The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-29

He Refuses Others Appointed by tne
Court-He Will Conduct His Own Case
Beginning of One of the Most Famous
Trials in American Criminal History.
i Philadelphia, Pa. October fisherman
W. Mudgett, better known as II. II.
Holmes, the elf-confessed life insurance
swindler and the alleged multi-murderer,
whose supposed crimes have. become the
topic for general discussion during the
past several months, was placed on trial
this morning in the court Of oyer an d
terminer on the charge of having MUIR
dered Benjamin +. Pletzel Judge
Arnold presided.
The commonwealth was represented by
District Attorney George S. Graham and
Assistant Attorney Thomas W. Barlow,
and the defense was cond ucted by W. Fl.
| Shoemaker and Samuel R. Rotan.
In addition to the murder of Pietzel, the
prisoner is also accused of the murder
at Toronto, Ont, of Pietzel's two young
daughters. Alice and Nellie, OF the muir
der at IryingUon, Ind. of the young son,
Howard Pietzel, and also of the murder
of various other persons in the famous
Holmes Castle at Chicago.
Benjamin T. Pietzel's body was found
in house at 1916 Callowhill street,
| September 3, 1894
! A shattered lamp was found by the
side of the body which showed evidence
of having been burned, and the coroner S
| cd hot tho nil 1ann had
exploded and that Pietzel had been burned
to death, and accordingly rendered a
verdict of accidental death. There was
no claimant for the body and it was
buried in the Potter's field. Subsequent
| " an assertion came from Pietzeps law
yer at ST. Louis. Mr. Jeptha Howe that
the body was that of Benjamin Pietzel,
| and a claim was made on the Fidelity
and the Mutual Life Association of Phil
adelphia for $4,000 which that company
carried on Pietzel's life
! The body was exhumed and was fully
| identified by the daughter, who was
| brought from st. Louis, as that OF Pletzel.
| The insurance company paid the claim,
but were not satisfied that Pietzel had
met his death accidentally, and at once
placed detectives on the case
This resulted in the arrest in Boston OF
Mudgett, alias Holmes The latter was
brought here and was placed on trial
charged with conspiracy to defraud the
insurance company.
Holmes pleaded guilty to this charge of
swindling, but denied the charge of muir
der, claimed that Pietzel was still living
that body had been obtained from a
New York dissecting room and placed in
the building on Callowhill street, after
burning the skin slightly and throwing a
lamp on the floor.
Holmes claimed that he and Pietzel left
the city and subsequently informed Mrs.
Pietzel that the body was that of her
missing husband and had her press her
claim for the insurance. Holmes was
sent to prison to awaitssentence on the
conspiracy trial, and District Attorney
Graham started Detective Geyer out to
visit Torono, Chicago, and other western
cities to endeaVor to obtain evidence
against Holmes which would warrant his
being arraigned for murder.
Detective Geyer's success in finding the
dead bodies of the children is well
known and other facts which he CLEANED
satisfied the district attorney that Holmes
could be convicted here of the murder of
Pietzel. Detective Geyer also brought
to this city Mrs. Pietzol and Others from
various parts of the west and Canada to
take the stand as witnesses against
Holmes
Upon the opening of the case Attorney
W. II. Shoemaker counsel for the prison.
er, in an address of some length, asked
for postponement of the case for 80 days
Shoemaker's contention was that the de-
Tense was not prepared for trial, and that
no witnesses were present.
District attorney Graham strenuously
opposed the motion, declaring that the
States witnesses were present at their
own yolition and that if a cont1nu ance
should be granted it would mean the
absolute obstruction of the common
wealth's case. Mrs. Pietzels health was
impaired, Mr.. Graham further said, and
If the case should be postponed, the strain
should intensity her illness.
Lawyer Samuel p. Rotan, for the de-.
Tense pleaded for time i'll which he and
his colleague could realize on Holmes S
assets and thus bring witnesses to Phila-
delphia who will not come unless their
expenses are paid. The discovery of new
testimony within the past four or five
days, which he wanted to investigate,
was further plea of the attorney for
continuance.
Judge Arnold overruled the motion for
postponement in very few words and
ordered the trial to go on. just at thi $
iuncture startling climax was reached
which resulted in the withdrawal of Law
yers Shoemaker and Rotan. from the case
Notwithstanding an injunction from the
court that they would be open to dis
barment by taking such step, ON the eve
of a murder trial
A still further sensation was created
when Holmes refused to accept the SER
vices of Attorneys Everett A. SchofieId
about to appoint to defend him and who,