The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-04
HOLMES CONVICTED,
The Jury Takes but Ono Ballot to Decide
thu Fato Of the Wholesale Murderer.

tn" Fate Of the Wholesale Murderer.
Philadelphia, Nov. 3-H. H. Holmes
was convicted last night Of murder in
the first degre for killing BENJAMIN F.
Pitezel In this city on Sept g. 1894. The
jury took only enc ballot to reach this
decision. The jury retired at 545, at
the conclusion OF Judge Arnold's
charge. At S.35 word was sent to Judge
Arnold that the jury was ready to re-
turn the verdict. The prisoner was
brought In and placed In the dock. He
was impascive as he took his seat
The jury came In and took their places
then. In reply to the question of the
court, the foreman Of the Jury pro-
nounced the verdict Guilty of murder
in the first degree"
The verdict was greeted with abso-
lutte silence. The charge of the Judge
must have foreshadowed what his fate
would be, but the word Guilty" fell
upon Holmes with stunning force. He
made no outcry nd exhibited no emo
tion of any kind. He sat down, and
while the jury was polled and each
man answered to his name and gave
his verdict Holmes stared vacantly be-
fore him. His face was like that Of
a corpse. 1t was absolutely express
sionless.
After the effects of the blow began to
pass away Holmes slowly recovered.
He realized that his counsel was maxi
Ing motion for a new trial His under
lip fell and he ran his tongue over It.
Clasping his hands together he leaned
forward to listen to the Judges decis.
ion. When Judge Arnold said that he
would hear the application for q new
trial on Monday, Nov. IS, an expression
of something like hope came over his
dull face. Turning to the court officers
he said in an eager whisper:
Monday, Nov. 1872"
These were the only words he uttered.
Judge Arnold then expressed to Mr..
Rotan and Mr.. Shoemaker his appre-
citation Of their difficult task. and COM
as good a defence as they did. He inti-
mated that their withdrawal from the
case was device Of the prisoner.
In manly, honest way, Mr. Rotan
gave the court to understand that their
withdrawal was no device Of their own,
but was done from a sincere conviction,
because they believed time had not
been given to them to prepare their
case. Judge Arnold then ordered that
the prisoner be removed. BY this time
Holmes had recovered much OF his
cOmposure and he walked from the
room with a quick, springy step. The
Judge thanked the jury for their atten-
ton and discharged them. and SO ended
the trial.
The jury was never in doubt. When
they retired from the court room they
had supper and then brief discussion
took place. One ballot was taken. and
every man voted to convict They con-
sumed three hours for their retirement
from the court room. but they could
have found verdict in fifteen minutes
II they had wished to do so.
Every one actively identified with the
Holmes trial was glad that to-day was
Sunday and took advantage to rest and
recuperate from the great nervous ten
sion under which they had labored for
a week.
After the ordeal Of the trial the quiet
monotony of prison cell was welcome
to Holmes and he spent to-day appar-
emily unconcerned by the death SEN
tence which hangs over him. The con-
demned mans appetite takes but little
of his attention. he still maintains his
air of injured innocence and reads and
writes when not absorbed in thought.
No visitors were allowed to see him to-
day and Holmes himself strengthened
the prison rules by stating that he did
not wish to see anybody.