The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-09
ARGUMENTS OF ANARCHISTS
The Condemned Men Occupy the Entire
Day in Long and Wordy Protests.
An Unexpectedly Temperate Address by Fiel-
den-Parsons Says the Execution of the
Anarchists Will Be Judicial Murder.

CHICAGO, Oct 8-The crowds which besieged
the Criminal Court room, this morning for ad-
mittance to Judge Gary's court were larger and
earlier than at any time during the Anarchists
trial, the speeches which the condemned men are
luaking in their own behalf and the fact that
the date for their execution is to be given to-
day, being responsible for this Only a small
portion of those who sought admission were sue
cessful the entrances being carefully guarded
by deputies and police officers and the Judge
permitting no one in the room who could not be
fashionably dressed, were among the lookers-on.
Several of the lady admirers of August Spies
were present. Of the friends of relatives of the
prisoners in court were Mrs. Parsons and her
wo children, Mrs. Neebe and her little boy,
Miss Spies and Mrs. Captain Black Captain
Schaak and large number of police in full, uni
form, and detectives in civilian dress, were in
and about the courtroom. Judge Gary's wife
and daughter and number of special lady
friends were given seats inside the rail, among
attorneys and reporters
When court was opened George Engel. one Of
the defendants, at once began a speech in answer
not be passed upon him. Engel recounted his
experiences in Germany. where he was born, and
recounted hardships and tyrannies the people
were forced to submit to there. He came to this
country. sought work in Philadelphia and Chi
cago, and found the same state of affairs exist
ing. The capitalists became rich by expressions
of the working classes. Engle then made
study of the question; he read Henry Georges
books and became Socialist. Engel concluded
with TRADE against the capitalists. 1t was IL
o'clock when he ceased speaking.
Three minutes were spent by counsel and
spectators in whispered discussions, and then
Sam Fielden and prefaced what he had to
say by recitiug poem from the German of Fer
dnand Freiligath, entitled Revolution" The
first stanza was as follows:
And tho We caught your noble prey
Within your hangman's sordid thrall,
And tho your captive led forth
Beneath your citys rampant wall.
And tho the grass lies Ger her green,
Where. at the morning early red,
The peasant girl brings funeral wreaths
l tell you still-she is not dead.
Fielden's speech, however, was quite com
monpace He related his connection with the
Anarchists, the same as related on the witness
stand. He said he had not intended to 60 to the
Haymarket meeting, but went there owing to
seeing Il little advertisement, and by seeing the
advertisement he had come to his death. He
declared that the newspapers had either misun-
derstood or misrepresented him. and were the
cause of his going to the scaffold. He had not
advised the sacking of the stores. He was Sc
we're on the jury, and said some of them were de-
pendent on capitalists.
Before Fielden concluded, the court adjourned
to 2 p.
Fielden's speech was a much more temperate
harangue than any Of the others that pr&seded
it, and impressed the audience favsrablS. 1t
was the general comment that had Fielden
spoken this speech before the jury, instead of
letting the lawyers talk for him, it might have
influenced their verdict in his favor. 1t was $3.50
O'clock when Fielden finished speaking.
Parsons armed with huge bundle of manu-
script. rose and said that as it would be impossi
BILE for him to conclude he wanted the court to
adjourn until to morrow morning.
Judge Gary concluded however, that Parsons
might go on. This trial. he said, had been i'm
mersed in passion. and even now, standing in the
shaoow of the gallows, with the hangman wait
ing with his moose. the capitalistic press was
ciamoring after his blood and the blood of his
comrades He had espoused the interest of the
wage worker, and he stood here as one of the
people-a working man. He believed that rep
resentatives of that organization OF mllionares
the Citizens Association, had demanded of his
Honor that he and his fellow defendants should
be put out of the way by an ienominious death.
But where was the justice of this railroading of
human beings to the gallows with the
speed of an express train? Condemnation did
not mean that the condemned were always
guilty. and history showed we might also have
unjust Judees-LOrd Jeffres and their like
Parsons held that the execution of the sentence
to be imposed on him nothing but judicial
murder. 1t was a trial by a mob. His Honor
must know this, he said, and it was for him to
look at the matter from the standpoint of rea-
SOL and common sense.
Parsons spoke until 4:30. when the court aa
journed, at his request.