The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-26
DOOMED TO DEATH.
Seven Anarchists Convicted Of Murder at chIeas


The great Anarchist trial at Chicago ended |
last week with the conviction of the defendants |
OF the crime Of murder and the imposition of |
the death penalty in the cases Of Spies, Fielden,
| Lingg, Fischer, Parsons, Schwab and Engel, |
and Is years Imprisonment in the case OF
Neebe. The fact that verdict was 10 be rem |
| dered attracted large crowd Of people TO the |
courthouse on Friday morning, but only few
were admitted
At 9:45 the ominous banging OF the bailifTs |
gavel announced that the court was open, and |
soon afterward the jury filed slowly along in |
| front OF the defendants and took their accus- |
toned seats in the jury box. 1t was easy to see
at a glance what the verdict was. Determine
ton and profound nervous excitement were
written on every one Of the jurymens counte- |
| nances. Some of them sighed or twisted their
mustaches nervously or drew their hands over
their heads, and ali of them looked pale and
excited, though not at all irresolute. The YER
dict was as follows:
We, the jury. find the defendants August Spies,
Michael Schwab, Samuel Fielden, Albert r. Parsons,
Adolph Fischer, George Engel and Louis Lingg
guilty Of murder charged in the indictment and
| fix the penalty at death. We find the defendant
Oscar ". Neebe guilty Of murder in the manner
and form charged in the indictment, and fix the
penalty at imprisonment in the penitentiary for 10
years
As the verdict was read Parsons turned his
face 10 the window and whistled softly through
his half-compressed lips. As the sentence was
completed he bowed 10 the crowd. and making
loop in the curtain cord dangled it out of the
window with a broad smile Schwab fell back
! in his seat, and clutching Parsons's arms, he
| gasped in German: MY God, we die, and
Neebe gets but Is years"
As the condemned men were being led back
to the jail through the elevated iron passage
way Fielden required support. Lingg and En-
gel walked firmly and showed no emotion.
Spies and Fischer looked pale, but retained
| their strength. Schwab tottercd behind the
| erect and defiant Parsons who lost mono of his
Texan nerve. But il was Neebe that the
| blow fell heaviest He had been confident of
acquittal. As he entered the Jail on the march
! from the court he looked like a corpse, his hag
| gard countenance speaking unutterable wo
Capt. Black, of defendants counsel, asked
that the jury be polled. The iuTymen an
swerod with firm voices. Capt Black said he
desired 10 make motion for new trial.
| States Attorney Grinnell said it would be i'm
! possible 10 dispose ofthe motion during the pres
| ent term, but by agreement il could be argued
at the September term. This was agreed TO by
the defense. The Court let the motion be en-
| tered and continued until the next term, aud
then arose and addressed the jury as follows:
Gentlemen Of the Jury: You have finished this
| long and very arduous trial. which has required a
very considerable sacrifice of time and some hard
| ship. / hope that everything has been done that
could possibly he done TO make those sacrifices and
| hardships as mild as might be permitted. IL does
| not become me 10 say any thing in regard 10 the
| case you have tried or the verdict you have rem
dered; but men compulsorily serving jurors
you have done deserve some recognition Of the
| service you have performed besides the meager
| compensation you have received.
The foreman of the jury said:
The jury have deputed TO me the only agreeable
duty that it IL province TO perform, and that is
10 thank the Court and the counsel for the defense
| and for the prosecution for your kindly care TO
| make comfortable rs possible during
| fnement. We thank you
After the address of the Court to the jury and
the foreman's reply the prisoners filed out of
the room. Hardly had they done so when a
piercing shrek was heard, followed by the
heavy falling Of the wife of Schwab 10 the floor,
to whom the result of the verdict had been in
| terpretcd. She is also the sister of Schnaubelt,
the alleged bomb throwcr. Mrs. Schwab was
carried out to the air by the police and soon re-
| yived.
Mrs. Parsons looked haggard as she started 10
leave the courtroom, but maintained mod
crate degree OF composure. Immediately on
the announcement of the verdict there was
stampede among the audience, which Judge
Gary sternly repressed, compelling everyone TO
| keep his seat. Mrs. Spies, the mother of Au-
gust Spies went into loud Mysteries aud was
assisted out. Miss Spies, on the other hand,
maintained her composure brayely and fought
hard TO keep back her tears.
Spies, who looked uncommonly faded and
anxious, smiled in a sicky way, pulled red
handkerchief out of his pocket and waved it in
the window where he sat so that 10 could he
seen from the street. No reassuring response
came 10 him. however, but the air was rent
with the cheers of the crowd below, who
seemed unanimously rejoiced at the verdict.
The Judge had previously cautioned those in
the courtroom against the slightest disorder
when the verdict was read aud there was none,
but one could almost hear the beating sensa.
ton in every breast when its tragic terms were
announced. thrill of horror. very much
like that at hanging when the drop falls
smote upon all present, producing momeutaTy
palsy of mind. The first movement was made
on the part of few persons who stood nearest
the west door. They turned and fairly flew
down the street TO convey the news 10 the null
titudc outside. At the same instant Parsons,
whose position was near window and who
was at the time standing on his feet drew a red
handkerchief from his breast pocket and waved
! il dramatically in sight of the crowd on the
street
The verdict was everywhere received with
, ordinations of approval, and the counsel for
: the State were warmly complimented. The
most frequent compliment was 10 the effect that
the result was the biggest thing of the kind
ever accomplished. :" 1t will be the death blow
TO Anarchism in Chicago and the entire coun-
try lit is a great thing for our citizen
ships" =" 1t will teach these people that they
had best study our institutions and find out
{ what they arc before they attempt TO deal
I with them; Fl" " IL will show the world that we
e can put down Anarchy as well as rebellion. Z"
were among the comments most frequently
4 made.
8 Ii is rumored that the police have n list con-
{ tanning the names of nearly 300 men who are
e engaged in the Anarchist conspiracy, and that
] Wholesale arrests will hencefOrth be the order.
e IL is reported that the names of Mrs. Lucy
y Parsons and Mrs. Lizzie Holmes are among
those for whom warrants have been issued
charging them with conspiracy.
The motion for new trial, il is expected,
G will be heard early next month. If il is over
I | ruled. Judge Gary will pronounce sentence and
/ fix the date for the carrying out of the death
peualty. The case will then 20 TO the Supreme
3 Court for review.
v IL is the generally expressed view OF lawyers
!, that the Supreme Court will not interfere il
9 Judge Gary refuses trial, as the Court, il
i is contcnded, ruled with great liberality toward
: the defendants counsel, and read TO the jury
a nearly every instruction asked for on behalf O
|. the defendants.
n A Mormon Oath.
n The Salt Lake Tribune saws that the follow