St. Paul daily globe., 1895-10-29
.FRIENDLESS FIEND.
HOLMES, UNSUPPORTED BY COUN-
Sell, FIGHTS HIS ACCUS-
ERS ALONE.
DlSMISsES HIS LAWYERS.
BY THE JUDGE TO
REMAIN, THEY LEAVE
THE COURT.
NO DELAYS TO BE GRANTED.
Dramatic and Sensational Incl
dents of the Greatest Grim
inal Trial on Record.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Oct 2S.-
II. II. Holmes, or Herman w. Mud
gett, which he says is his baptismal
name, was put ON trial in the court
OF oyer and terminer. today for the
murder of Benjamin F. Pietzel, in
this city, on Sept. 2, 1894, and the de-
velopments of the first day verified,
better, perhaps, than ever before,
the force of the maxim that truth
Is stranger than fiction. From the
nature of the case and the startling
stories concerning 1t which have
gained currency during the past
year, sensationl revelations were
naturally to be expected when he
who has come to be regarded as the
most skillful and audacious criminal
OF modern times was placed on trial
for his life. Yet what did occur in
court so far surpassed all expecta-
tions that the most vivid flights of
imagination could scarcely have
conceived today's events. Protes-
taitions and entreaties for a contin-
uance of the trial summarily over
ruled; the sudden withdrawal of the
lawyers who had hitherto represent
ed the prisoner, in the face of the
threats of disbarment; the appoint
nent by the court of new counsel
and the refusal by the prisoner to
iaecept them as his defenders; the
declination Of another lawyer to
serve, after being selected by
Holmes; and finally, the prisoner try
ing his own case. This, not to speak
of ssandry dramatic passages at arms
between Holmes and the common
wealth's prosecuting officer, is
summary of what occurred.
Long before 10 o. clock, the hour set
for the opening of court, an eager
crowd thronged the corridors with
out The regulations were so com
plefe, however, that none but law
Vers, witnesses, jurors and newspa-
per representatives were permitted
to pass the Gordon of police, which
formed barrier across the entrance
to the particular corridor leading to
the cout room, and the force of court
officers who guarded every entrance
to the room. This prevented undue
croWding, although every seat in the
big room was occupied. The general
public will be admitted to the ca
pacity of the gallery, which will seat
about 500, when the taking of testi-
n1OnV iS ,hQo-11r7 TOM fx,~y~o,x,
CHASTITY HOLMES.
The clocks of the town had scarce
ly ceased striking 10 when Judge
Arnold, clad in the long black gown
which was recently adopted by the
Philadelphia judiciary, entered and
took his seat on the bench. Dis
trict Attorney Graham and his spe-
cial assistant, Thomas w. Barlow.
were already in court, but a delay
OF fifteen minutes was occasioned
by the non-appearance of counsel for
the defense, William A, Shoemaker
and Samuel Protan, young members
OF the bar. During the wait, Holmes.
who had been brought up from
Moyamensing prison in the van,
guarded eveninside the closed wagon
by an officer, was placed in the
small dock. This is a small square
enclosure at the further end of the
jury box and Immediately behind
the tables allotted to the prisoners
attorneys. Holmes, who at the time
OF his arrest in Boston on Nov. II
last was a stockily built man of
middle height, has since his long
confinement grown gaunt and hol-
low-chested. The prison bleach has
brought his peaked face to a death
like pallor, heightened by the dark,
closely cropped beard. In appear
ance, as he sat in the dock today,
he was neatness itself. The beard
was carefully trimmed, the hair
smoothly parted, and the black
cheviot suit he wore betrayed no
spot or blemish. His demeanor
throughout, save on one or two occa-
sions wher. he gave way to slight
bursts of anger, directed at the dis
trict attorney, was characterized by
that marvellous display Of nerve
which has become associated with
his name. The original intention of
the commonwealth was to hold three
sessions of court daily-morning aft
ernoon and night-but so much time
was consumed by the unexpected
developments that it was nearly 5
O'Clock when District Attorney Gra-
ham concluded his opening address
to the jury. In view of this, and to
avoid breaking the testimony of the
first witness by the supper recess, it
was decided to adjourn until tomor-
row morning. Hereafter, however,
the original programme will be fol-
lowed
DEFENDING HIMSELF.
The days proceedings began when
Messrs. Shoemaker and Protan
moved for a sixty days continuance
on the ground of lately discovered
evidence. This was promptly re-
fused, as was also their motion for
continuance until tomorrow. Find
ing the judge inexorable they, as a
atst resort, declared that they would
Withdraw from the case. Judge Ar
mold warned them that if they did so
they would lay themselves open to
disbarment. Thereupon Holmes de-
clared.from the dock that under the
circuHls tances he would not permit
them to defend him. He therefore
dismissed them from his service, and
the lawyers left the room, in spite of
the courts threats. Judge Arnold
then appointed E. M. Schofield and
j. M. Fahy to assume charge of the
defense; but again Holmes inter
posed He declared that he would