Evening star., 1895-11-01
Defense in the Holmes Trial Will
Be Short.
Case MAY GO TO TEE JURY FONIGHf
Miss Yoke on the Stand for Cross
Examination.
ROSECU TION CLOSE S

cress of the Holmes murder trial reminds
one of book hints to young play
wrights. The one point upon which stress
is laid is to keep the interest on an ascend
ing scale The celebrated trial has
done this better than the strongest play
ever penned, and it's succeeding acts have
been such that one witnessing them in a
play would say '"This is very strong and
all that, but then it's play. Such things
never happen in nfe."
As every new day comes the air of ex-
pectancy i'll the court room seems to be
more pronounced, and thus far 1t has not
been disappointed. When today's session
was begun, everybody was looking for
ward to the prospect of Holmes going on
the stand, as he announced the other day.
The commonwealth has promised to close
its case today and in all probability, the
prisoner will be the first. and perhaps the
only witness for the defense. Although the
strange case is still the one topic of talk,
interest in it has been considerably lessen
ed by Judge Arnold's decision last night
that no evidence bearing on the murders
of the children or anything but the death
of Benjamin F. Pitezel shall be introduced.
Mrs. Pitczel Recalled.
Today's session was begun by the recall
ing of Mrs. Pitezel. Mr.. Graham asked her
If there were any cuffs to the shirt she yes
terday identified as her husbands, and she
replied that Holmes had taken them from
the trunk and destroyed them. This was the
only question.
On ncross-examinatio ton Mr.. Shoemaker rig
idly questioned the unfortunate woman
concerning her travels with Holmes and her
subsequent arrest for conspiracy. His ap-
parent intention was to show that Mrs.
Pitezel had been the controlling influence
during the ramblings throughout the coun-
try. and that she carried Holmes about in
attempt to evade arrest.
You want to prove that she was not Iril-
by. but Svengali," suggested Judge Arnold.
THAT she led him?'
rna rR NUac dro ox1yr out hx-1 re
over the relevancy of the cross-exam!na-
ton, which was not pushed further.
Edward H. cass. Chicago agent for the
ed. testified that he had visited Holmes
house at Willamette, Ill. He did not see
Holmes. but met woman calling herself
Mrs. Holmes. He identified her picture, in
which she Is shown holding infant
Holmes child. lovingly against her face.
John King, who read the proofs of Holmes
book, Amy Long. and Agent Perry of the
insurance company. identified Holmes hand
writing
The commonwealth offered in evidence
the letters and papers. pictures and the
Holmes book and rested its case.
This was another blow to the morbidy
inclined, who. cheated Of view of the
bones of the murdered boy and the other
CHASTITY accessories of the story, had count
ed on seeing at least the skull of the mur-
dered Pitezel, which is In the custody of the
district attorney.
The defense here asked to recall Miss
Yoke for recross-examnation on the Ques-
tion of her marriage with Holmes. which
was not brought out in her examination
yesterday. She was brought into court and
given a seat on the witness stand.
Mrs. Holmes" began Mr.. Rotan to the
woman who calls herself Miss Yoke, were
you ever married to the prisoner?'
Il was"
when and where?"
ION January II, 1894, at Denver, by Rev.
Mr.. Wilcox
"At the time of this marriage did you
know of the existence of this Willamette
womanr
II believe I did"
"Was she called Mrs. Holmes?'
Il don't remember"
you were sure when you married him
that he was not married to the Willamette
woman"
Il knew nothing of the woman"
did you know anything of any other
marriage?" asked Mr.. Graham.
Il had heard of another"
'"To whom"
II don't know the name"
"Gilmantoh, N. H.
What did Holmes tell his family to ex-
cuse his marriage with you when he had a
wife at Gilmanton?"
II was not with him when he visited
them"
Did his sister tell you what he said to
"She did. His sister told me that he had
told her he had been injured in a wreck,
and lay long time in hospital; that was
patroness of the hospital, and had asked
the physicians to perform an operation on
him which saved his mind. and that I had
married him before he realized who he
was. l never Elet the Gilmanton woman "
When yon charged him with the matter
what did he say?"
He said he had received word that she
was dead"
"Was there any truth in the story he
told your
mot any truth"
when you married him you believed you
were becoming a lawful wife,
II did"
"Or you wouldn't have married him?"
II would not
Now, tell what deception he used te
consummase this marriage. What did HI
represent"
HE told my mother that his uncle hat
died and left him certain properties in the
south, the west and in Fort Worth, pro
viding he took his uncle's name-Henrs
Mancill Howard. He said he had no rela
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
Counsel for defense made objection to the
admission of this testimony, or anything
Eel. They also asked for an exception t.
the irrelevant matters mentioned by tn,
district attorney in his opening argument
but Judge Arnold said that was not a mat
ter of record. and overruled the motion.
Miss Yoke, at the conclusion of her testi
mony retired to the crier's desk, and lait
chair. Then she was led from the cour
room. Her presence did not move Holme
today.
Court at o'clock took an hours recess.
Lawyer Rotan of counsel for Holme
said during the recess that he expected t
close his side of the case in about tw
fOurs, and that there was every probability
of the case going to the jury tonight.
Changes in the Interior Department
The following official changes have bee
made In the Department of the Interior:
Office of the observation-disclosures Roc
ney S. Nedder of California, clerk 81. 400 t
$1,000; f. Harry Weisbrod of Pennsylvania
fireman, s12O. to assistant engineer, 81, ,OO
Death, Martin j. Nolan of Pennsylvania
$500.
Patent off1ce-Appontment: Edward "
Vail, jr, of Wisconsin, fourth assstar
examiner 81. 200. Promotion: Miss Ella
C!app of North Carolina. copyist, S72O,
$780, Resignation: Miss Eleanore F. Poo
of New York. copyist, $500.