The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-19
HE BIT LIKE A TROUT
Attorney Shoemaker Has Put Him
self Into q Nice Boat.
TWAS A VERY CLEVER TRICK
Holmes Senior Counsel Charged
With Subornation and the Ac-
cusation Looks as II II
Might Stick.

eventually destroys all who ally them
selves with him, found another victim
to-day. The first swift turn this ex-
traordinary case took was on the first
day of the recent trial. when the arch
criminal dismissed his lawyers and the
prisoner at the bar" became counsel
for the defense. To-day the tables
were turned. and senior counsel for the
defense became a prisoner at the bar.
William Shoemaker, the young alttor-
ney, whose first association with the
case Is obscured in the mystery which
envelopes its every detail, passed
through an ordeal as severe as any his
client has been called to face. The cri-
sis came when ne was held under $500
bail to answer a charge of subornation
of perjury. This means that the man
ufactured evidence Ito prove that Ben
jamin F. Pitzel, for whose murder
Holmes was convicted two weeks ago.
committed suicide and that he. Shoema-
ker, paid a woman $40 to sign and
swear to this. But the commonwealth
had supplied the woman, although
Shoemaker was ignorant of this. and
after he had produced this "after-dis-
covered evidence and read 1t with
great impressiveness to the court, and
asked that the argument on the mo-
ton for a new trial. which had been
fixed for to-day. be postponed, to give
him and his associate counsel. Samuel
p. Rotan. time to turn out this and
other clues recently obtained. then It
was that District Attorney Graham
arose and exposed the plot.
His declaration came like a thunder
bolt. The court stared in wide-eyed
amazement; the spectators turned in
their chairs and gasped; the accused
lawyer sank back in his seat livid and
tremulous, while his innocent associate
glared at him with unveiled horror,
but the prisoner in the dock rested his
cold, blue eyes on the shrinking figure
of his legal representative and smiled
with scorn.
Briefly told, the details of the charges
are these: The trial for the Pitzei muir
der was not two days old when Shoe
maker approached a private detective
named John Schweichler and asked
him to procure a woman who lived
around Twelfth or Thirteenth street
and Callowhin or Vance streets who
would swear to certain facts in con-
nection with the finding of Pitzers
body. Schweichler assented. but in
stead of straightway getting the wo-
man, he lOiu MS StOTy 10 DeleCLlNe
Geyer. who. for the commonwealth,
brought to light the evidence of
Holmes murder of the children. Geyer
submitted ii to the district attorney
and a most skillful trap was prepared.
a trap which has brought about the
ruin of the opposing attorney. Under
instructions, Geyer went to Mrs. Mar
garet Reap. matron of the Fourth dis
trict police station, and she, under the
name of Blanche A. Hannigan. was
taken to Shoemaker by Schweichler.
Meantime, Shoemaker had prepared an
affidavit stating that the deponent had
known Pitzel, and to her he had ex-
pressed his intention of committing
suicide. Mrs. Hannigan readily signed
and swore to this and Shoemaker gave
her two $40 bills for so doing.
On each bill she marked the initials
I'D. A H" and to-day she exhibited
them in court. Shoemaker walked into
the trap blindfolded. When he read
the affidavit to the court, he declared
that it's contents had been dictated to
him by the woman. A moment after
wards. drrefutable testimony was pro-
duced showing that he himself made
up the affidavit and dictated 1t to
stenographer before he had even asked
Schweichler to procure a woman to
sign 1t. and that he had not 50 much
as read or explained ats purpose to
Mrs. Hannigan.
Judge Arnold. who was upon the
bench during the trial. had called in
Judges Thayer and Wilson to hear and
decide with hdm on the merits of to-
days arguments for a new trial As
the strange revelation came. the three
| judges did not hesitate. by their bear
| ing and words. to manifest their sense
of the gravity of the accused lawyers
situation. Judge Arnold afterwards
privately stated that disbarment pro-
ceedings would be considered after the
disposition of the pending charge
against Shoemaker.
District Attorney Graham reviewed
the testimony against Holmes in de-
tail, and urged that the case had been
proved beyond the possibility of a reas-
enable doubt. and that the granting OF
a new trial would entail great expense
and trouble and possibly result in a
perversion OF Justice. Mr.. Rotan made
the closing address 10 the court, but
developed no new contention. simply
reiterating and emphasizing his former
declarations. and maintaining that Pit
eel had committed suicide and that
the commonwealth had produced no
new evidence TO controvert that aSser-
ton
AT the conclusion OF the arguments.
Judge Thayer. speaking for the court.
said that they would give the case
their gravest consideration. Then
turning TO Mr.. Shoemaker. the Judge
said: II regret that l now have a
very disagreeable duty 20 perform to-
wards you. a member Of this bar and
an attorney of this court In view OF
the Developments OF this morning and
the testimony Of the witnesses. whom
you have heard concerning the use