The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-03
An Effort to Prove that the Bomb Was Not
Thrown from the Vicinity of the Wagon
from Which the Speeches We're Made,
But thatIt Came from Another Pointand
Was Thrown Toward the Wagon.
A Strong Effort to Show that Neither Spies
NorSchWab Entered the Alley from Which
the State Claimsthe Bomb Was Thrown.

CHICAGO, Aug. 2-The effort to obtain admit
tance to the courtroom where the Anarchists
are on trial was greater to-day than ever before,
owing to the fact that the defense was to begin
the presentation of it's testimony, and to an in
timation, also that Mayor Harrison was to go
upon the stand to explain why he had permitted
the assemblages of the anarchists. The number
of female friends and relatives of the eight in
dcted men present in the courtroom was greater
than on any previous day.
Mayor Harrison was called as the first wit
ness. He was examined by Captain Black.
After stating, in answer to questions, that he
had been Mayor for seven years, he stated that
he knew Spies and Parsons personally, the for
mer only incidentally. He said he was present
at the Haymarket on the night of the tragedy.
When asked why he was present at the Hay
market, Mr.. Harrison said ION Monday, May
3, riot occurred near McCormick's reaper
works. There were some windows bro
ken and some shooting On the evening
of that day my attention was called to
circular calling meeting at the Haymarket
on Tuesday night, which was framed in pecu
liar manner. [The witness had reference to the
revenge circular"l Mr.. Harrison said he i'm
mediately called his police captains together.
and gave general instructions that if anything
occurred at the meeting which would have a
tendency to renewal of the scene at McCor
mick's. the crowd should be dispersed He said
that he went in person to give absolute orders,
provided he found the occasion. warranted it.
He decided to give the orders in person if neces-
sary. He arrived shortly after the speaking mad
commenced He heard only few remarks made
by Spies. He heard portion OF Parsons's
speech. He said he thought Spies noticed his
presence there. Mayor Harrison said he thought,
from the tenor of Spies's speech, that it was
leading up to a point that would compel him to
interfere with .he meeting, when Spies appeared
to notice the witness. Spies's tone appeared to
change somewhat, and his later remarks
seemed tanner The witness said of Parsons's
speech that that portion which he
heard was violent political harangue against
capital While he was present Mayor Harrison
said he heard nothing from Parsons which
seemed to call for his official Intervention. The
portion of Spies's speech which attracted his at
tention as incendiary were his queries as to why
the police had been assembled, why the militia
had been called to their armories, why the Cat
ling guns had been shotted. He could not re-
member the exact words. When these queries
were applied and the declaration was made that
they were intended to overawe workingmen, there
were cries of Kill them!" chang them!" The
mediate vicinity of the wagon. Mr. Harrison
did not estimate that more than three hundred
actual sympathizers with the speakers appeared
to be present. Mr.. Harrison said that of the
crowd which surrounded the speakers stand, the
majority appeared to be Germans, Bohemians
and Poles; probably the greater number were
Germans The speaking of all of them he heard
was in English. When the witness left the vicinity
of the speakers stand Parsons still speak
ing. Proceeding to the Desplaines street station,
he remained there about fye minutes before
leaving for his home. When he started to leave
the scene there were signs of rain, aud the crowd
present did not seem to him to exceed 500 per-
sons.
Captain Black asked the witness what he said
to Inspector Bonfeld when he was at the police
station. The prosecution objected.
Captain Black said he desired to show that the
movement of the police was in the nature of
deliberate attack The States attorney with
drew the objection.
Mayor Harrison said he told Inspector Bon
field that he thought the speaking was about to
close. and that he thought there would be no
trouble. He advised that he should disperse the
reserve force of police held at the various sta
tions The Inspector said he had already given
these orders. The inspector said that he had
heard rumors regarding another projected enter
prise that night by riotous persons which would
cause him to hold the Desplaines station squad
in reserve.
On cross-examination, Mr. Grinnell asked the
witness whether he had not been advised of an
attempt to burn the Chicago, Milwaukee g. St.
Paul freight depot. Objected to by the defense.
The States attorney then asked what the rumor
was he had heard The Mayor said INSPECTOR
Bonfeld had been advised that the meeting be-
fore it adjourned. would attempt to burn the
Milwaukee 81 St. Paul depot. The inspector had
also been advised that this meeting had been
called to distract attention from other quarters.
When he left the police station the inspector was
given discretionary powers as to the dispersal of
the meeting or to quell any other disturbances.
The Mayor said he had made up his mind TO pre-
vent recurrence of the scenes at McCormick's
if.it was in his power to do so. This closed the
examination of the witness
Mr. Martin Simon, travelling salesman, was
at the Haymarket meeting. During the after
noon he was given circular by some one on
West Lake street. The circular was submitted
by the prosecution. 1t was copy of the IRE
venge' circular except that it had the heading
Attention, Workingmen," insLead of IRE
venge," and omitted the line ''workingmen,
come armed and appear in full force" which
appears in the Revenge circular. The witness
was present at the Haymarket meeting about
7;30 o'clock. At the meeting he met Captain
Ward of the police, who introduced him to In
speetor Bonfeld. Near the Despanes. street
station the witness met Mayor Harrison and
introduced himself to the Mayor. From the
police station the witness returned to the meet
ing, and mounting an iron stairway near the
speakers wagon, remained there during the
meeting. and until. after the explosion Of the
bomb. The witness heard a portion
of Spies's speech, and all Of Parsons's
and Felden's speeches. His version Of
SDies's speech did not materially differ