The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-31
MRS. PITzEL'S TALE.
She Testifies Against the Ac-
cused Murderer Holmes.
She Breaks Down When Asked
About Her Children.
A DISTRESSING STORY.
Husband Spirited Away and
Murdered for Greed.
Holmes Keeps Up His Nerve and
Doesn't Finch.
A DISTRESSING STORY.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 3i.-tor four long
hours yesterday, under the scrutiniz-
ing gaze of court room crowded with
strangers to her, pale, worn woman
underwent an ordeal which well might
have broken the nerve of many a
strong man. She was Mrs. Carrie
Alice PietzeL With bravery and for
titude she stood the test, in spite of
the fact that her physical condition
has been so shattered by the battalion
of woes under which she has all but
succumbed that she was obliged to in
terrupt her pitiful narrative at fre-
quent intervals to accept spoonfuls of
medicine from the trained nurse who
attended her. In a voice broken
with grief, she told the whole dis
Iressing story. How her husband
was spirited away from her and MUIR
dered out of sheer greed of gain;
how she babe her little ones good by,
cOnfiding them to the care of the man
Holmes in all truthfulness, little
thinking that when she next should
see them the two little girls would be
lying side by side on the marble slab
of a morgue, cold in death, and the
boy parcel of moldering bones. Be-
tween her bitter sobs, she related
every detail-from the first meeting
with Holmes almost up to to-day, and
so affecting was her story, that even
District Attorney Graham, long used
to tales of grief and distress, paused in
examination to wipe away furtive
tear.
The woman's physical condition was
such that the court had to repeat her
testimony after her because of her
weak voice. Throughout it all the
shrunken, pallid figure in the dock,
to one unfamiliar with the shocking
story, would never be taken for the
arch criminal of tie age, sat unmoved.
Not muscle Quivered, not lash
moved even when the strain became
SO great that the hearing halted to
give the wretched woman an oppOr-
tunity to recover herself.
There were other witnesses called,
but naturally Mrs. Pietzel's testimony
was the feature of the day. She went
on the stand at $50 in the afternoon,
Immediately upon the reassembling Of
court after the lunch recess, and re-
NAMED there, except for the evening
intermission, until $50 o'clock. The
other incidents of the day were the
reading of statements made by
| Holmes to the Boston police when
first arrested there on November II
last, telling the story of the con-
| spiracy to swind1e the insurance COM
| pany out Of $4,000 on PietzePs life
| The cross examination of the wit
| uesses was conducted actively by
! Messrs. Shoemaker and Rotan. but it
was apparent that it was really
| Holmes himself who was conducting
the defense. He continued to take
| cOpious notes, and almost momentari-
| ~ his attorneys were at the dock side,
accepting suggestions from him.
Still the wonder is the exhibition of
nerve made by the man Holmes. Not
a change passed over his features dur
! ing the day, and at many critical
points of the testimony he sat care
lessly reading a newspaper. In the
opinion of all those who heard, except
possibly Holmes and his attorneys,
the evidence was strong enough to
send him to the gallows. There will
be a pretty point of law in the case
presently. There is a law here that
wife cannot testify against her hus-
band. In spite of this Mr.. Graham
declared that he would call the alleged
Mrs. Holmes, or Howard to the stand.
This is why he has been combating
| Holmes assertion that this woman,
whom Mr.. Graham persists in calling
Miss Yoke, is his lawful wife.