The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-08-19
INNOCENT LAMBS.
Such Were the Chicago Bomb Throw
ers, According to the Witnesses
for the Defense.
The BloOdthirsty Policemen Did All the
Shooting and All the
Killing.
[cu,cAoo CORRESPONDENCE

The chief gossip of Chicago is I'm respect TO the
probable outcome OF this now celebrated case
great many express fears that the weakness
of the law and the tactics OF the defense will to-
gether furnish means of escape for the eight
criminals who are held to be at least morally
responsible for the Haymarket riot and its
dreadful results. Others seem to hold to the
opinion that some OF them. at least. will be con-
victed OF murder.
The defense set up by the prisoners counsel
is regarded generally as very weak one,
though probably the best that could be offered
under the circumstances. large number OF
witnesses have been examined, nearly all OF
whom were regular readers Of the Arbeiter
Zeitullg and either avowed socialists or social
istic sympathizers Most OF the witnesses thus
far examined by the defense have been called
for the apparent purpose of attempting TO prove
a negative. Under the rigorous prompting OF
the counsel for the prisoners they have been
made to testify to what they did not see what
they did not hear. wha. they were not in
formed OF, and what they were not in position
10 know anything definitely about. We have
had series of witnesses to prove that they did
not see pistols in the hands OF the socialists
who were assembled in front OF the speak
ers' stand. An effort TO prove a mega
tive must inevitably result in failure.
Indeed. under any strict rules OF evil
dence such testimony would not be per-
mitted. But apparently both the court and the
counsel for the prosecution are disposed TO allow
the widest latitude 10 the defense, for the rea-
son that il is clearly as much for the interest of
the people as for that OF the prisoners that the
whole truth shall be brought out during the ex-
animation Of witnesses. But for the purpose of
establishing any moral probability as TO the
guilt or innocence Of the accused, all this testi
mony as TO what was not seen or heard is worth
less. Up to this time the chain OF proof sub
mitted by the prosecution has not been broken
at a single point
But the most ridiculous proposition the de-
Tense has been laboring TO establish is that the
police did all the shooting at the Haymarket:
that the anarchists were Il peaceable lot Of
lamb-like innocents, and that the gathering
where the bomb was thrown was perfectly
legitimate and lawful assembly of highly
respectable gentlemen that met together for tho
most peaceful purpose imaginable. While
their orators We're occupied in calm and tenn
perate discussion OF somo public questions,
counseling their hearers TO abstain from all
manifestations OF Violence, 70 respect and
obey the laws, and to conduct themselves as
quiet, orderly, and well-behaved citizens, q
squad of policemen appeared and commenced
shooting them down right and left. Being I'M
armed, the peaceable gentlemen composing
the assembly did not return the fusillade, but
fastened TO get out OF the range OF the guns OF
their wicked assailants as fast as they could.
Nevertheless, the satanic policemen continued
shooting at them and, not content with killing
ana wounding many OF them, turned their
deadly weapons against each other and, to
make the work Of death in their own ranks
more complete, threw "A dynamite bomb into
their midst. In this way the internal police
men managed to kill seven or eight OF their own
number and to MAIN, mutilate, and wound sixty
peaceful and unarmed citizens that they either
killed or wounded. Briefly stated the defense
judged by the trend of the so-called testimony
thus far adduced, seems to be about this The
defendants did not advise, encourage, aid abet,
perpetrate the Haymarket butchery: /. Be-
cause that monstrous crime was advised, en-
couraged, aided, abetted. and perpetrated by
the pol ce. 2. Because the defendants exerted
all their strength and influence to prevent the
police from committing it, 3. Because the de-
PENDANTS were somewhere else when the police
perpetrated that awful crime. These are the
three propositions which the attorneys for the
defense appear to be struggling to establish.
Carter H. Harrison, Mayor of Chicago was the
FIRST witness placed upon the stand by the de-
Tense. The purpose was TO show that after list
oning 30 speeches mt the Haymnrket meeting
he told Inspector Bonfield that there was moth
ing in the affair to Justify interference by the
police.
DIR, James d. Taylor, an aged physician and
an avowed socialist, testified that he was ON the
edge of the sidewalk at the Haymarket meet
ing before the speaking commenced, and re-
manned there Until bullets began to fly. He
saw the bomb thrown, but did not see men,
Der OF the retreating crowd fire shot, tse POI
lice alone emptying their revolvers.
Barton Simonson, atrayeling salesman was OK.
amined atlength The main point OF his evidence
was that concerning the point from which the
bomb was thrown and its direction. The prin-
cipal witnesses for the State swore that the
bomb proceeded from the mouth of the alley
way III o westerly direction. Simonson
stoutly maintained that IL was thrown from the
sidewalk, twenty feet south OF the south line OF
direction. There were two other witnesses
examined TO corroborate Simonson. Their
answers as to the direction OF the bomb We're too
pat 70 be convincing, and in the minor details
they differed materially from the chief witness
for the defense. Their sympathies with the
prisoners were scarcely concealed. One OF them,
Secretary of the notorious Central Labor
Union told the improbable story that the light
ed fuse preceded the bomb in its course through
the air. and he swore that it was thrown from
behind n wagon, which appears as far the
evidence has to be almost imDOssiDle.
A witness named August krumm, who in size
and general outline somewhat resembles Spies,
was put on the stand 70 testify that at about the
time when Gilmer says he saw the editor Of the
1rbeit r-Zeittulg light the bomb fuse he Krumm)
went into the alleyway with n companion and
ignited n match with which both lit their to-
bacco pipes. Krumm's alleged companion on
that occasion, William Albrecht, was put on the
stand TO corroborate this story. The weakness
of this line OF defense is apparent. IL is q tacit
admission that Gilmer had some ground for his
statement, and that he was honestly mistaken
mistaktng a tobacco-pipe to be bomb. But
Gilmer swore that he saw the fuse "sizzle" after
ignition, and that the person who he says was
Schnaubelt advanced with the substance TO
which the fuse was attached and threw IL into
the midst Of the police Neither Krumms nor
Albrecht's evidence can be made to correspond
in any way with this portion of Gilmers story.
Besides, there is no resemblance between Al
brecht and Schnaubelt. The witnesses contra
dicted each other in minor details and Krumm
broke down completely under the States At
torney's cross-examination. Like most OF
nesses, he attempted TO prove too much. He
swore that he saw Spies, Fielden, and Parsons
on the wagon while he wai standing wit his
back TO the north wall of Cranes alley. four
five feet from the corner. As the wall inter
vened and as the witness face was turned from
the speakers, IL was impossible that he could
see them in that position. Krumm fell into the
mistake OF some who testified previously
as to the point where the bomb ex-
ploded. He said IL exploded at least
twenty feet south OF the south line of the
alleyway, whereas. as proved by overwhelming
testimony, IL exploded directly opposite the
alleyway. The witness gave rambling and
unsatisfactory account OF the circumstances
which led TO his being at the Haymarket meet
ing and before he left the stand the States At
torney wrung from him the confession that he
had spent week in the bridewell last sum
mer. krumm's confederate, Albrecht, told
more consistent story but he, too, broke down.
The eagerness OF the German socialist wit
nesses 20 swear that the bomb was thrown from
a point south OF the alleyway suggested coach
ing by the anarchist wmpathizers, and led to
numerous plumbers as to details. One witness
swora be saw no boxes on the sidewalk near
where he said he stood, though II he spoke the
truth he must have been pushed against them
WHEN in Washington one is constantly
resent, may ask2" In Montana and other