The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-18
A Great Sensation in the
Holmes Case.
A LAWYER IMPEACHED.
He Paid Twenty Dollars for a
Bogus Affidavit.
TRAPPED BY A DETECTIVE.
The Woman, Who Was the Lawyers
Tool, in Court.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. rs. Holmes
case took another sensational turn to-
day. The main actor In this, the most
startling and unexpected since..the cele-
brated case has become public, was the
sen ior counsel for the defense, William
~ Shoemaker. Charges of manufacture
ing evidence in behalf of the alleged null
ti-murderer by bribing . woman who
knew nothing OF the case TO swear in hiE
favor 'vere publicly made in court, and
the manner in which this was received by
the court left.little doubt in the mind.of
those. present OF the gravity OF the at
torney's situation.
The proceedings were begun by Mr..
Shoemaker, who arose from his seat be-
side his associate counsel, Mr.. Rotan, and
asked that the argument be postponed.
He urged that since the verdict had been
rendered they had come into possession
of new information and additional clues
OF vital Importance to the case and
which would result in Holmes acquittal-
subsequent to the trial, he continued,
they had obtained information OF q per-
son who had known Pietzel when he
lived at 1916 Caliowhill street, that after
much difficulty had found this person
and procured an affidavit. This document
the lawyer then procured and read. 1t was
made by one Blanche A. Hannigan and
was In substance as follows:s &
"In August, 1894, she kept a cigar store
at 139 Callowhill street, and had known
and talked with Pietzel, then known
as Perry. On August 20, when he was In
the store, she told him she would have to
leave the store and visit a dying friend;
thereupon Pietzel spoke of the uncer-
tainty of life, saying he had more
troubles than any one would suppose.
and that he would not care IL it was he
who was dying instead of her friend. He
spoke OF his many roubles and added
that the end would come soon, as he
could not stand IT much longer.
"All his actions n words tended to
show thoughts OF suicide"
In presenting this affidavit, Mr.. Shoe
maker said that Mrs. Hannigan would
have come forward with this testimony
before, but she disliked notoriety and
had been out of the city for ONE time.
AS soon, however, as she found that
there was a life at stake, che had come
forward.
Besides this important new testimony,
Mr.. Shoemaker went on, there were mRny
ether clues to be run down, some of
which mad come to their knowledge as
late -.as last Saturday. They therefore
pleaded for a -postponement Of the argu-
ment.
District Attorney Graham here arose
and asked that before bis application he
passed upon Mrs. Hannigan be called to
the stand. Mr.. Rotan replied that they
had been unable to find her; that the at
''' hNo '>Os '
Sweckler, q detective, and that counsel
would not permit her to testify until they
had an opportunity to examine her pri-
vately and slit the truth OF her statement.
I'm response TO questions from the court,
Mr.. Shoemaker then said that the afiicav-
it had been written.b by himself at the do
tation Of Mrs. Hannigan.
Upon this MIR. Graham arose and with
the utmost gravity said ii his du-
ty to make a painful declaration. During
the early part Of the recent trial he had
received in formation that efforts had been
made to procure false testimony by brib-
cry. At that time he had merely institute
ed a sharp watch. Later he learned that
these efforts we're being prosecuted TO the
end. Thereupop he sent for tue person
thus employed to furnish evidence and
she was in court at the present time.
~ will produce here and show that she
was employed by Mr.. Shoemaker; she
was taken TO his Office and questioned,
that she said she knew nothing about
the case, and the attorney told her that
was right, and she was induced. upon
the payment to her of $40, TO sign the
affidavit which had been already pre-
pared
This declaration came like q thunder
bolt. Mr.. Shoemaker grew paliid, the
Judges ey es opened wider and ii was some
time before the buzz In the court room
could be stilled. Then Mr.. Rotan tried to
DIOAtsl dEhlhCt thA, ihblSaN ~ -
colleague, and Mr.. Shoemaker made an
attempt to he heard but the court ordered
that the witness be first heard.
Mr.. Graham here said he fret desired
TO call Detective Geyer.
Mr.. Geyer, uoon being sworn, told the
whole story.
During the trial he was called upon BY
John Swsckler, who said that Mr.. Shoe
maker had asked him TO procure a woman
who lived around Thirteenth and Callow-
hill, or Vine streets, who would swear TO
certain facts. The next day Sweckler
again called or showed him the typewrit-
ten affidavit. This was even before the
woman had been looked for. Mf. Gcyer
submitted the matter TO the district atsor-
ney, and on his advice, after the trial
Geyer procured the woman. He intro
duced her 10 Sweckler, who IN turn took
her to Sboemake r. After several inter
views with him, she signed the affidavit
and received the money IN W $40 bills
which she had marked with her initials
FOR tho purpose OF Identification.
The supposed Mrs. Hannigan, who said
her name was Margaret Reah. took the
stand and corroborated this story In dc
tail. producing the money.
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