The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-10-30
HOLMES IN THE DOCK
He Made a Hard Fight Against the
Commonwealth.
BUT HE is HANDICAPPED
His Request to Recall His At
torneys Is Granted-He'd Like
to Smash Graham-The
Testimony.

parent tO-night that the picturesque
and startling features Of II. II. Holmes
career were not to be confined to his
destructive wanderlngs over the Amer
lean continent. for with each successive
day comes something still more strange
and unexpected. Yesterday he dismiss
ed his counsel and began to try his own
case, because the court refused to grant
the plea made by them for a coniin-
uance Tonight, after fighting single
handed against the tremendous ma
clflnery of the commonwealth and ap-
parently overwhelming evidence which
has been forged around him. he threw
up his hands and sent for his lawyers,
Shoemaker and Rotan. Then he told
the court what he had done. and con-
sented to their continuing with the de-
fense. The important work Of the trial
-the taking Of testimony-was begun
this morning and, w'lJh the exception
of brief internisslons at lunch and sup
per time. was continued until nearly .
O'Clock tonight. The star witnesses of
the trial, Mrs. Pietzel. Detective Geyer.
Agent Perry Of the swindled Insurance
company, and the arch-criminal HIM
self, remain to be heard, as also nearly
two score of others.
The announcement that the taking OF
evidence would begin to-day drew a
still larger crowd 10 the city hall, but
the admirable police arrangements kept
everybody out except attorneys and
those interested in the case. Holmes.
In the custody of a county officer, was
placed in the dock. The days proceed
ings were begun by District Attorney
Graham. who arose and said;
II desire TO say 10 the court. In view
OF what was said last night before the
adjournment of the court. that the lady
known as Miss Yorke and Mrs. How
ard was sent Tor. saw the prisoner. and
had ample opportunity for an inter-
view with him."
When Graham concluded. Holmes
said that he had only had three-min-
ute Interview with the woman and ask
ed that II be renewed during the noon
recess. HIS request was granted. The
prisoner asked THAT plan be produced
of the Callowhill street house, where
he is believed to have murdered Pit
eel. The district attorney said such a
plan was In court and would be produc-
ed at the proper time.
"I also ask" Holmes continued, shat
a quantity Of the hquor which Mr.. Gra'
ham said I used In my Efforts 10 ex-
terminate the Pitzel family be sub
miuted to analysis. l want to prove
That while II cor,lhns a small quantity
OF nitro-glycerine, II Is entirely harm
less and is sold In every drug store"
"Do you mean the liquor you left
with Mrs. Pitzel In Burlington. Vt?
"Yes."
"Thht has never been in my posses
sion"
Then came anothe request from thS
| prisoner. He wanted TO know II. dur
| ing the testimony OF one witness, al
| the other witnesses should not be ex
| oluded from ttie room. Judge Arnold
answered that this would be done Il
the exigency arose.
Jeanette Pitzel. "Dessa." thC
| daughter of the dead man. was th'
| firxi, witness called. she was called 4
! identify sevcihl large crayons of hei
| father. which she did. John Townsend
a Ilhotogra pher employed in the detec
tive service. and William II. Rau. 9
| private photographer. then identified
! photographs of Holmes taken by then
! after HIS arrest.
Eugene Smith, who found Pitzel''
| body in the Callowhill street house or
Sept. 4, 1894. then told a detailed s'or,
! Of Ais discovery. which has been al
! ready fully published. The witness wa,
present when the corpse OF Pitzel wa
/ exhumed from the Potter's field. anC
was there first introduced to Holmes
| Lawyer Howe OF ST. Louis. Alice Pit
eel, the young daughter, and the lnsur
ance officers were there. The body wa
recognized by the witness as Pltzers :
I Holmes offered $50 to have the corps
crsma tesd, and asked Howe about II
The lawyer answered that the widow
would first have TO be consulted
Holmes told the Insurance people o
the marks OF Identification. and afte
ihe bosiy had been dug UP, he pulle'
out lance and cut a wnrt and otne
marks from the corpse. Al this time
witness had recognized Holmes a
the man he had seen so up stairs il
the callowhill street house.
Holmes, on cross-examination. aske'
number OF irnnatcnlal questions. bu
showed much legal skill in their con
strurtion. Holmes subjected Susfth .
long and searJGllng croSs-exaniina
ton. dwelling upon every point OF IN
testimony adduced by the common
wealth, but the witness was mistaken
Dr. william J. Scott was called, an.
at this juncture Holmes renewed hi
plea to have all witnesses except III
one on the stand excluded from IN
room. Mr.. Graham objected to this
Holmes compromised by asking tina
the witness connected with the murde
OF Benjamin +. Pitzel b. excluded
This was granted him. and as Holme
called cut the names o; these w.tHessc
they left the room.
The examination OF DIR. Scott wa
about to be resumed when the iistric
attorney asked thar all the witnesse
connected with any part % the cas-
to retire. After the witnesses had a
left the room. Holmes asked IL his wifi
was 10 be- 4 witness.
again 1 must ask" said the 1istrlC
attorney. which wife do you mean ?
"You know" responded Holme.