The Labor enquirer., 1886-08-21

corning the injustice of the capitalistic
competitive system and hurled his de-
nunciations. with all his eloquence,
fairly in the faces of his prosecutors,
every eye was rivited upon him. The
Judge leaned forward and gave the clos
est attention. the jury seemed to drink
in every word, the people were like stat
ues, and at the close of Mr.. Parsons
masterly effort the disposition to ap-
plaud seemed general. Everyone ad-
mits that Mr. Parsons explanation of his
haymarket speech was revelation, and
even the capitalistic press comedies his
great eloquence and perfect ease. He
was perfect master of the situation.
To the surprise of everyone, the cross
examinations-o Mr.. Parsons, which all
had expected would be very severe, was
extraordinarily light and short. The
state seemed paralyzed, and were doubt
less afraid to question man who turned
every answer to such good account for
his cause.
Reading the Chicago papers one would
suppose that the state in its rebuttal
succeeded completely in establishing
the good character of Gilman. Leading
citizens of Des Molnes, Iowa, and of
Chicago were placed upon the stand by
the states attorney to testify what
good, honest man Gilman is, and they
all swore that they would each elieve
him under oath. Under the cross-ex.
animation of Mr.. Foster, however, it de-
veloped that these leading citizens"
knew little of Gilman. Some had not
seen him for ten years others had given
him employment for a week or two still
others had been TOLD 80 and 50; while
all agreed, with surprising unanimity
and show of haughtlness, that they
were not on VERY friendly terms with
the fellow. Thus the ex governors. the
congressman aud other eminent" men
called to bolster up the state in this its
great connecting link" by swearing to
the virtue and truthful character of this
lanky fraud were utterly confounded
and beaten.
On Wednesday the eleventh instant
the evidence was declared to be all in,
and Assistant States Attorney Walker
commenced his address to the jury.
Each of the lawyers have thus far occn
pied about eight hours before the jury.
The order of speeches is as follows !:
Walker for the state followed by Zelscr
for the defense, then Ingraham for tue
state, Messrs. Foster and Black for the
defense, and States Attorney GriDnell
will close. The case will probably be
given to the jury on Wednesday next.
A few more days will end the long and
painful suspense, and ere THE ENQUIRER
is again IN the hands of its readers tie
world will know the verdict.
Little need be said as to the lawyers s.
pleas. Both Mr.. Walker and Mr.. Ingra-
ham showed gross ignorance at
least misrepresentation the aims of
the Socialists and Anarchists. Both
evaded the real issue-the murder of
Deegan on the night of Nav 4-and
made it manifest to jury and spectators
that Socialism and Anarchy were on
trial. Mr.. Foster well said that these
men were on trial for their lives because
of threats and speeches made two or
three years ago. Foster-as anticipated
-endeavors to confne the question to
one of murder, simply, and refuses to
consider the case in its SQciallstic or
Anarchistic sense. 1t is expected that
Captain Black, who is fine orator and
an earnest student of Social Science, will
make the greatest speech of all. He has
worked like Titan upon this case, and
his enthusiasm and known sympathy for
the defenda ITS, seem to warrant the eX
pectation that this will be the master ef-
fort of his life.
1t seems impossible that any intelli
gent Jury can bring in a verdict Of
guilty in the face of such testimony as
has been presented by the defense in
this trial Certainly they cannot If
their verdict is in accordance with the
facts and the evidence. Let it be reit-
Grated again and again that there is ab-
solutely NO evidence to show that any
of these men are guilty of the death Of
the policemen. Gilmar's testimony set
aside land it seems strange that any
man in his sober senses should give Cre-
dence to his story the whole case
against the defendants falls to the
ground. Yet We must not forget the Pc
culIarity of this trial. Every effort has
been made to arouse the prejudices Of
the jury. They have been told that
should they render favorable verdict
the reign OF chaos and mu rider which
the Anarchists are supposed to long for
will surely be inaugurated. AS Mr.,
Grinnell put it, in his opening address
to the jury, Another attempt Ito inan-
gurate reign of terror will or will not
be made as this case is determined"
Workingmen and Socialists of Am er-
ica! there Is no doubt that the next few
days will determine your constitutional
right to free speech and an untram-
meled press. If these men are punished
1t will not be for murder, but because