The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-01
PROSECUTION RESTS.
1t Finishes Examining Wit
nesseS in the Holmes Case.
Defense Tries to Show That Mrs.
Pitzel Helped Holmes.
THE COURTS HUMOR.
Asks if Mrs. Pitzel is Svenga Ii
and Not Trilby.
Miss Yoke Re-CrOsS Examined
Tells of Holmes Deceit.
THE COURTS HUMOR.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov 1.-The progress
of the Holmes trial reminds one of a
book of hints to young play wrights. The
one point upon which stress is laid is to
keep the interest on an ascending scale.
The commonwealth has promised to
close it's case today, and in all
probability the prisoner will be the
frat and perhaps the only witness
for the defense. There is a
pretty general belief that if he goes on
the stand he will do more to hang him
self than all the evidence of the COM
monwealth. Judge Arnold decided last
night that no evidence bearing on the
murders of the children or anything but
the death of Benjamin F. Pitzel shall
be introduced.
Today's session was begun by the re-
calling of Mrs. Pi1zel. Mr.. Graham asked
her if there were any cuffs to the shirts
she yesterday identified as her husbands
and she replied that Holmes had taken
them from the trunk and destroyed
them.
This was the only question.
On cross examination Mr.. Shoemaker
rigidly questioned the unfortunate wo-
man concerning her travels with Holmes
and her subsequent arrest for conspiracy.
Ills apparent lnLeQLlOQ was 10 snow Ludt
Mrs. Piizel had been the controlling in
tlusnce during the ramblings through
out the country and that she carried
Holmes about in an attempt to avoid ar
rest
You want to prove that she was not
Trilby, but Svengali," suggested Judge
Arnold. "That she led him"
John King of New York, who said he
had no business and looked as if he wish
ed he had was called.
"What have you been doing the past
six months?"
Travelling about the country most of
the time"
'And the balance of the timer"
~Reading the manuscript of the book
Holmes own story"
Where was it published?"
"No. 306 Chestnut street; l had charge
of the manuscript and read the proofs"
From whom did you get the manu-
script?"
The defense objected to everything in
reference to the book, but were over
ruled and the witness answered:
al got some of it from Mr.. Shoemaker,
Holmes lawyer and some from Miss
Long,a typewriter in his office, and pub
lished just what [ received"
Amy Long, the type writer referred
to, said she received the manuscript of
the book from Mr. Shoemaker. 1t was
in pencil, and the handwriting was un-
known TO her. A specimen of Holiness
handwriting was shown her, and she
identified it as the same.
Detective Geyer testified that he visited
Holmes cell in search of poison and
found the manuscript of the book there.
He also found in Holmes cell besides
the manuscript letter to John King
about the sale of the book.
The commonwealth offered in evidence
the letters, papers, pictures, and the
Holmes book and rested its case.
The defense here asked to recall Miss
Yoke for re-cross- examination on the
question of her marrisge with Holmes,
which was not brought III her examina-
ton yesterday. She was brought into
court and given a seat on the witness
stand.
''Mrs. Holiness" began ME- Rotan to
the woman who calls herself Miss Yoke,
''were you ever married to the prisoner?.'
81 was"
"When and where?"
"Ou January II, 1894, at Denver by
Rev. Mr.. Wilcox"
Sat the time of this marriage did you
know of the existence of this Willamette
woman?"
81 believe I did"
"Now tell what deception he used to
bring about this marriage What did he
representa-"
"He told my mother that his uncle
had died and left him certain properties
in the south, the west and Fort Worth,
providing he took his uncle's name,
Henry Mancel Howard. He said he
had no relatives living except
an aunt in Africa. found that
he had father, mother, two sisters, and
two brothers. He explained his taking
the name of Pratt, in Fort Worth, by
saying his business complications re-
ouired it."
Miss Yoke, at the conclusion of her tes-
timony retired to the crier's desk, and
laid her head in her hands on the back
of chair. Then she was led from the
court room. Her presence did not move
Hnlrnas fndav