OF
others.
During the supper recess Holmes
privately said that the preparation OF
bis case in his cell last night had kept
him up until 4 o'clock In the morning,
and tEsu he was aroused from his bed
two hours later. In addition to this,
he had not eaten anything from last
nigh. until O'Clock this atternoon. II
was after making this statement that he
sent for his counsel. Up to that timo
there had boen q general impression
that human nature could not stand tho
terrible ordeal which he had set for
himself, and that II he psrAisted in go.
ing on with his own case there would
DO break down beloro long.
TnG COURT BEGINS.
With n man Of less nerve force and
brain power than Holmes, acting tho
composite role of prisoner at tho bar
aud counsel for tho defence, tho specta'
ee would indeed have been tarcical.
Bet not for an instant does this extra
ordinary specimen Of abnormal gSniuS
tho genius to commit crim0 with Won.
dariul skill and daring--loso control OF
himself. Be 1t thrus. or parry from tho
court or from the keon and scorninl
officers Of tho commonwealth, Holmes Ia
equal TO tho emergency, and tho listener
somehow feels that the does not get al
together the worst Of tho argument
At 10 o'clock tho Jury was brought
into tho room. and, Judge Arnold ap-
pearinga moment later. court was ior'
malIy opened. Meantime. Holmes, In
tie custody Of court officer, was
pIacgi in the dock. lie showed no
change in personal appearance or do
hslnor from yesterday, aud whilo tho
crler was pTonouncing tho stGrcotypod
formula which declares tho court open
and concludes with tho PRAYER: "God
Eago tho common wealth aud this honor
able court" Holmes stool up in the
dock, his hands claspel In front Of him
and hi, head slightly inclined. lilo
bu'icd himself Tor some momonti alter
vafd arranging his papers IN laWyor'
lI,o fashion on tho desk Ia front oil iim,
aud reading over nolei--or perhaps his
daionsC, 80 far Rl arranged by him last
night In tho solitude OF His coli
Tho iay'B proceedings wore begun by
Diglriut Attorney Graham, who arose
and aaidto tho court: ~ desire to say
10 Tho court. In Wow OF What was said
lat night before tho adjournment OF
court, Mrs. Howard wn1 sent for, aaw
tho prisoner, and had ainplo opportunl'
iy ior an intorylnw with him" This Ia
tho woman concerning whom there was
warm paisngo ut arms last oyoninsbc'
tgenn Mt, Graham and Holmes, mo
later declaring that tho woman was his
vito, and lhnt MF. Hfhllam had done oil
In ME power TO separate thnm. whom
Mr Graham had concluded llolmcs snid
that hn had only had lhrCo.minuln
lnloryIaW with tho woman, aud n'Eod
that 1t bc fonewod during tho noon ro'
cora Ills roquo,t was granted,
NONE RgQurBrs.
Then tho prisoner askod that plan
bo produced Of tho Callowhill aIrcot
house In which ho In alleged TO lloyo
murleted Donihmin II. PlolGsl. Tho
dlE.ficl attorney said such plan was n
court and would bo produced nj tho
pruner imr.
"lnlao nsk," Holmes continued, "lln.
d quantity Of tho liquor which Mr..
bfnham said IlG1 IN my oilotH 10 OK
terminate tho PiolEol family BIO sub.
lnlllcd 10 anRlysA want 10 provo
that whIln II contains q small quantity
nj nirlglYcofine, II IA entirely latin'
Iolt, and isold In ogsry drug store"
"Do yon moan tho liquor YOU leit with
Mg rlcllol IN Burlington, Yt|
"YrsH
That has mover boon ln my posses.
ltnuh