The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-03
NOW BOOKED TO HANG
THE JURY FINDS HIM GUILTY OF
NUMBERING PITEZEL.

The Jurors Out Three Hours, But
only one Ballot Necessary to show
THAT They We're All of One Mind.
Holmes Face That of a Corpse
when the Verdict Was Announced.
He Makes No Outcry and Slowly
Recovers HIS CompOsure During
the Making OF a Motion for New
Trial.
philadelphia, Nov. Herman W. Mud
eatt on. as he is better known, H. H.
Holmes. was tonight convicted of muir
der in the first degree for killing Benja-
men r. Pltezel in this city on Sept. ., 1884.
The jury needed but one ballot to reach
mis- decision. The jury retired at 5:45
o'clock, at the conclusion Of Judge Arnold's
charge.
After the retirement of the jury from
the court room the spectators streamed
ont into the corridors and eagerly dis
cussed what the verdict would probably
Inc. There was considerable difference in
oainion. as many believed that the conf
monwealth had not thoroughly establish
ed its case against Holmes, but the ma
iority were inclined to believe that the
Jury would convict him.
AT S.35 o'clock word was sent to Judge
Arnold that the jury was ready to re-
turn the verdict. When Judge Arnold en-
tered the room there was not nearly as
many people present as had attended the
day session. The prisoner was brought in
and placed in the dock. He was as i'm
passive as ever, as he took his seat The
Jury came in and took their places and
ii needed but little skill as a mind reader
TO know what the word would be that
the foreman would pronounce
The court ordered Holmes to arise, and
then. in reply to the question of the court,
the foreman of the jury pronounced the
fatal words guilty OF murder in the nfSC
degree" The verdict was Sreeteu Win
absolute silence.
The charge OF the judge must have fore
shadowed what his fate would be, but
stunning force. He made no outcry, nor
exhibited any emotion OF any k1nd-the
blow was TOO stunning for noisy out
breaks. He sat down, ana while the jury
was DOlled each man answered TO his
name, and as each pronounced his SEN
tence Holmes stared vaCantly before him.
His face was that of a corpse. 1t was
absolutely eXpres ssiOnless as a mask. only
q nervous tWitching of the eye lids and
the contraction and diauon of the eyes
showed that IT was hVlng, breathnS
man that sat in the dock As the effects of
the blow began to die away Holmes slow
~ recovered. He realized that his
counsel was making a motion for
new trial His underIip fell and he
ran his tongue across it, moistening the
dryness, and clasping his hands together
he leaned forward to listen to the judges
decision. When Judge Arnold said that
he would hear the application for new
of something like hope broke across
Holmes dun face. Turning to the court
officers, he said, in an eager whisper,
These were the only words he uttered.
Judge Arnold then expressed to Mr.. Ro-
tan and Mr.. Shoemaker his appreciation
of how difficult their task had been, and
he cOmplmented them that they had been
able to make as good show for the de-
fense as they did He intimated that their
withdrawal from the case was a device Of
the prisoner. In manly, honest way, Mr..
Rotan gave the court to understand that
their withdrawal was no device of their
own put was done Irom sincere conVle-
tiOn because they believed they had not
been given time to prepare their case.
Judge Arnold then ordered the prisoner
BY this time Holmes had recovered
much of his composure, and he walked
from the room with the quick, springy
step that is natural to him. The judge
thanked the jurors for their attention and
discharged them. and so ended the trial
OF the most notorious and infamous muir
derer that has ever been convicted in the
courts of Philadelphia, and probably in
the United States.
If ever the value of a good name would
have been a shield and buckler to man
In his hour of peril, that man is Holmes.
If ever mans black deeds rose up to
confront and convict him, that man is
Holmes. If Holmes had only been in
the dock for the murder of Pitezel, it is
an open question if the prosecution would
not have failed of conviction, but un-
questonably his bloody record served to
condemn him. The jury was never IN
doubt. When they retired from the court
room they took their suppers, and then
& riefediscussion took place. One ballot
was taken, and every man voted to con-
Nict. They consumed three hours from
they could have found a verdict in fifteen
minutes if they had so wished to do.