Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-16
Mr.. Foster Makes an Able Argument For
His Clients.
QUESTION OF CHARGE AND EVIDENCE
They Are Charged With Conspiracy and
Murder
NOT WHAT THEY BELIEVED OR SAID

JlculaTly VO tHe great I'tSIS anu SLSI ~
shown by Lingg and Engel on May 4th
and its significance with the pronuncia
mentos of Spies leading up to the Haymar
ket massacre. He dwelt with great force
upon the fact that the bomb which killed
the police was unquestionably the handi
work of Lingg
Mr.. Inghams address was considered
the strongest plea yet made for the convic
ton of the prisoners. His oratOry was no
only powerful but his analysis of the evi
dence was considered very convincing
He concluded his speech about 10 O'Clock
when
ME-. FOSTER FOR THE DEFENSE
began The speaker said the fact that al
defendants were foreigners except Parsons
should make no difference with the jury
He then described the defendants rs sur
rounded by their families against whom
the entire legal and defending forces of thu
city were arrayed.
Resuming his address when the court
reassembled at two o'clock Mr.. Foster de
voted considerable time to further dis
cuSSion of the power
PREJUDICE
yields in the decisions of mankind. lie
said he was confident that did thojury
consult the evidence presented in this cas-
only and divcst their decision wholly OF the
effect of previously acquired opinions and
prciudiceS, the defendants were safe other
wise they were not safe. Mr.. Foster said he
felt svre that the Judges charge to the
Jury would not recognize the question of
whether or not the defendants had con-
Spired to throw the government and bring
about social revolution unless he found
that such conspiracy was directly connected
with the murders committed on the Hay
market. A verdict rendered on any other
basis would not he worth the paper re-
quircd to write it upon. The speaker was
not here to discuss Socialism and Anarchy.
He wished to say at once and for all that
he was opposed to Socialism, Communism
and Anarchy; but, believing as he did, that
that the doctrines were wrong, he did not
see that his faith in his case should he
lcsSencd thereby. He would admit that
the defendants were, in his opinion alto
gcthcr wrong in preaching Anarchy as they
had done, but that did not affect
the case. The one question 10 be consid-
cred was, did the defendants commit muir
der, or could they be proven to have con-
spircd to commit murder?
After referring to other points involved
in the case, Mr.. Foster made IN earnest
PLEA FOR DEFENDANT LINGG,
devoting himselfprincipally to the circum-
stances of LinggS arrest. lie maintained
that Lungs resistance of al officer was the
only charge upon which he could he
placed under arrest. With that object in
view officers in plain clothes were sent to
arrest him. Was it strange that Lingg re-
sisted? He was set upon in his own home
by strange men who bore no evidence
that they were officers of the law,
and il was 10 wonder he resisted. Foster
criticised the States Attorney Tor having
made ''iOb lot of the defendants, and
for attempting to convict them by whole
sale" This was the reason why nearly
every public uttcrance or published article
ofSpics and Parsons which had Il violent
tingc had been dragged into court Us evil
dcncc. But it did not affect the case Us de-
fined in the indictment. 1t did not prove
that the defendants had consulted or had
cOnspircd to commit murder.
A great paper in Chicago" said Mr.
Foster Gin an article relating 10 the labor
troubles then current, proposed that those
troubles De settled with the aid of GattIing
guns and brave men behind them. Why
if the Alarm or the 1rbcitcr XitUag had
published such sentences rs this the State
would never tire of ringing the changes
upon them But the great papers of Chi
cago are protected, only the AHim and the
1rJcitcr XciiURg are culpablc when vigor-
Gus statements are made in their columns.
am not here TO defend the lhrm ana the
Arbciicr NcitWRg but 10 protest that these
defendants are not on trial for socialism
nor for anarchy, but for murder
Mr. Foster ridiculcd the parade the State
had made of a revolver and file sharpen
ed into dagger which had been found IN
possession OF Fischer.
"Why," he said, 81 am
WILLING TU WAGER
us much rs the value of good i've
cent cigar that the States Attorney
when he goes upon the street of Il dark
night carries q revolver with which to pro-
tect himself against a possible attack
Mr.. Grinnell-"YOu would lose your five
cents"
Mr.. Foster-"I don't believe it; must
have you sworn first.
At this point Mr.. Foster placed in \
most ridiculous light what he called the
parading by the State OF tin cans discover
ed under sidewalks two months after the
IIaymarket riot. All of his expressions
were witty to n remarkable degree and
with the pantOmimic gestures OF the speak
er cOnvulScd the audience ut times while
even the Judge and the States
Attorney could not reprcSs their
smiles entirely. Mr.. Foster declared that
the speeches at the Haymarkct were not OF
a character liable TO incite such an act rs the
throwing of bomb. He said any one
might make them but those defendants.
They alone were responsible and the State
would have it that their life virtually hung
upon these utterances. ''LinGg made
bombs" He maintained an arsenal and
turned out 500 bombs day, say. Then let
him be indicted for making bombs and we
will meet the State on that ground. Fischer
carried arevolver and dagger. All right,
indict him and try him for that and wei
meet you. Spies and Parsons preached IN
favor of social revolution. Very well,
try them for that and we'll defend them;
but we will never meet you on that ground
in the world till you embOdy that issue in
YOUR indictments. Those defendants are
here charged with murder and conspiring
TO commit murder, but you can directly
connect the speeches Of Parsons; Spies and
Fielden and the revolver of Fischer with
the throwing of the bomb which resulted
in that murder, snch evidence is not to he
considered.
Mr.. Foster had not finished when the
court adjourned TIL Monday morning.
Writ and Peasants Democrats.
Special TJiegrd,a 10 The Sunday Register.
PARKERsBURG, August 14.-The fight
in the Writ Convention was very warm.
The result of the Convention was the Sc
lection of delegates BY districts, giving