The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-08-26
THE ANARCHISTS TO HANG.
SEVEN FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER IN
i- o THE FIRST DEGREE.

Neebc Guilty of Mansla aughter and Pun
ishment Fixed at Fifteen Years.
/. CHICAGO, Aug. 21.-People tried to get
into the criminal court room as early as 10
o'clock, and the first applicant was woman,
who became very angry when refused ad-
mission. She appealed to every one of the
forty officers gathered about, but they were
firm in their refusal, and 500 people, who ap-
Piled between that time and o'clock were
given the same answer Every conceivable
ruse was resorted to, but the officers were in
e1orable, and when the verdict was brought
In there were probably less people in the
court room than at any time during the trial.
The crowd outside numbered about 1000
people, and these were kept informed of the
progress inside by the police. Some of the
people who succeeded in getting up stairs and
took seats at the west end of the room were
Mrs. Spies, Mrs. Parsons, Neebe's wife,
Lingg's sweetheart, August Spies sister and
brother Ferdi nand, Mrs. Ames Gen, Par
sons, Spies mother and half dozen Others
who have been regular attendants at the
trial.
Judge Gary was on time, and at 10 O'Clock
the court was opened, and the judge sang out
to spectators to take seats, and not to make
any demonstration The prisoners were then
brought in and ranged along the south wall
by the windows. The judge then turned and
told the clerk to call the names Of the jury.
This was done amid oppressive silence, ex-
cept on the part of Neebe, who was probably
4 g NJ.
turned and looked across the room, where his
wife was sitting. He craned his neck for
ward, and said something in an undertone to
himself. Parsons looked straight ahead to
the place where his brother, the general, was
standing. He then turned and looked into
the street. where, under the burning sun,
1000 men and women gazed anxiously at the
upper windows.
Parsons glanced hurridly around, and with
bold, defiant look in his eyes pulled some-
thing from his pocket. 1t was the battle flag
Of the Anarchists-a dirty red silk handker-
chief Turning so that all in the streets
might see, but in such manner that the
court could not, he waved it for a moment or
two. Some one in the street caught sight Of
1t, and cheer was uttered, but quickly stop
ped. When tho people in the court room
turned to ascertain the cause of the demon
stration, Parsons sat stifily in his chair and
gazed vacantly at the clock The others
gazed anxiously into the faces of the jury
and friends, and then up at the dignified
judge, as if in hope of cleaning some indica-
ton of their fates. .....
The relatives and friends of the prisoners
were the most affected. Over in corner sat
little old woman nearly hidden by big po-
liceman. IL was the mother of August Spies,
and during the half hour she was in the court
room she wept constantly, holding white
handkerchief to her eyes. Mrs. Parsons and
Gen. Parsons said nothing and betrayed no
evidence of the suspense they must have ex-
perienced. Mrs. Schwab looked at her hus-
band with fearful eyes, and once or twice
wiped the tears away. Lingg's sweetheart
was next to her, and during the reading Of
the jurors names kept up a constant signal
ling with him The roll call was finally fin
ished, and then it was that the prisoners and
their friends betrayed the first excitement.
Just two minutes after 10 o'clock Foreman
Osborne rose to his feet and faced the court.
The suspense was terrible, and as if already
aware of the fate in store for them tremor
ran over the prisoners, while the feelings of
their relatives and friends were manifested
by twitching Of the muscles, hard breathing
and shaking limbs.
."Have you agreed upon verdict" and the
voice of the judge was almost inaudible, and
even he gave way to the momentary
solemnity and suspense. "Have you
agreedr
Then all eyes were withdrawn from him
and turned on the foreman, who reached
forward and gave the paper which he held in
his hand to the judge. The forman's work
was done.
The Judge and the clerk held a whispered
conference and finally the clerk held the
paper where the light would fall on it and
the Judge bent forward and fixed his eyes on
the spectators The people were like marble
figures, not word or sign did they make,
but their eyes merely shifted from the judge
to the clerk The latter then began reading
slowly as follows:
ave find Spies, Parsons, Fielden, Schwab,
Fischer, Lingg and Engel. guilty as charged
In the indictment and punishable by death.
We find Neebe -; guilty of manslaughter
and fix his punishment at fifteen years in the
penitentidy,"
The clerk then sat down but the judge and
was not sound and for over minute peo-
pie seemed to be dumb-stricken. Then there
was q faint sob, a low wailing, a moan. 1t
came from the corner where the little old
mother of Spies sat and it was the signal for
.""' break of murmurs which ran over the
Rssemblage.
Quiet. Everybody sit down." and the
judges voice came clear and distinct. But
even his authority could not prevent the ex
pressions of surprise and outburst of pent up
feelings and the suppressed murmur of an
gush that came from the friends and rela-
tives of the condemned men.
The unfortunate defendants themselves
said nothing. Not even did they move-they
only looked-and into space. 1t was as If all
hope had gone and now for the first time they
knew theii lives had been a failure
The Judge was the first to make move
ment. Stepping to the front he ordered that
the jurors be polled Each juror was then
asked by the clerk If the verdict expressed
his true convictions and if he agreed in the
verdict In answer there came firm but
low 81 do" Then the judge glanced for the
first time at the prisoners and their friends
He allowed his eyes to rest for moment on
the cringing forms Of the little old mother,
weeping sisters and wives. Then bringing his
eyes to the jury again he told them they had
done their work well.
"You have listened attentively to the evil
dence, given every detail, both for and
against the prisoners, your close attention,
and your verdict is an expression of your
convictions. This has been long and tedi-
Gus trial. bu6 you have served well. thank
you for your attention"
The Judge then in few words discharged
the Jury and notified them that they were at
liberty to 60. There was not one of the
twelve good and true men but looked thank
full and drew a sigh of relief. The jury then
rose and filed out of the room and the bailiffs