The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-05-05

Last sunday ON Esrth-Whether II dimes
Contrition Is Genuine Is Matter Of
Wide Divergence of Opinion Sound
Physically and Mentally.
PHILADELPHIA, May CONTRARY TO
general expectation, ii. H. Holmes, the
condemned murderer, spent his last sun
day on earth without causing single
sensation. His only visitors were DR. b.
+. Butcher and the prison officials His
father confessor, the Rev. L. f. Daily,
owing TO his many Sabbath duties has
not visited the murderer on Sundays and
did not make any exception. Holmes,
however was cheerful, was in the best Of
health. and heartily enjoyed his meals.
He read the Sunday newspapers during
the greater part of the day and appeared
to be greatly Interested in the foreign
news, especially that relating to the
South African question. The prison OIL
cials say that no has become Very gentle
and never loses his calmncss. III does
not discuss his approaching death, but
has become thoroughly resigned to it.
Prisoner Closely Watched.
He is closely watched, however, for fear
VI suiOlucs JuhS SlhR ny has W.
meanor, there is growing impression
| that he will not attempt TO take his life
but will calmly ascend the scalfold and
as calmly meet his death IJ is believed,
however, he will make a statement on the
| gallows, bat his counsel, samuel +. Ro-
tan. does not believe h, will make a scnsa-
tional scene. 1t is believed Holmes will
make will, in which he is expected to
leave his little belongings TO his various
| families ana perhaps remember Mrs. Pit
| eel. He will also dispose OF his remains
and has expressed his intention of leav-
| ing the prison keepers photographs OF
| himself
Father Daily, his spiritual adviser. will
| visit the condemned man daily now until
| his execution Thursday between the
| hours of 10 IA IN. and = y. IN. The sacra-
| ment may be administered to him at any
| time before that date and the last rites
| will be Administered by Father Daily just
| before the execution. Mass will also be
| said for him in the Church of the Annun-
| citation on Thursday morning, and Father
Daily will accompany him to the scatfold
| and remain with him 60 the end. The
| gallows are all ready for erection, and
| will be located in the center of the corr-
| dor on which the condemned mans cell
faces.
| Holmes Apparent COntrition.
AS usual, it will be heavily draped in
| black, and the condcmCd man will first
descend 10 the corridor from his cell and
then ascend the scaffod by flight of
steps. Lawyers Rotan and Bullock both
| expect to see their client executed, but
the entire audience will be limited to
| about sixty persons, including the sheriffs,
| jury and the newspaper men. Whether
or not Holmes contrition is genuine and
that he will die true convert to the Ro'
man Catholic church is "a matter of wide
| divergence of opinion. His spiritual ad'
wiser, Father Daily, says he believes the
| contfition is genuine, and knows no rea-
son why it should be doubted.
| He says Holmes is not the monster he is
| depicted but that he is an intelligent,
gentlemanly being. Father Daily thinks
that publications of Holmes physical de-
gcneracy are not only rot but have been
harmful, and he ridiculed such statements
as those made by Novelist Hall Caine re-
garding the alleged physical degeneracy
| of the murderer as not only ridiculous
but untrue DR. Butcher says the mur-
derer is both physically and mentally all
| RIGHT