The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-29

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Oct. 28.-H.
H. Holmes or Herman Mudgett,
which he says is his baptismal name,
was put on trial in the court of oyer
and terminer today for the murder Of
Benjamin f, PitzeI in this city on
/ September ?. 1894, and the develop
ments of the first day verified. better
perhaps than ever before the force of
the maxim that truth is stronger than
fiction
From the nature of the case and
startling stories concerning it which
/ have gained currency during the past
/ year, sensational revelations were
naturally TO be expected when he, who
has become to be regarded as the most
sktlful and audaciOus criminal of mod
ern times was placed on trial for his
life. Yet when it occurred in court it
so far surpassed all expectations that
the most vivid flights of imagination
could scarcely have conceived the days
events
Protestations and entreaties for a
continuance Of the trial we're sum-
marily OverTuled; the sudden with
drawal of the lawyer who had hitherto
represented the prisoner in the face Of
threats of disarmament; the appointment
by the court Of new counsel and the
I AtLuodl ny lilc P1iSOlitL 10 accept LHeUl
as his defenders: the declinatiOn Of ar
other lawyer to serve after being
selected by Holmes and finally the
prisoner trying his own case. This,
not to speak Of the sharp passages at
arms by Holmes and the common
wealth's prosecuting officer, is a sum-
mary Of what occurred.
The Eager Crowd.
Long before 10 o'clock. the hour set
for the opening of court, an eager
crowd thronged the corridors without.
The regulations were so complete, how
ever, mat none but the lawyers, wit
nesseS jurors and newspaper reporters
were permitted to pass the Gordon Of
police which formed a barrier across
the entrance to the particular corridor
leading to the court room and the Off
GERS who guarded every entrance to the
room. This prevented undue crOWding,
although every seat in the room was
occupied. The general public will be
admitted to the capacity of the gallery
which will seat about 800 when the
taking Of testimony is begun tomorrow.
Holmes was. at the time of his arrest,
in Boston. on November II last, q
stockiIy built man of middle height,
but since his Ions confinement has
grown gaunt and hollow chested. The
prison bleach has brought his face to
a deathly palIor heightened by the
dark close cropped beard In appear
ance as he sat in the dock today, he
was neatness itself The beard was
carefully trimmed. the hair smoothly
parted and the black cheviot suit he
wore betrayed no spot or blemish. His
demeanor throughout save on one or
two occasions when he gavGA way TO
slight bursts Of anger directed at the
district attorney, was characterized by
that
Marvellous Display of Nerve
which has become associated with his
name
The selecting of a jury consumed
several hours Holmes freely exercising
his prerogative of challenging and,
after twelve men had been secured a.
recess was taken.
The afternoon session was devoted
largely to District Attorney Graham's
opening address to the jury. in which
he outlined the case in detail and then
subjected the prisoner to a scathing
denunciatiOn. Holmes. however, was
imperturbable and sat with his legs
crossed calmly taking notes. The
commonwealth prosecutors are District
Attorney George S. Graham and Special
Assistant Thomas W. Barlow.
William A. Shoemaker and Samuel p.
ROtan young members of the bar, ap-
peared for Holmes.
Judge Michael Arnold is upon the
bench.
Only enough people We're admitted
to fill the courtroom without uncom-
fOrtably crOWding it.
Witnesses from Canada and different
parts Of the country were escorted into
the court shortly after 10 o'clock by
Detective Frank Geyer. whose travels
throughout the United States in search
for evidence against Holmes has been
from time to time published
Promptly at 10 Holmes was placed in
the dock. He was plainly nervous and
looked around the room with a shifting
expression.
First Move For Continuance.
Shoemaker asked for continuance.
He urged the lack Of time for prepara-
ton.
There are three homicide cases in
volved in this case" he urged, "and we
had only as much time as would be
adequate to the preparation Of one"
It was expected to present newly dis
covered evidence of such vital import
lnce that Holmes would undoubtedly
be acquitted of this charge.
Graham protested against the grant
ing of continuance. He dWeIt upon
the severe strain under which Mrs.
Pitzel had been put and the examina-
ton into her mental condition made it
apparent that were a continuance
granted the commonwealth would lose
its most important witness.
Rotan, of the defense, renewed his
plea for a respite. Overruled by Judge
Arnold.
Shoemaker and Rotan created a mild
sensation by saying that if the judges