The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-29
THE NEW YORK ANARCHISTS
Termination of the Trial of Most and
the Two Men Indicted with Him.
The Prisoners Found Guilty, and Schenck Rec
commended to the Mercy of the Court
Sentence Deferred until Wednesday.


at every person his eyes fell upon. 1t was said
that he was greatly annoyed at the spread of the
statement which the official journal of the So
cialistic rarty has been giving publicity to for
years that he MOST was in the pay of the Ger
man government, and that his presence in this
country was for the purpose of destroying the
labor movement here. The defense called wit
ness who testified to Schenck's good character.
Adolph Schenck. one of the prisoners, then
took the stand. He stated that he understood
that the object of the meeting was to advise the
use Of arms against force; that if blow should
be struck against them they should strike back.
He called the attention of the audience to the
fact that the police were present in large num-
bers. and that they must keep quiet. He gave
this advice several times. He read the circular
calling the meeting, and said its heading was,
ITO arms! The capitalists are opposing our
brothers. Arm yourselves and oppose them"
Under cross examination he said that the pur-
pose Of the meeting was also to protest against
such action as had been taken in ST. Louis, where
hired deputy sherffs shot down men and women.
He did not hear all of Most's speech, and cer-
tainly not that part of it referring to explosives
The meeting was that of the International Mems
Rife Club. He was not member of it, and did
not know why he was made president of the as
semblage. On the redirect examination the wit
ness said he was an Anarchist; he knew the
meaning of that word. Just now he believed in
the government of the United States. The gov
eminent suited him, but it did not suit every
person else.
The witness did not place Most ana George
Washington on an equal place in governmental
affairs. The witness considered that the man
who made success was entitled to the most re-
spect.
Testimony was also gwen as to the good char
acter of the prisoner, Braunschweig. Braun
schweig himself took the stand, and said that he
was at work when arrested. He had never be-
fore been arrested When he entered the meet
ing Most was speaking, and when he had finished
the witness spoke in German for ten minutes.
In his remarks he declared that the presence of
police at workmens meeting in free America
was shame. He never mentioned anything of
bombs or guns The witness did not suggest
that the police be put out. and he knew nothing
of general rush, during which the stove was
upset He got his first citizen papers in Albany
three years ago. He did not know whether he
was an Anarchist or not. He agreed with great
many Of Mosts sentiments, as published in the
Freiheit.
1--WE say openly we despise morality. So
called !" read the prosecuting attorney from the
Freiheit. DO you agree with that sentiment2'
mo: we want to keep morality" said Braun
schweig The witness did not believe In rob-
berry arson and murder, and said that he was
not even in sympathy with those who would use
force; but when man was hungry and his fam
lily starving he must do something
The lawyers for the defense declared that this
ended their case. Surprise was expressed that
neither Most nor any one else in his behalf had
taken the stand. The lawyers for the defense
moved that the second count of the Indictment
be taken from the consideration Of the jury, and
the court granted the motion. The recorder
was next asked to direct an acquittal upon the
ground that there was proof that either one
of the defendants made any threat against any
person tending to a breach Of the peace. This
was denied. Lawyer Howes stated that his
client Most desired to address the Jury in his
own behalf, right to which he was titled
The recorder replied that Most had that privi-
lege, but that there must be a limit to it. The
lawyer said that Most would occupy about an
hour. Most then arose and said:
II cannot speak very well in English. You
have heard great deal about me. I suppose
that you expected great deal OF witnesses for
the prosecution, and lot of black devil lies
about me. But what has come off have seen
prosecuting officers in Austria and Germany GO
ing against nae and my associates, but they were
slaves of the kings and princes. didn't expect
that here. There was scheme got up. and
knew all about the policemen who met me in the
beer saloon next to Captain McCulough's sta
ton house, and who said: Well get MOST at
last they arrested me under bed. stood up
months before. They showed you books and
other things they took from my room, but they
didn't produce the pocket-book with $3.50 that
they took from me. / suppose they want that"
He then referred to the meeting at which he
said he spoke. "What did sayg" he shouted
II said that the Constitution of the United
States of North America permitted its citizens
to carry arms; told them about st. Louis.
where s the men - who r.. were sl PAID So
Down da w GhoeUss Could ssd should Be s snSt
A dozen men and women have been killed
by them. / said the Williamsburg strikers we're
quiet, but the police dubbed them and fred at
them About the eight-hour movement and the
meeting on May /, did not advise that the men
should get guns / said that if they carried guns
instead of torch-lights they would be more re-
spected. didn't tell them they must shoot. /
said the Constitution let them carry arms 1t
didn't make any difference what kind of arms
Certainly they could carry cannons and bombs,
But didn't advise women to throw frebrands
in houses. or tell anybody to throw vtriol out of
windows on policemen. Beecher you all know
himp Most went on, ''he advises people from
his pulpit, Sunday after Sunday, to buy rifles
and guns to protect themselves. That is all the
advice gave. The meeting was orderly. and 1t
an unlawful assemblage. You know what they
are doing They are not only putting me in
prison, but they are doing away with free speech.
It Is the first step to bring the Republic down to
a monarchy. The next will be stopping the
freedom of the press. Then we will only want
an emperor"
This ended Most's address.
After arguments by counsel and the charge by
the Recorder, the jury retired, and after seventy
minutes returned with a verdict of guilty for all
three of the prisoners. but recommending
Schneck TO the mercy of the court They were
closely guarded. A big crowd was awaiting
AS Most was entering the van man thrust out
to him a long round parcel, but was hustled
away. He ran around the van and again
attempted to get the parcel to Most. He was
for a new trial will be heard on Wednesday The
maximum penalty is one year.