The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-30
HOLMES A MAN OF IRON NERVE.
HE WRITES ALL NIGHT AND CON-
DUCTS HIS CASE ALL DAY.

Opening of the Days Proceedings.
The Dead Mans Daughter and the
Man Who Found the Corpse Among
the Days Witnesses.
Philadelphia, Oct 2s-The second day
of the Holmes trial did not attract nearly
so great a crowd this morning as yester-
day, as the public had learned they would
not be admitted to the court room.
Throughout all last night I'm the loneli-
ness of his cell in the county prison.
Holmes worked steadily. preparing his
case. He filed sheet after sheet Of fools
cap, and the watches outside his cell door
wondered when he would seek some rest
1t was only as the first rays of the sun
began to find its way through the narrow
slit that does duty for windows in the
cells Of the county prison that Holmes
threw himself on his cot. he slept but an
hour, and then was up again and was
| busy writing until told it was time to
start for court. Promptly at 10 o'clock
the jury filed into the box.
moment afterwards Holmes entered.
Despite his long and sleepless night, he
looked fresh and bright, and while watt
ing for the district attorney to come in
! he chatted with the court officers. In
compliance with Holmes request, the
dock was much nearer the bar than yes
terday. The change was made in order
that Holmes might better hear the court,
and be heard. A small deal table with
tooiscap and pens and ink was In front
Of him.
District Attorney Graham announced to
| the court that Mrs. Howard, as Holmes
latest wife, is known. had seen the pris-
oner this morning before he was brought
| into court. What took place at this in
known
| and the woman.
The proceedings at this mornings ses-
| sion were dun and uninteresting on the
| surface, but an undercurrent Of interest
| was given them by the appearance of
| what Will probably be Holmes defense.
| The prisoner consumed much unneces-
| sary time in asking witnesses immaterial
questions and with constant succession
/ of requests preferred to the court. Dis
| trict Attorney Graham proposes to allow
Holmes every latitude and will not op-
pose any objections to the amount of time
| he may consume. The district attorney
! does this because ef Holmes desperate
/ position alone and without counsel, and
| that when the trial is over IL cannot be
| said that the prisoner has not had every
| chance.
The commonwealth has about twenty
| five witnesses to call and Holmes also pro-
! poses to call some. At the rate Of pro-
gress made this morning the trial would
consume fully two weeks, but as night
sessions are going toAbe held. from now on,
and as it Is likely That Holmes will ex-
| consumption of time, it is probable the
| trial will be expedited.
1t would seem from the line of question
| ing pursued by Holmes this morning that
| he will base his defense on the theory
| that Pitezel committed suicide From the
| district attorneys opening argument, and
already examined this defense is untena-
| BILE, and unless Holmes can bring out
| some stronger facts than appear he is al
| ready a convicted man.
The witnesses at the mornings session
| of the court were Pitezels eldest daugh-
| ter, Jeannette, Eugene Smith, the man
| who discovered Pitezels body, and who
knew Pitezel under the name Of Perry,
| these two for purposes of Identification;
and two physicians, Drs. Scott and Mat
| caused by chloroform poisoning.
| During the recess Holmes again saw
his wife Miss Yohe)
The court reconVened at 2:30 o'clock
| DR.. Scott resumed his place on the wit
ness stand. and Holmes began his cross
| examination.
DIR. Mattern, who is physician to the
| coroner, was also cross examined and
he was followed by DR.. Henry Lehman,
| an expert in chemistry. In these exam
nations, Holmes displayed his thorough
| medical knowledge and preparation for
this trial. Holmes announced his inten-
| ton to call all three medical men as wilt
Ashbridge was the next witness, and
then aftidavits made by Holmes and Pit
| ezels daughter In the suits to recover
Holmes asked the court II it would
not order two session day instead of
three, as he was afraid Of breaking
down under the strain and becoming
! sick. He said that he was subject to
| sick headaches, and that he had been
| suffering from one all day. The court
| said that a session would be held to-
night, and then Holmes request would
y At SO o'clock the court adjourned until
The court reconvened promptly at Z
| o'clock, and while waiting for the district
attorney to come in. Holmes busted him
| self in reading an account Of the day s
| proceedings in an afternoon paper. Be
| fore witness had been called Holmes
stated to the court, that. owing to the
| criticism leveled at his counsel for with
| drawing, he had asked them to resume
| charge of his case. In a moment Messrs.
Shoemaker and Rotan, the two lawyers
| who withdrew from the case yesterday
| came to court and the former made an ex-
| planation to Judge Arnold, and he per-
| mitted them to take up the case again.
| They conducted Holmes side OF the case
All of the testimony at the evening ses-
| sion was directed to establishing the iden-
| tity of the body found as that of Pitezel.
| and to some of the movements of Holmes
| in Philadelphia at the time of the death.
| The court adjourned at $3.50 o'clock until
Throughout his long and trying ordeal
| to-day Holmes never once allowed him.
| self to become angry or excited. Only
would interpose objection to his mean
| fngless questions there would come a
| tightening of the lips beneath the brown
| rnustache and a sudden cruel, hardening
| of the clear eyes, that showed that the
| man was putting a great restraint upon
! himself with the evident purpose of try
| ing the effect upon Holmes nerves, the
| district attorney compelled him 10 sit op-
| posite all day to a large crayon portrait
| of the man for whose murder he is being
| tried. But, If such was Mr.. Graham's in
| tention, the portrait might as well have
| been placed before the Syhynx as far as
any erect was produced upon Holmes.
| IN answering the district attorney
| or in making his frequent Inquiries of the
| court Holmes manner was mild even
unto supphcation, and although more
| than one covert sneer was directed to
| the prosecuting officer, at no time through
out the day was this singular mans voice
| raised much above a whisper.
From his line of questioning witnesses.
| II would seem that at one moment he had
| decided upon adopting for his defence
| the theory that Pitezel committed sui
/ eide while drunk, and then he would sud-
! denly swerve off into an entirely different
| direction, and it would appear that he
/ Intended to base his denial Of the muir
i der on the plea that the body was not
/ that Of Pitezel at all, but a substitute Of
! the corpse placed in the house to deceive
] -. -44a.