Evening journal., 1895-10-29
THE MULTIMURDERER.
Homes, Alias Mudgett, In the
Prisoners Dock.
HE ACTS AS HIS OWN COUNSEL


Times Spirited Tits with District At.
torney Graham.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 29.-H. II. Holmes
or Herman W. Mudgott, which he says is
his baptismal name, was put on trial in
the court OF oyer and terminer yesterday
for the murder Of Benjamin j.. Ptezel In
this city on sept ., 1894, and the develop.
mcnts OF the first day verified better per
haps than ever before tho force Of tho
maxim that truth Is stranger than fiction
From the nature Of the case and the star
tling stories concerning it which have
gained currency during the past year, sen.
sntional revelations were naturally to be
expected when he who has come 10 be ro.
garded 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 expectations
that the most vivid flights Of imagination
could scarcely have conceived the days
events.
Protestatons and entreatios for con-
tinuance of the trial summarily oyerruled;
the sudden withdrawal of the lawyers
who had hitherto represented the prisoner
in the face of threats Of disbarment; the
appointment by the court of new counsel
and the refusal by the prisoner to accept
them as his defenders; the declination Of
another lawyer to serve after being select
cd by Holmes, and finally the prisoner
trying his own case. This, not Co speak
Of sundry dramatic passages at arms be-
tween Holmes and tho commonwealth
prosecuting officer is a summary Of what
occurred.
Long before 10 O'Clock, the hour set foi
tho opening Of court an eagor crowd
thronged into the courtroom.
The clocks Of the town had scarcely
ceased striking 10 when Judge Arnold,
clad in tho long black gown which was
recently adopted by the Philadelphia iu-
dietary, entered and took his seat upon
the bench, and what promises to be the
most sensational case in the criminal
jurisprudence Of this country was begun.
The prisoner, closely guarded was brought
in and placed in the dock.
Holmes Marvellous Display OF Nerve.
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 hollow
ohested. The prison bleach has brought
his peaked face to a deathlike pallor,
| heightened by the dark, closely cropped
beard. In appearance as he sat in the
was carefully trimmed, the hair smoothly
parted and the black oheviot suit be wore
| betrayed no spot or blemish. His de-
meanor throughout save ON one or two
OCCASIONS when he gave way TO slight
bursts Of anger, directed at the district at
torney, was characterized by that marvel
GUS display Of nerve which hos become as
soclated with his name.
The original intention Of the common
wealth was TO hold three sessions Of court
daily-morning, afternoon and night
| but so much time was consumed by the
unexpected developments that it was
nearly O'Clock whom District Attorney
Graham concluded his opening address to
the jury. In view of this and to avoid
breaking the testimony Of the first wit
moss by tho supper recess It was decided
/ TO adjourn until today. Hereafter, how
ever the original programme will be fol-
lowed.
Tho days proceedings began when
Messrs. Shoemaker and Rotan moved for
a go days continuance on the ground Of
lately discovered evidence This was
promptly refused, as was also their mo-
tion for continuance until today. Find
ing the Judge inexorable they, as a last
resort, declared that they would withdraw
from tho case. Judge Arnold warned
them that IL they did so they would lay
/ themselves opon TO dlsbarment.
Theroupon Holmes declared from the
/ dock that under the circumstances no
would not permit thom TO defend him.
I He therefore dismissed them from his
service, and the lawyers left the room in
! spite of the courts threats. Judge Arnold
then appointed e. NJ. Sohoheld and J. NJ.
/ Fahy TO assume charge of the defense but
. I..Ia. fr.H.. q InN
that he would not place his life I'm the
hands OF two young mon who know the
case only by hearsay, and eventually,
when his personal entreaties for a post
/ ponement were refused, he declared that bo
would himself try the case. Meanwhile
/ ne expressed a desire TO secure the services
/ OF A Attorney Il. o. Moon, but that gentle
man, after learning from the judge that
no could not obtain a continuance, declin-
cd 90 accept the grave responsibility.
The selection OF a jury consumed several
hours. Holmes freely exercising his pre-
rogative Of challenge, and after 12 men
had been secured a recess was taken.
Tho afternoon session was devoted
largely 70 District Attorney Graham's
opening address to tho jury, in which he
outlined the case in detail and subjected
the prisoner to a scathing denunciation.
The Prosecutions Scathing Arraignment.
The district attorney spoke an hour and
90 minutes, concluding at 4:40 o'clock.
/ He then held brief talk with the judge
at the side bar and agreed with him that
I'm view OF the latoness Of the hour it
would be inexpodiont to begin the taking
OF testimony, as tho examination of the
first witness would be interrupted by the
! supper recoss. 1t was therefore dooided
to adjourn court until 10 clock today.
When this became known to Holmes, he
arose in the dock and the last sensation
/ Of day repleto with extraordinary Incl
dents occurred.
May it please your honor ho began,
his weak yoioa vibrating with the emo
tion which his wonderful self control pre-
vented from betraying in his face, Il am
forced to ask that certain privileges be ao-
corded me in prison. They are not very
extensive privileges. must ask the dis
triot attorney TO allow me 60 have in my
cell light, paper and writing materials,
that / may bo enabled to opreparo my case.
shall also ask the privilege Of sending,