The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-07

dressed. and co,tinued the chase, beating
the letter to the next town. Thus Holmes
was tracked from point to point, and was
finally arrested in Boston, while dropping
q letter into mail box at a street corner.
From the moment OF his arrest, Holmes
has been telling stories-ingenious,
though conflicting. First he delared that
the body found was not that OF Pietzel,
but q Rsubstitute, and that Pietzei was In
South America. Then he retracted this
statement and averred that the body
was Pietzels. and that he had committed
suicide while despoDdent, and that he,
Holmes, In order ct secure the insurance
money, had given the case the appearance
Of accident.
Holmes was placed on trial in Pbiladel-
phia for Pietzels murder on Monday,
Oct. 2S last. The trial ended the follow
Ing Saturday night ina verdict OF guilty
Of murder in the first degree. The jury
Was out two hours and balf-"for the
sake Of appearances. They had agreed
upon their verdict in one minutes time.
The trial was one of the most sensational
known TO Philadelphia or any other city.
After. futile entreaties for postponement
by Holmes lawyers, William A. Shue-
maker and Samule p. Rotau, on the
ground that they were unprepared TO pro-
ceed, Judge Arnold decided that the case
would have to go on without delay.
Then Holmes discharged his attorneys
and undertook the conduct OF his own
defence-which was the suicide story.
He displayed much skill and shrewdness
in questioning witnesses, but the
machinery of the Commonwealth. whose
case was managed by District Attorney
George s. Graham, eventually over
whelmed him, and he was obliged to re-
engage his counsel.
The one witness whose testimony did
more to convict Holmes than that of all
the Others was Georgiana Yoke, otherwise
~ IA 40 AA
herself Holmes wife. Upon her first APP
pearance as a witness against him,
HOLMES BROKE DOWN AND wEPT
In the dock. but he soon recovered his
marvellous nerve and personally cross ex-
smlned her. She was living with him at
the Eleventh street boarding house on
the day of the murder, and told how he
had left the house that morning, return
Ing about five hours later, flushed and
excited, and taking train for Indian
spuiis with her that night This is the
story ofthe murder OF Benjamin 4. Piet
sel, but with II Is interviewer the
tchemes and acts which brought about
she killing of at least eight other victims,
These were Alice and Nellie Pietzel, the
little daughters OF Benjamin, who were
fsphyxiated in trunk In Toronto, Can
ada; Howard Pietzel, the young son, Kill
ID in Indianapolis. Holmes cutting up and
burning the remains in a stove; Julia l..
Conner, divorced wife of /. l.. Conner,
hookkeeper Cor Holmes; Pearl Conner, her
daughter, Emeline q. Cigrande of Ander-
aon, Ind, stenographer for Holmes; Min
ME X. Williams OF Fort Worth, Tex, his
private secretary, and Mana Williams,
her sister.
The murder of these persons has been
txed upon him almost certainly, but
shere are at least a dozen other cases
which have been laid at hIs door. To tell
Il.
plain something of the man hlmself-his
personality and his marvellous brain
power.
The execution of Holmes closes one OF
bbe most extraordinary narratives in the
criminal annals OF modern times. The
aerve, the calculation and the audacity or
bhe man were unparalleled. Murder was
bis natural bent. Sometimes he killed
from sheer greed OF gain; oftener, as he
kas himself confessed, to crafty an i'm
human thirst for blood. Not one OF his
primes was the outcome of. a sudden burst
kf fury-"hot blood,i' as the codes say. ?
ALL WERE DELIBERATE;
planned and concluded with consummate
kill. To him murder was indeed fine
art, and he revelled In the lurid CLAM
pur cast upon him by his abnormal gen
lus. Even with the shadow OF the moose
dangling over his head, he evolved a So
calmness now be had exterminated % fell
lcw-creatures, and coldiy setting forth
the varied-and bloody tortures he employ
)d. One could almost.s see the fiendish grin
on his thin and bloodless lips as, in the
gloom OF his cell in Moyamensing prison,
he set down the terrible tale.
But the man was an atrocious liar, and
yeveral OF those with whose murder he
charged himself have since denied his
story with their own lips. The state
ment vas prompted by perverted ambi-
zion to be regarded as the greatest
monster who ever walked in the form OF
pan, and an incongruous desire TO gain
Tor the education of his little son in Gill
nanton, N. H., the 5000 offered for the
confession" by newspaper.
This desire goes far to prove his pos
session OF many conflicting traits. IL
proves that he knew comet hing of human
love, as the trial clearly demonstrated
that he held affection for the woman he
sailed his wife Miss Yoke. Ii Is a we'll
known fact tnat women were attracted to
him. and one not hard to understand
when the superficial man is considered,
Tor he was born of reputable parents
reared under the influence of Christian
some, and surrounded in his early years
by every refinement. He was born at Gil
manton in 1s5S, SO that he was 3S years old
when the end of his spectacular career
same. He was Of meiium build, with an
NtNt dhu idiiiN btdElk. Ills ndnub ana
ieet were small, ana the skin smooth to
the touch; the feature, were regular, the
brown hair Dnt too sparse, aud we'll
kept moustacne shaded his small mouth.
"Pretty" he might have been called, for
jhe paieness of his cheeks was modified
by just n touch of color, and his big blue
syes, before the confning walls OF a pris-
Oh robbed them of their light, were mild
snd entle The voice was soft and low.
Besides he was well-educat,d. Alto
gether. while by no means effemInGte, IL
was easy to consider that he was
WHAT Is CALLED A"LADY's MAN"
His parents were among the most re-
gpected persons I'm their part OF the State.
His father had been postmaster for more
than "a years. Holmes had two married
sisters living IN Boston, and one brother.
They were younger than he, and had
grown up 10 be good citizens respected
and honorcd by their neighbors.
Holmes was not good boy. he Yves