The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-28
LINES TRIAL ON.
The Accused Murderer of B. T.
PitZel in Court.
The Author of Many and
AtrOciOus Crimes.
THE PRISONER PALE.
He Appeared Nervous When
Placed in the Dock.
Holmes Creates a Sensation by
Asking Counsel to Withdraw.
THE PRISONER PALE.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Oct % H. H
Holmes, who. according TO his own re-
markable confessions, stands at the head
of the list of modern criminals, was put
on trial in the court of oyer and terminer
this morning for the murder of Benjamin
F. Pitzel.
Arrayed against him as the common
wealth prosecutors are District Attorney
Graham and his special assistant, Thos.
| w. Barlow, while the counsel for the
prisoner are William A. Shoemaker and
Samuel p Rotam, young members of the
bar of this city. Judge McReynolds is
on the bench.
So many aliases have been worn by the
man on trial during the course of his
spectacular career that his baptism al
name, Herman Mudgett has almost been
lost sight Of.
On September 3, 1884, the corpse of
man was found in the second story of a
ramshackle building at 1916 Callow Hill
street, this city. The dead man had been
known as B. +. Perry.
The body was lying on the floor and
by its side was i pipe partly filed with
| tobacco. The face was bIacken and
blistered as if from burns, and near by
lay broken bottle which had contained
benzine. From appearances an explos-
ion had occurred while the man was
lighting his pipe. Some small drops OF
blood on the floor were credited to
slight wounds on his neck. The police
believed the affair was an accident, and
no one for moment entertained the
theory of murder.
Among the effects found in the room
were several letters from Perry's wife in
St. Louis, the signatures 10 which had
been torn off To the neighbors Perry
had been known simply as an inventor.
The cOroner's physicians held an au-
topsy, and finding evidences of chloro-
form and contested lungs the jury gave
verdict of death from inhaling the
fumes of chloroform.
About three weeks after this occur
renee, Jeptha D. Howe, a st. Louis at
torney after corresponding with Coroner
shbridge, came to this city and asserted
that the body of the supposed Perry was
that of Benjamin +. PItzel, of St Louis
and that he, Howe, was here to collect
$4,000 insurance from the Fidelity
Mutual Insurance company, for which
amount a policy had been made out in
favor of Mrs. Pitzel, in Chicago, year
before.
Meanwhile, Holmes, who had intro
duced Pitzel to the insurance agents
when the latter was insured, was induced
by them to come to Philadelphia and
identify the body. This he did posi-
lively and so did Alice Pitzel, the six
teen year old daughter of the dead man.
With this unequivocal testimony, the
insurance company paid the money.
Here the first stage of this extraordinary
affair came to close. The
second opened some time afterward in
manner smacking strongly of the dime
novel Marian G. Heds peth, the not0ri-
Gus train robher in jail in ST. Louis one
day made d remark that Holmes, while
in an adjoining cell had conspired with
Pitzel aud Howe to sWindle Il Philadel-
phia insurance company by substituting
a body supposed to be that of Pitzel.
Detectives took up this clue and
worked for weeks, but not trace could
be found of Mr.. Pizel, Mrs Pitzel or
the children.
Holmes however was arrested on Nov.
II in Boston. He was made to write a
decoy letter 10 Mrs. Pitzel inducing her
to come to Boston whore she was ar
rested, and together they were brought
to Philadelphia. The woman was subse-
quently released, but has since been
under the surveillance of the police.
Holmes, by his own confession has
been implicated directly or indirectly in
three deliberate murders, the disap-
Dearance and possible mu der of three
children, bigamy and many conspiracies
to one of which ne has already plead
ed guilty in court and in fact almost ev-
cry crime On the calendar.
Only enough people were admitted to
we'll fill the court room today without
uncomfortably crowding it.
Promptly at II o'clock Holmes was
brought into court and placed in the
dock. He was plainly nervous and
looked about the room with shifty ex-
preston.
Mr.. Graham for the prosecution in
stantly asked that the case proceed. Mr..
Shoemaker asked for a continuance of
the case.
Mr.. Rotan for the defense also pleaded
for respite, but it was overruled by
Judge Arnold.
Mr., Shoemaker and Mr. Rotan created
a mild sensation by saying that if the
judges decision was irrevocable they
would withdraw from the case. but
Judge Arnold spoiled this by declaring
that member of the bar who would
withdraw from a murder case on the
very eve of its trial would be called upon
to show cause why he should not be dis
barred for unprofessional conduct
"Will your honor allow the case to go
over until tomorrow morning?" pleaded
Mr.. Rotan.
Call a Jury said the judge firmly,
and the calling of jury was begun.
One Juror had been admitted by the
commonwealth when there was another
sensation.
Holmes arose in the dock and in 4
ouivering voice said TO Judge Arnold:
MAY it please the court l have no incli-
nation to continue with the trial of this
case with Mr.. Rotan and Mr.. Shoemaker
as my counsel, feeling that in view of
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