The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-11-04

PmLlnELpHIA, Pa, Nov. 3,-HsurY
II. Holmes was convicted OF murder in
the first degree at s;l5 o'clock Iaat'night
for killing Benjamin Z, PietzeL
He coughod slighlly when he heard
the words. That was the only sign.
The Jury retired to deliberate at $40
o'clock this afternoon, According to
ono OF their number, they had reached
a verdict before tho doors OF their room
closed upon them, For hunkor' sake,
they ate their suppsr irat. Then they
took a ballot auJ without hesitation,
every man OF tho twelve answered
guilty Of murder in the iSst degree"
But, however, atroeiou4 the crime,
however fendish tue criminal, II Is hard
10 send q mau TO the galloWs IA one
minutes time. So fos decency's sake,
they talked about the case for a aeemly
period, about an houra and u hall. Then
word was sent 10 court that they had
agread, This was At 9!i5 o'clock. Il
took q hall hour to get the court In
readiness TO receive the verdict. such
things are not dono too quickly.
Holmes spoke to his counsel, Rotan
and Shoemaker, in the cell room before
he was taken back 10 Moyamsnsing
prison. To them no said:
~ feel that this condemns me, II
was an unjust trial"
Ha would not say more than that.
Immediately after the announcement
OF the verdict, the usual application for
leave 10 lie \ motion for q new trial
Waa made.
Distrlcs Attorney Graham did not op.
pose the motion, and Judge Arnold
hxed the 18Th Of this month for a hear.
lug. The principal reason urged will
ba lack Of time for the preparation OF
the defense.
should a now trial DO refused, an ap.
peal will bo taken to the supreme
| Court and argument will DO heard At It's
next sitting in this city, January, 1896.
So, oven II everything goes againat
him, Holmes has yet some time 70
spend on the earth from which no ii
alleged to nave aont 80 many fellow
mortals.
The verdict was a surprtso to many
persons who did no. believe tho crime
had been fastened upon Holmes DO.
yond a reasonable doubt
AT twenty minutes to nine, there was
q hustle Of moving people IN tho packed
court room, and II became known tina!
tho Jury was coming IN. a moment
later Judge Arnold took his seai. Dli-
trio: Attorney Graham aad his assist
ants entered, and the jury filed solemn
u In aud took their seats in tho box.
| Then, amid an oppressive silence.
Holmes was brought IN and placed Ia
the dock.
For q moment there wal not a sound.
Tho silence was literally painful, anl
avery heart in that crowded room
| throbbed faster. the mar who was
about 10 hear his doom pronounced,
stood erect in the dock, the sams death
ike paIlor, which could grow no deeper
on his face. lie stared a. tho jury
| blankly, his. hands cla5pod behind his
back. Once or twice he moistoned his
lip, with his tongue. Tncrs was no
other sign Of agitation. Then from this
deep voiced circuit clerk came tho awful
words:
Jurors, look upon tho prisoner!
prisoner. look upon the jurors. How
saw vow, gentlemen OF tho jury, do you
find the prisoner At this bar, Herman
". Midget, alias II. II. Holmes, guilty
Of tho murder OF Benjamin i. PlctzcIi
or not guilIyT
Tho coudemninR syllab!as came
promptly from the foreman:
"GuilIy OF murder in the frat de-
gree"
throat, but his Shrunkon form mover
trembied; his lips betrayed no quiyor.
his marvellous nerve had not forsaker
him. There vas only a tighter clasp o.
the hands folded behind him.
Then he slowly sat down, and at the
request Of counsel tho jury was polled
that Ia, each Of tho twelve mon separate
ly listened 10 tho CLERKS query aud rc
sponded with the finding. As each
name wa called, Holmes wrote 1t OF
tho margin oia newspaper in his hand
and tho fingers holding tho pencil
never shook.
Tho verdict was formally recorded hy
tho court, tho motion for q new tria
vas made; and alter Judge Arnold hal
spoken n word Of rogrct u the counse
for this defense because Of last Monday
uttorancG, when they withdrew ftuu
tho case, and appreciation Tor thei
arduoua but iruiIlois lahors, llolme.
was takon to his cell room and a.feV
moments latOr 10 prison. Then III,
Jury was Thanked for thoir attention
and labors, and sent homo, tho cour
adjourned, and the most cXtrEordiuar,
case in ths annals oil American court