Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-03-21
Holiness Whims.
Of snakes

OF all the prisoners in Moyamensing
Prison, the most complacent is IL. IL.
Holmes, the murderer of Benjamin F.
Pietzel. This morning he arose early, took
a bath dressed and ate breakfast with as
mnch composure as any man who dwells
outside the grim walls of the Jail, and at
8 o'clock he began to read all the morning
papers of this city and two or three from
New York.
One of Holiness latest requests is, that
a photographer be permitted to take a
picture of him before he is hanged. This
is not wholly his own request, either, be-
cause Lawyer Rotan suggested it to him
None of the pictures which have been
printed look like him and now that his
beard has been shaved off, Holmes would
like to get some photographs tor distribu-
ton. He has expressed desire to send
copies to his family at Burlington. Vt; to
Georgianna York whom he still claims as
his wife; to Lawyer Rotan, to several
prison officials, and to quite number OF
newspaper men and others whom he has
met since his arrest in Boston. 1t is likely
that Sheriff Clement will consent to his
being photographed.
One thing that is worrying Holmes, re-
marks the Times, is the fact that the lights
are put out in the Jail at 8 o'clock. He
has secured quite respectable library in
his cell, and the character of the books
he reads has astonished the prison people.
He has the Bible, two volumes Of Shaks-
peare's plays, Latin grammar, the works
of Homer and Virgil, a Greek dictionary,
and several educational works OF a sort
not likely to be of interest to condemned
murderer. But he studies them lndust-
riously, and he is the most persistent
obiector in the whole Jail to the early extln
gushing of the lights.
There is plenty of evidence that Holmes
expected to be executed when he was frs
| Indicted for the murder of Pietzel, ant
neither the announcement of the Supreme
Courts decision nor the fixing of the dat
by the Governor seemed to worry hun
He has accepted religious teachings with
out maniiesting any sudden change o
heart. Father Daley of the church OF tn
Aununciation, visits him frequently, ant
all the tracts and religious periodical
handed him by the various societies whlc
visit the jail he reads through carefully
What effect they have had on him no on
knows.
His daily life in prison is as commonplace
as that Of any of the other prisoners
Some time ago he complained that his ce
was cold, and he bought knit jerse
Jacket This he wears constantly, and h
has habit of putting newspapers inside
it when he feels the need of additions
clothing. He keeps scrap book contain
ing clippings about himself and his crime
from all parts Of the country, and one c
his favorite pastimes is to point out to h
, keepers and to the occasional visitor who
+ permitted to go inside his cell the inconsi;
tencies in some of the articles.
Holmes laughs at the testament frequentl
; made, that he intends to commit suicide
1t is not true, either, that he has prepare
! confession. He eats well, sleeps we
and wants to get as much out Of the littl
, time left him as possible. He likes to tai
to his keepers. He reads great det
, but recently he has written very little
! Boston Journal. March 16.