The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-11-05
THE HOPE OF HOLMES
His Confidence That BE VIII Ee-
cure q New Trial.
WHY HB GAVE NO TESTIMONY.


ON thu stand-Dstectivs Geysr Discusses
Holmes Crimes-MuSeum Managers Az
ter CHASTITY RelIcs-urs. Pitezels Future.
PHILADELPHIA Nov. Some thing about
the convicted murderer Holmes that has
greatly impressed those who have had
business with him since that solemn scene
on Saturday night, when the jury pro-
noupced his fate, is his wonderful display
Of nerve. There may be signs Of physical
weakening but the mans self possession
has not forsaken him. He Is buoyed up
by the hope that he will secure q new
trial.
Holmes refuses to see any one but his
counsel, but in response 10 q request for
an interview sent out this message: II
do not want to discuss the verdict, except
to say again that 1t surprised me and was
not justified by the evidence. have not
quarreled with my lawyers over the adj
Visibility of admitting my last statement
which wrote on Wednesday night, but I
still think 1t might have helped the de-
Tense. 1t was the perfect truth. Ny law
yers advised mo against taking any fur
ther part In the case in that way, and !
gave in. This is all have to say, except
to ask that you quote me correctly. A
great deal has been attributed to me in
the newspapers that was neither fair nor
true"
Attorney Rotan, who conducted the
greater portion of the defense Of Holmes,
seems to be confident that he will get O
new trial from the supreme court. Ho talks
very earnestly on the matter, and Ii Is i'm
possible In view Of his manner not to be-
lieve him when he says that he has not
the least doubt Of the convicted mans in
nocence. He knows that In this the ma
jority LIS against him, but he clings to his
opinion, and he thinks he has better
opportunity to judge Of the case than
many others. 1t Is evident that the con-
vict's lawyers do not expect Judge Arnold
to grant q new trial, but they will argue
that motion before they appeal. Such q
step is necessary to complete the record.
Mr.. Rotan says there is not the least
foundation for the story that Holmes
wanted to go upon the witness stand. He
decided that point for himself, and his at
torneys had nothing to do with 1t. "His
judgment was In my opinion, correct"
said Mr.. Rotan. HE had made many
statements at different times, and he
would have been sharply cross examined
In many things that, II not evidence,
would have had bad effect
"Holmes Is an innocent man." said Mr..
Rotan, '.ss far as this crime Is concerned.
But he knew on Friday night that the YER
dict would be conviction. He said to me:
'Rotan, old man, am more sorry for you
than am for myself. You haven't had
the chance to handle this case as Ii should
be handled,
II said to him: Don't You mind about
me. am more concerned about You than
/ am about myself So you see all this
talk about Holmes being confident of ac-
quittal is like much other stuff that has
been printed-all bosh. He saw from the
start that the case was going against him,
and he knew all the time that he was In
nocent of murder"
man, Mr.. Rotan said itwas really remark
able. He didn't at any time lose control
of his nerves, and he has an abiding faith
In his ultimate acquittal on this charge.
Mr.. Shoemaker, one Of Holmes counsel,
who did not conduct the trial through III
ness, said that II new trial were granted
and they would make, to this end, rep
reservations of the important evidence
they would offer--they would be able to
show that Pitezel had made at least three
attempts to commit suicide since the al
legged murder on Sept. o. 1894, and for
which Holmes now stands convicted"
District Attorney Graham said today
that he could think of nothing new In re-
lation to the Holmes trial that would prove
Of interest, and that nothing new was ex-
pected to transpire until the case comes
up for argument for q new trial on the
18th. he declares that In his opinion
Holmes will never leave this city :
Although not permitted to offer 1t as
evidence, Detective Geyer stated that his
H. L..
the belief that Holmes had intended to
kill Mrs. Pitezel and Bessie, and would
have accomplished this but for the care
exercised by Mrs. Pitezel in handling the
dynamite at Burlington, and his arrest in
Boston before he could fully carry out his
schemes. In addition to this Geyer said
that he has not doubt that Holmes
would have closed his catalogue of crime
in this country by killing Miss Yoke and
her mother. Then. after realizing upon
the property he would inherit in event of
their deaths, he intended to go to Europe.
This intention he had admitted
Yesterday Mrs. Pitezel and her daughter
called upon her lawyer, Thomas A. Fahey,
and were presented with return tickets to
Galena, Ills, although they will not leave
the city until tomorrow. Seated In her
lawyers office, Mrs. Pitezel was different
woman from the wreck who stoNd under
the eyes Of q trained nurse at the trial.
The lines Of care had not left her face. She
has only partly recovered strength, but her
features were lighted with the consoling
thought that the death Of her husband and
her children would be avenged It is not
possible, Mr.. Fahey said, that she will
ever recover from the effects Of her ex-
perienoe since meeting Holmes, but she
seems more satisfied with her lot
She would not say what her future
course In life would be. She had made no
plans, except that knowing that in her
destitute circumstances she will be obliged
I'd make living for herself and her chill
dten. bessie" she said, lis now big
girl, and has said that she would aid me
IN every way to maintain q home. think
that I will apprentice her to the dress
making or millinery trade when we get to