The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-14

What Perjury There Was in the Anarchist
Trial on the Side of the Defense.

Trial the Side of the Defense.
Chicago Tribune
Since the granting Of the supersedeas in be-
half of the convicted Anarchists, the action of
Judge Scott has been commented upon accord
ing to the varying opinions of those interested
in the fate of the prisoners. Runner has been
busy with the actual facts said to have governed
the decision, to the effect that counsel for the
defense found the Chief Justice firm in the be-
lief, from the published testimony, that Spicss
Fischer, Lineg and Engel would not escape
their fate, while in the other cases sreview of
the testimony would show little hope for
them. Rumor further in declaring
that after it became evident that
supersedeas would be granted in the cases of
Schwab, Neebe; Parsons and Fielden, repeated
appeals to accord like treatment to all were
made by the counsel, which brought a respite to
the four against whom the evidence was moss
complete. A representative OF the Tribune was
informed yesterday by Mr. Solomon, the prison
ers' counsel, that the report was unfounded, and
that the cases were considered in the attitude of
standing or failing together. Mr.. Solomon
thought the report might have originated from
knowledge that the evidence, which was main
ly directed against Spies as the leading spirit
present at the riot, was in the main more cumu-
latve and direct in the cases of Spies. Lingg,
Fischer and Engel than in the others.
Remarks of an especially important nature al
legged to have been made by States attorney
Grnnel have also drawn renewed attention to
the efforts of the Anarchists TO save the necks of
their leaders from the halter and mitigate their
punishment. The Rev. o. G. McCuloch, of In
dianapolis, is credited with the statement that
Mr.. Grinnell, while on hunting trip Northwest
last summer, after the close of the trial. related
to him the circumstances of the trial and de-
clared that it developed an astonishing quantity
of perjury, and that for himself he would not
hang yellow dog on the testimony adduced.
Because of this, Mr. McCuloch made state
ment recently from the pulpit. declaring that
| the Anarchists should not be hung. In ref
erence to this unwarranted use of his name
| Mr.. Grinnell expressed himself yesterday most
| emphatically and clearly, as follows: II thank
| the Tribune for affor6ing me the opportunity of
meeting this internal fabrication with a prompt
! denial. / never said to a living soul that /
| thought any witness for the prosecution guilty
| of perjury. | have never thought so, and do
| not think so now. Neither have | stated that
would not hang yellow dog on such testimony
| / do not know Mr.. McCuloch; have had no talk
with any clergyman while absent other than my
former pastor; did not go on hunting trip while
away from Chicago nor into the woods
| Vermont by way of New York State but
| took no journey in the Nor Invest have bee
| free to express among acquaintances and feel
| free to do so now my belief that there was a
mass of perjury committed during the Anarchist
| trials by the witnesses for the defense. The
| clergyman has evidently been the victim of some
| one who personated me. 1t is a regularly organ
| lied scheme on the part of the Anarchists yet
| outside of prison to create un6eserved sympathy
| for the prisoners. There is no dodge they do
! not and will not resort TO in behalf of their
| cause, and no depths of falssying and perjury
to which they are not willing to dive to accom-
| plish the salvation of the mnrderers of the po-
| licemen who stood between them and their
| schemes of destruction"