The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1895-11-04
He Was Convicted Of Muir
der in First Degree.
THE JURY WAS OUT FOUR HOURS
Prisoners IarN elous Nerve Did Not
FOrsake Him When the Fatal
Words We're Spoken.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 3. = Henry H.
Holmes was convicted of murder in the
first degree at 8:15 tonight for killing
Benjamin F. PItezel. He coughed
slightly when he heard the words. This
was the only sign.
The jury retired to deliberate at 5 40
this afternoon. According to one of
their number, they reached their YER
dict before the doors of their room closed
upon them. For hunger's sake, they ate
their supper first. Then they took a
ballot, and, without hesitation, every
man of the ~ answered.
Guilty of murder in the first de-
gree"
But, however atrocious the crime,
however fiendish the criminal, it is hard
to send man to the gallows in one min
ute's time; so, for decency's sake, they
talked about the case for seemly period
about an hour and half. Then word
was sent into court that they had agreed.
This was at 8:15. 1t took half an hour
to get the court in readiness to receive
the verdict. Holmes spoke to his coun-
sal, Rotan and Shoemaker, in the cell
room because he was Immediately taken
back to Moyamensing prison. To them
he said:
81 feel that this condemns me. 1twas
an unjust trial.
He would say no more than that. I'm
mediately after tue verdict, the usual ap-
plication for leave to file motion for a
new trial was made. District Attorney
Graham did not oppose the motion, and
Judge Arnold set the 18th of this month
for hearing. The principal reason
urged will be lack of time for the prepa-
ration of the defense. Should a new
trial be refused, an appeal will be taken
to the supreme court, and argument
heard at its next sitting in this city,
January, 1896. So, even if everything
goes against him, Holmes has yet some
time to spend on earth, from which he
is alleged to have sent SO many fellow
mortals.
The verdict was a surprise to many
persons, who did not believe the crime
had been fastened upon Holmes beyond
a reasonable doubt. When they heard
it they said:
"Well, it was on general principles,
and it is just as good"
That is not the meaning of the law
but in this case every body agrees that
''it is just as WELL" Thele is no word
OF pity or sympathy for the condemned
man. He is regarded as a menace to
society. Up in Gilmanton, N. H,
there are two old people, his father and
mother. And he has also two brothers.
and two sisters. Not one of his kin was
heard from during the trial.
When the jury went out, an indefinite
recess was taken. Judge Arnold said he
would remain IN the building until mid
night, if necessary; and if no verdict
had been reached by that time, he |
would come again at ten tomorrow
morning.
Nobody believed there would be occa-
sion for this. There were MANY waoers
that the verdict would be in tonight, and !
more as to its nature. At 40 there was
oustle OF moving people in the packed |
courtroom, and it became known that
the jury was coming in. A moment |
later, Judge Arnold took his seat. Dis |
trict Attorney Graham and his associates |
entered the courtroom ,and the jury filed |
solemnly in and took their seats in the |
box. Then Holmes was brought in and |
placed in the dock. For a moment. |
there was not sound. The silence was