The Osceola times., 1886-10-16
The DEATH SENTENCE.

Chicago, Oct. 10.-At the concluding
scenes OF the great trial OF the Anarchists
approached a close, more interest was
taken and the suppressed excitement be-
come more marked. Hundreds OF peo-
pie wended their way toward the Grim
inal Court building, each one desirous
of listening to the conclusion OF the
speech of Anarchist Parsons and WIN
the expectation OF hearing the deatD
sentence pronounced.
Parsons resumed his speech as soon as
court was opened. He created some
thing of a sensation by declaring III
very dramatic and impressive manner
that they had positive proof that the
bomb which created such destruction AT
the Haymarket was thrown by an agent
OF the New York capitalists and monopo'
lists, who sent the man out here to take
this means OF breaking the Eight-Houf
movement. As proof OF his assertion
that there was great conspiracy on lhe
part of capital against labor Parsons
quoted the expressions of three Senators
on the floor of the Senate, in which all
agreed on the following theory: "There
is q conspiracy to increase the value OF
the dollar and decrease the value OF labor
the world over" Parsons claimed again
that he and his colleagues were the vic
TINS of this conspiracy. He asked
"What are the real facts In the
Haymarket tragedy, your honor? Mayor
Harrison has caused to be published his
opinion as to the matter of conjecture in
the New York World, which was copied
Ia the Tribune, G. this city, and IN which
he said: Il do not believe that there
was any intent on the part OF Spies and
those men to have bombs thrown at the
Haymarket. If they had, WHY was there
but one thrown2 1t was as easy to have
dozen or fifty of them thrown In all
parts of the city as to throw one. And,
again, If 1t was intended to threw bombs
that night, the leaders would not have
been there at all but, in my opinion,
like commanders in. chief, would have
been In a safe place. No, 1t can't be
shown that there was any intention on
the part of those individuals TO have this
act perpetrated at that particular meet
ing
"Now, your honor, this is the Mayor
OF Chicago. He Is a sensible man; he
is in position to know what he is talk
ing about; he ought to be able TO form
an Intelligent opinion, and one that is
worthy of respect. lie knows more
about this thing than the jury.
Parsons maintained that the American
group were justified in bearing arms;
that the Constitution gave them that
right. But that question was not raised,
so far as Parsons was concerned. 1t was
not sought to prove that he was vio'
laiing the law while a member of this or
ganization. Judge McAllister had held
that the police could not invade their
meetings without legal process. But the
police, in 1877, did break into the Turner
Hall on Twelfth street during meeting
Of the furniture workers which was be-
ing held and killed one man, and judge
McAllisler said that ii every policeman
in the crowd was killed those partici-
pating IN the meeting could not be held
responsible. Were Parsons and his
friends, then, to be blamed because they
followed Judge McAllister's advice as
contained In his decision, which meant
that the American group could bear
arms2 Why, then, was this construed
as illegal when an eminent judge said it
was according to Constitutional law?
When ne had finished speaking from
his notes Parsons entered upon an ac-
count of what he knew about the Hay
market killing and of his movements i'm.
medately afterward up to the time when
he surrendered himself in court. When
he began this portion Of his speach he
paced up and down the limited space
around the table on which where his
notes. He said he had surrendered him
self, willing to get a fair trial along with
the other defendants, knowing himself
to be innocent In relating how ne met
Captain Black in front of the courtroom
and assembled the stairs with him, Par
sons placed his hand affectionately on
Captain Blacks shoulder and spoke in a
more gentle voice. He concluded, hold
ing up his head proudly. "Even now
have nothing to regret"
He had spoken continuously five hours
and forty minutes and he sank into his
seat exhausted.
Judge Gary was about to pronounce
sentence, when Captain Black desired
that motion In arrest of judgment
should be entered, Mr.. Grinnell having
assured him that no technical matter
should interfere with the defendants
rights. The Court proceeded TO execute
the solemn duty devolying upon him. In
brief but impressive words and in tones
which at any time would nave com.
manded respectful attention, the judge
gave fitting expression to the Judgment
of the court His face worked convul-
slvely when he began, and when he
reached the word changed" he faltered
and could with difficulty utter "till--you
-are-dead" The last words were
scarcely audible. The date fixed was the
3d of December.
A deep SIGH and every spectator was
on his feet to get a glance Of the pris.
oners. Captain Black arose to save some
technical point, when silence was re.
stored. When the matter was decided
the prisoners rose and began slowly to
walk out of the courtroom with the
baiiffs who had them in charge. The
prisoners, who had turned to listen to
the sentence with added pallor, exhibited
no other emotion on hearing the fatal
words. As they rose Mrs. Parsons
came up and kissed her hus-
band. Mrs. Ames also kissed
Parsons on the cheek. The rea.
tives of the sther defendants wrung their
hands, but none of the women shed a
tear. They aimed to cheer up the con-
DENIED by show of forlitude. The con-
demned men passed slowly out of the
courtroom TO the jail. As Parsons
passed some police officers he drew his
hand across his throat In a significant
manner. Whether the motion had ref.
erence to his own tate or was intended
as prediction of the fate awaiting them
they could not tell.