The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1895-11-02
Holmes Changes His Mind About
Doing Without Lawyers.
THE TAKING OF TESTIMONY
Physicians Strongly Assert That PietZeI
Came to His Death by ChlOrO-
form Poisoning.

Philadelphia, Oct. 29.-It became APP
parent tonight that the picturesque and
startling features Of H. II. Holmes
career were not to be confined to his de-
structive wanderings over the Amer
lean continent, for with each successive
day comes something still more strange
and unexpected. Yesterday he dismiss
ed his counsel and began to try his own
case, because the court refused to grant
the plea made by them for a continu-
ance.
Tonight, after fighting single-handed
against the tremendous machinery OF
the commonwealth and apparently
overwhelming evidence which has been
forged around him, he threw up his
hands and sent for his lawyers, Shoe
maker & ROtan. Then he told the
court what he had done and consented
to their continuing with the defense.
The important work Of the trial-the
taking of teStimony-was begun this
morning and with the exception of brief
intermissions at lunch and supper time,
was continued until nearly 8 o'clock
tonight.
The star witnesses of the trial-Mrs.
Pietzel, Detective Geyer, Agent Perry
of the swindled insurance company and
the arch-criminal himself-remain to
be heard, as well as two others. The
announcement that the taking Of evil
dence would begin today drew a still
larger crowd to the city hall, but the
admirable police arrangements kept ev-
erybody out except attorneys and those
interested in the case.
JA1y ~ Of3
was placed in the dock. The days pro-
ceedings were begun by District Attor-
ney Graham, who arose and said: IT
desire to say to the court, in view of
what was said last night before the
adjournment of court, that the lady
known as Miss Yorke and Mrs. Howard,
was sent for, saw the prisoner and had
ample opportunity for an interview
with him.
When Mr.. Graham concluded, Holmes
said that he had only had a three
minute interview with the woman, and
asked that it be renewed during the
noon recess. His request was granted.
Then the prisoner asked that plan be
produced of the Callow Hill street
house where he is believed to have
murdered Pietzel. The district attorney
said such a plan was in court and
would be produced at the proper time.
IT also ask" Holmes continued, that
a quantity of liquor which Mr.. Graham
said used in my efforts to externinate
the PietZel family be submitted to an
alysis. I want to prove that while it
contains but a small quantity of nitro
glycerine, it is entirely harmless, and
is sold in every drug store.''
do you mean the liquor you left with
Mrs. Pietzel in Burlington, VI. ?" YES"
"That has never been in my possess
sion"
Then came another request from the
prisoner. He wanted to know if during
the testimony Of one witness, all the
other witnesses should not be excluded
from the room.
Judge Arnold answered that this
would be done if the exigency arose.
WITNESSES CALLED.
jeanette Pietzel, "Dessa," the daugh-
ter of the dead man, was the first wit
ness called. She was called to identify
several large crayons OF her father,
which she did.
John Townsend, photographer en-
ployed in the detective service, and
William II. Rau, private photograph
er, then identified the photographs of
Holmes taken by them after his arrest.
Eugene Smith, who found Pietzel's
body in the Callow Hill street house on
September 4, 1894, then told detailed
story Of his discovery, which has been
already fully published. The witness
was present when the corpse of Pietzel
was exhumed from the pOtter's field
and was there first introduced to