Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-08

lie turned away, the naked truth OF
his own position made him faint a heart
The world had tainted him. and, Ike
the despised man-eater of the jungle. he
stood there at bay. realizing his own
puny self to be only target for truth.
justice and peace.
The bull ring of Spain was more &C
ceptable To him in this hour when he
possibly might, perchance, take another
life than To remain where he is, under
close watch. with no hopes of self de
struction or clemency at the last mo-
mcnt.
Tor 10 months Holmes has been under
the ban of the law, while men went here
anu there in quest of evidence. To-day
the slayer Of r. T. ritezel. who was muir
dcred Sept. 20, "a; Howard Pitezel. Oct.
10. %; Alice and Nellie Pitezel, Oct. rs,
'9t; Minnie and Mamie Williams, in 1892.
besides possible others. witnessed his
own prepare tions for death.
Late last night, with the purging
prayer Of the priest the soul of Holmes
was ready to so before its maker and be
Judged for the acts its owner committed
while here on earth. Holmes then had
made his final confession. and the ears
of Rev. Father Daley. his spiritual ad-
wiser, heard possibly the only true. con-
trite and heartfelt confession made dur
ing the prisoners long stay in the place
of Incarceration.
Holmes began the solemn preparations
for the salvation OF his blackened soul
yesterday. He prayed all day. and when
dark came he was visited by the priest
in the garb of forgiveness, and the be-
srit tns of h., nr1I Ix.r, too
murderer kneeled, and with bowed head
declared himself unworthy in the eyes
OF his Maker, and begged for the forgive
thief on the cross.
Holmes began his fast at IL O'Clock last
night, which lasted until this morning.
when he partool of the communion.
Then for the first time Holmes had be-
7ume a communicate of the Roman
Catholic church. The symbolic wafer
which was carried on the chalice by the
priest was then swallowed through the
lips that have lied, and the murderer
was then ready. after a breakfast. to be-
gin the devotions Immediately preceding
the march to the scaffold. These de-
votions. including the recital of the
litany for the dead and other PRAYERS
for the dying, were mingled at times
with the chant of the priest. and the
pleadings for forgiveness. Holmes had
be en- studying them since Father DALEY
first visited him, and he knew the pray-
ers by heart. He went to the ralIows
with these on his lips and died with n
prayer of forgiveness just as the last
sight of the world faded away forever
from his view
1t was learned yesterday that Holmes
had. in reality, been the sole agent in
bringing Mrs Pitezel to this city. and
that his only object was to have her an
pear before either the governor or the
board of pardons, and, by appealing
secure him a further lease on his life
which was blotted out forever this morn
ing.
Mrs. Pitezel came here solely at the
instigation of Holmes himself. and her
presence here was due to one of the
greatest coups ever made by king or
diplomat.
Seated in the gloom of his cell at Nov
amensing prison, Holmes, the murderer
who had cruelty wronged the widow. wa
then at work darkly conjuring IN
schemes to save himself from the i'm
PS"o A"ee vi Tie sdHoWS, ana tnat one
OF these schemes, worthy of the cunning
OF only the prisoner himself, was that
which included, among other provisions.
the bringing Of the woman to this civ
and her final appearance, pleading for
the life of the man who had wronged her
and thereby securing to him a longer
lease of life.
Holmes knew when his mind concocted
q at dark scheme that once he had the
woman before him he could so play upon
her mind as to gain his point. With him
1t was game in which the stake was
life. He made his moves with precision
and care. and planned his actions all in
srch way that, as he himself thought
checkmating" would be impossible. His
hrst move was to bring Mrs. Pietzel here.