The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-30

Jeanette PietZei, the Daughter OF the
Dead Man, the First Witness Called
--She Identified Several Pictures of
Her Father-- Eugene Smith Gives a
Detailed Account OF the Finding of
PieIzeI's Body--Says Holmes Offered
to Paw $50 to Have the Body Bprned.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 20.-It became
apparent tonight that the picture que
and startling features of H. H. Holmes
career were not to be confined to his
destructive wanderings over the Amerl-
can continent, for with each successive
day comes something still more strange
and unexpected
Yesterday, he dismissed his counsel
and began TO try his own case becanse
the court refused to grant the plea mad
by them n a ,ntinuance Tnev left the
cour5 in spite Of Judge Arnold's threats t.
disbar hem. aud reIeutlessiy kept aw y.
To night, after fighting tooth and nail
sicgle handed against the tremendous
machinery of the Commonwealth,
and the apparently complete chain OF
evidence which has been forged
around MIN, he threw up his hands and
sent for bis lawyers, Messrs.
Shoemaker and Rotan. Then ne told
the court what he had done, aud
a reluctant crnsent to their continuing
with the defense was given. There was
an impression that this was but
another piece of by play fol
lowing Holmes personal fa@are
to carch the sympathy of the court
and jury by making himself out much
wronged man, forced 70 fight alone what
may prove TO be his last battle, in spi-e
of his ignorance of the technicaliti9s Of
the Law and his alleged physical in
trinity
At 10o'clock the jury was brought into
the room and Judge Arnold, appearing
moment later, court was formally
opened
The days proceedings were begun by
District Attorney Graham, who arose and
said to the court: Il desire to say to the
court. in view of what was said last
night before the adjournment of court,
that the lady known as Miss Yoke and
Mrs Howard was sent for, saw the pris
oner. and had ample opportunity for an
interview with him. !"
This is the woman concerning whom
there was warm passage at arms last
evening between Mr.. Graham and
Holmes, the latter declaring that the
woman was his wife, and that Mr.. Ora
ham had done all in his power to sepa
rate them.
When Mr. Graham concluded Holmes
said that he had only had three-miGute
interview with the woman, and asked
that it be renewed during the noon re-
cess HIS request was granted.
Jeanette Piefzel, ODESSA, the daugh-
ter of the dead man, was the first wit
ness called She is slender, pale girl
o. ab ut IL, and was neatly attired in
dark gray. She was called merely to
identify several large crayons of her
father, which she did John Townsend.
. photographer employed in the detective
service, and VIM. Fl Rau, a private pho
tographer. then identified the photo
graph of Holmes taken by them after his
arrest.
Eugene Smith, who found Pietzels
body in a CaIlowhill street house on
Sep ember 4th, 1894, then told detailed
story of his discovery, which has be n
already fully published. He had become
acquainted with the dead man
on August 22ud 1894, through business
concerning patents which Pietzel
was supposed to have held. He
saw him several times during the follow
ing week. Witness drew pack Of
papers from his pocket; when be came to
the dares, Holmes objected to his re-
ferriDg to them, unless they were 10 his
own handwr. ting Smith admitted that
the papers had been prepared" and the
court sustained the objection.
Smith said that during his first visit to
Pietzel, whom he knew by the name of
Perry, Holmes came in and, after giving
a nod or sign to Pietzel, went up stairs,
A moment later Pietzel excused himself
and followed him. He returned very
shortly, but Holmes remained up stairs.
The witness was present when the corpse
of Pietzel was exhumed from the potter's
aeld, and was there first introduced
to Holmes Lawyer Howe, of st. Louis;
Alice Pletzel, the Young daughter,
aud the insurance officers were the' e.
The body was recognized by the witness
as Pietzel's Holmes offered thirty dol
lars to have the rpse cremated, and
asked how about it. The lawyer an
swered that rhe wild )w would have to be
consulted Holmes told the in urance
people of the marks of Identification aud
after the body had oeen dug up he pulled
cut a lance and cut wart and other
marks from the corps
At this time witness had recognized
Holm as the man he had seen up
stairs in the Call0whill street house.
Holmes on cross-examination asked a
number of immaterial questions but
showed much legal skill in their construc-
ton.
DR. VIM. ] Scott was called, and at
this juncture Holmes asked to have wit
nesses, except the one Oh the stand, ex-
Oluded frJm the room.
Mr.. Graham objected to this, and
Judge Arnold upheld the District Attor
ney. II lines asked for and
was granted an exception to the
ruling Holmes compromised by