The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-10-29
THE JUDGE WAS FIRM
The Trial of Holmes, the Mulii-Murderer Be-
gun Under Sensational Circumstances.
TILT BETWEEN HOLMES AND THE COURT.
a Continuance wns Refused ana tho
frisoncr>s Lawyers Retired from
the Case-'The Court then Assigned
Hoimcs Counsel, but He Refused
Their Services.

Philadelphia, Pa, Oct 2S-IIcrman
w. Mudgett, better known as II. II.
hoimes. the sclf-confesscd life insur-
'tnce Swindlcr and the alleged multi
murderer, whose supposed crimes have
oSeil topic Tor general discussion dur
ing the past several months, was placed
on 'rlai this morning in the Court of
order and Tcrmincr on the charge of
having murdered Benjamin T.. Peitzci
judge Arnold presided.
ne commonwealth was represented
pS District Attorney General s. Gra-
nam nam ana Assistant District Attorney
lnOmaS w Barlow, and the defense was
conducted by W. II. Shoemaker and
samuel II. Eolam. AS soon as the for
hialitE Of nrragnnE Holmes had been
concluded, Attorney Shoemaker asked
ior continuance of sixty DAYS upon
me ground of lack OF time for prepara-
iiNh. MI. Graham protested against
the granting of IL continuance and the
other member OF Holmes counsel MIR
itolan. renewed the plea OF his associ-
atc.
Judge Arnold briefly replied: "rbc
inollon Tor Il continuance is ovcrruicd -
Shoemaker and 1tolan then announced
their intention 10 withdraw from the
case.
10 this Judge Arnold rejoincd that a
niemprr oil the bar who would withdraw
'''''' a. iHtib'l case on the very
OF trial would be called upon To show
cause why lie should not be disburred
Tor unDrofcssional conduct
Lawyer Roians' final plea was for a
continuance until tomorrow, but this
too was ovcrruled
IL was evident from the Judrn,c ,n,p
ncr that he believed the withdrawal of
ifolmcS original counsel from the case
had becn decided upon in the event of
d III, in!i'i:r 20 secure IL postponmcnt.
me calling Of the jury was then
begun. Enoch Turner was the first
tatesnan. and when the District Attor-
ncy had accepted him as juror Holmes
arCSe from his seat in the dock and
stated to the Court that he had dis
charged MS attorneys and asked for a
sci
Judge Arnold declared with consid-
cradle nrmncss that the case must 90
on to-day. that his lawyers had no right
10 Withdraw, but il they did he (Holmes)
could secure counsel in time for thCm
TO appear Tomorrow
Ihe Judges declaration was made
more emphatic by this statement: "Ar.
i"!mes. think YOU ought 10 under
stand that don want any advice from
YOU as regards this case"
Holmes then turned his attention to
eNamininS Talesmnn Turner and chnl-
icngrd him perempto2ily. Turner was
then excused.
tf"ueflck slump ST., was the next
talcsman ana he was accepted as n
juror.
~ this time, Shoemaker and Rolan
lc!t the courtroom and thus disregartied
the ruling of the Court that they could
not retire from the case, and the dis.
Garment would be remedy for such n
step.
This left Holmes without counsel ,al-
though he announced that he had dis
CiiaEEcd the lawyers himSclD and the
District Attorney conferred with the
Court as 10 what should he done
Everett a. Schoiio!d, who was In the
court-room. was privately asked by
Judge Arnold il he would take up lh,
defense
Mr.. schofield, who is well known as a
criminal lawyer. accepted and selected
Joseph X. Fahy. a young counsellor To
assist him. They had taken their seats
Within The bar aud were awaiting for
NAL appointment by the Court. when
!lolmcs again arose and protested
against this selection upon the ground
That the lawyers We're not familiar with
the case.
The only alternative was for Mcssrs
Schoiicld and Fuhy to withdraw. ana
this they did.
Thc Court. in ordering; the trial to pro
ceca. stated that Holmes could secure
counsel by tomorrow. Holmes in the
course OF his efforts to secure delay
'iht S'ttc'i iiidl ne coulu secure The
services of Attorney II. o. Moon To-
morrow.
The selection of jury was then com
plrtcd Holmes conducting his own
case.
AZ ia n jury had been obtained ana
the court took a recess until 3 y. IN.
The jury is composed of the following:
Andrew licrtcl tforcman). shoemaker.
kohert Chambers. carter: Robert Kin
cade torist: Samuel Wood, manufac-
turer: Richard Johnson, painter; Lewis
Reese. farmer: VIM. II. HansclI. wagon
builder: James Kenny, machinist: in
ford lSilcS. naymaStcr; Thomas sloan
driver: John j. Smith, engineer, and
George D. Clash. soapmakcr.
When the talcSmcD were being exam
incd, Lawyer Moon. who has had SOM,
connection with the Holmes. anpenr-
ed in court and had "a whisurrrd con
terence with the prisoner. At lis con
cliSton Mr.. Moon stated 10 the CoI,r,
that while he probably knew more
about the case than an outsider, hn
could not undertake the defense win
out making some preparation.
AS the Court had decided tho coeo
must proceed Mr.. Moon declined Ia en-
ter in on Il and Withdrew. Holmes
made another apcpal to the Court for :,
postponcmcnt until tomorrow, but thr
judge decided against him and said
that as he Uio!mcs) had discharged his;
lawyers, he must defend himself.
What prospects. If any, Holmes has
for securing an attorney are not known.