, 1886-08-17
The Anarchlsts' Defense.

CHICAGO, Aug. l6..Dne of the hest
points made by Foster this afternoon was
in substantially the following language:
The prosecution find great significance in
the publication in the Arbeiter Zeatung VI
the word "Ruhe." which they say MEANS
rest. peace. Now, when the police ar
rived on the ~hsymarket. Capt. Ward said:
Il command you, in the name of the
state Ut Illinois. to disperse pesceably."
To this tielden, who was speaking, an
swered, naturally enough, Why, captain,
this is a peaceable meeting,' or, we are
p-aceable." Now, why should the state
see anything so significant in this remark?
The evidence shows that the meeting was
peaceable, and | say here it was never in
tended to be otherwise. If at that mo-
ment someone on his own responsibility
threw a bomb among the police, and that
TACT were now known. the word ''ruhe"
and Felden's remark. We are peacea
ble,' would then have natural significance,
meaning on the face of them, instead Of
being, as the state insists, symbols of riot
and bloodshed.
Foster, after enlarging upon this fea-
turc Of the case and declaring that the
evidence fell far short of proving that the
hny ncCtiuk udQ ANY COuQtCtlDu
with the conspiracy to attack the police,
devoted considerable time to the testi-
mony Of John Bernett, as opposed to
that of Harry l. Gilmore. Bernett,
Foster showed, had been interviewed by
the state; he had been shown q picture OF
Rudolph Schnaubelt, and upon honestly
declaring that he could not recognize it rs
that of the bomb thrower, was allowed to
go. He could not serve the state as a
witness. Called by the defense, Bernett
swore that the bomb was thrown from a
point far enough from that fixed by the
prosecution to overthrow the theory
based upon Gilmore's testimony, that
Spies lit the fuse of the bomb and that
the bomb was thrown by Schnaubelt from
the mouth Of Cranes alley. Who was
to be believed2 Bernett, who had been
over the ground since the night of the
riot and taken lawful measurements, and
whose character had not suffered from
the investigations Of Capt. Setback
and bis detectives. or Gilmore, who swore
30 glibly. who had been impeached by a
dozen witnesses and who was a Grand
Army man; but whether he had fought
under the stars and stripes or
stars and bars, nobody knew.
Why had not Gilmore been sent before
the grand jury? Why was he placed on
the stand when the trial was 10 progress?
Because there was a missing link; 20
Harry l.. Gilmore took the stand and
said. Rather than have the play stop, IN
furnish the missing link.
Foster reviewed the testimony Of Gil
more exclusively, d%enouncinx him as "a
stupendous. a colossal, a monumental
liar, and, turning toward the defendants.
said imprcssively, IF the testimony OF
Harry Gilmore is true. August Spies and
Adolph Fischer must die"
Foster referred to the testimony of the
informers Waller and Seliger. They had
been given the choice of a rope and a
written statement such as would serve the
purpose Of the prosecution. They, of
course, as anyone would, chose the lesser
Of the two evils and tremblingly took the
stand to swear away the lives Of former
comrades. Il say" said Foster, ''and |
not only say it here in the court room.
but on the street and everywhere, that as
a lawyer ! am opposed to such means.
Let justice be done though the heavens
fall.''
Foster concluded his address with an
eloquent and dowery appeal to the Jury.
He asked them not to commit an act
which they would regret during the re-
mainde- Of their lives.
Attorney Black said he would prefer
not to commence is speech till to morrow
morning, and the our adjourned till that
ttma