Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-31
PIETZEL'S WIDOW.
She Tells Aef Sad Story on the Stand
IN Court.
IDENTIFIES
HOLMES.
SHE
The Latter Displays Remarkable
StOlidity on Facing His Victim,
Whose Testimony II Damaging tn
Him in the Extreme.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 90
Branded though he is as a prevaricator,
swind,es. and murderer. the picture
drawn to-day OF Holiness cold-hearted
villiany by Mrs. Pietzel, the widow of
the man for whose murder he is being
tried. presents him in even a more re-
voting character than he has yet stood
revealed.
Whatever sympathy might have been
excited by Holiness friendless and for
lorn condition WIS effectualy killed in
the breasts Of all the hearers OF Mrs
Petzel's story. She was placed upon the
wltness-stand to-day, and for three hours
| this afternoon and one hour Tonight she
was subjected to an ordeal that no
woman in her condition had ever been
called upon TO face. Her story furnished
the first really sensational feature that
has yet been brought out. The whole
scene and the events of the afternoon
were intensely dramatic. Mrs. Pietzel
and Holmes have never been brought
! face to face until to-day since the dread
| full revelations Of her children's murder
came out.
When woman, bent and feeble, was
assisted TO the witness-box there was a
| craning OF necks In the courtroom, for
| II was at once surmised that this was
| Mrs. Pietzel. Whether Holmes had
| schooled himself to face her or whether
the man really lacked sensibility. 1t was
| impossible to say. but as the woman
stood erect before him he exhibited no
emotion of any kind but on the con
/ trary gaZed fixedly at her for fully a
minute.
AS the woman came into the full light
Of the courtroom she plainly showed
that she had borne a burden Of sor-
row and trouble, that has proved too
heavy for her. Her skin was sallow
and her face was heavy and lifeless.
Above her sunken cheeks her lack-lustre
eyes stared steadily in front Of her. with
meaningless gaze. She resembeld
woman under the influence OF some
strong drug that had dulled her senses.
rather than one In full possession of her
faculties.
She sank into a chair and crouched
there like an animal that stands in fear
of the lash She was so weak that
throughout the giving OF her testimony
the court officers stood by her side and
repeated aloud her whispered replies TO
the questions asked her. Only once
look in Holiness direction. At the be
ginning OF her testimony she was asked
If she knew the prisoner. She cast one
hurried glance in his direction. and then
quickly averted her eyes and replied
that she did.
STORY OF KNAVERY.
1t was "A story of duplicity and knavery
that she related 10 the Court. She
was led somewhat hurriedly over the
events prior to Pietzers death. Then
she told of Holiness coming TO her and
telling her that her husband still lived,
but was in hiding for his connection
with the swinde of the insurance com
pany; and how he persuaded her TO send
her daughter, Alice, to identify the sup
posed body of her father: of his return
10 her home, in ST. Louis. and the ex-
tortion from her by sharp practice OF
all but $500 of the 500 she received i'm
payment of her husbands insurance
policy, and OF the persuasions he used TO
secure possession OF two of her other
children, whom he took away with him.
1t was from this period that Holiness
cruel practices began.
Yearning for sight Of her husband
and children. Holmes led her from city
to city. with the Elusive hope before her
that she would soon meet her loved ones.
So thoroughly was she under his influence
that she gave him her letters TO post 10
her husband and children. and. while
her heart was breaking for a word from
her little ones. he was carrying around
in his pocket letters from them to her
After the death OF the children Holmes
carried his receptions SO far as TO bring |
10 her a letter written i'm cipher pur-
porting to be from one of her little girls. |
He also worked this strategem in let |
fpr al In ha
Never once did he give her a hint that |
she would probably never see her hus-
band again. and he constantly told her |
that her children were well and happy
Throughout this long recital Mrs Piet- |
eel had borne up with fortitude: but
when Mr.. Graham asked her if she ever
saw the children after she gave them
into Holiness charge. she gave way and
sobbed. quietly but bitterly. before she
could answer. Not whisper was heard
in the courtroom as the woman raised
her head. and. in broken voice. replied
Il never saw my little girls again until
| saw them lying side by side In the
morgue at Toronto. and / never saw
Howard again. but was only shown some
things that belonged TO him in lndianapo-
lis"
DAMAGING TO HOLMES.
Mrs. Pietzers testimony was most dam
aging TO Holmes, and the cross-exam
nation by counsel for the defence In no
way served TO help him. With the advent
Of his counsel into the case to-day the
current which was bearing Holmes swift
~ away when he was alone was slightly
stemmed. Although his two attorneys
have as yet decided upon no definite line
Of defence. they were better able TO take
advantage of technicalities that arose.
Holmes himself was Of great assistance
to them and suggested most of the ques-
tons that were asked the witnesses
The Commonwealth to-day had its wit
nesses upon the stand TO prove the con-
spiracy 10 swindle the insurance com
)any, and the consequent motive for the
Killing Of Pietzel. When court adjourn
"A tonight the prosecution had not offer
"a all the testimony of this character.
md will have several witnesses to swear
10 these circumstances in the morning.
The prosecution claims to have convinc-
ng evidence To convict Holmes. and the
District Attorney and his assistant are
satisfied that they will easily prove their
,ase
The defence will ask the Court to-mor-
ow for a continuance for half day or
10. so as To enable them 10 prepare their