Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-10-15
In THEIR OWN DEFENSE
Last Pleas of the Eight Anarchists
Who are Under Conviction
of Death.
Judge Gary Asks Them For Reasons
Why They Should Not Be
Hanged.

CHICAGO, Oct. AT o'clock this
morning a few policemen paced back
and forth in front of the criminal court
building. This is sentence day." said
many on the streets as they hastened to-
ward the spot in hopes of entering the
presence of Joige Gary and witnessing
the sensational scenes. But only one in
ten could get in by the guards at the
outer door and by ten o'clock the dis
appointed ones formed quite an assem-
blage on the corners and in front of the
courthouse building. Inside the court
room the yellow curtains were down and
the brightness of the outer day shed a
somber light on the assemblage. At 10
o'clock the prisoners were in their seats.
They were not stolid and indifferent as
so often before. A change had come
over some of them, and they all exhibited
evidences of great concern.
Mrs. Judge Gary and her friends arriv-
ed twenty minutes before 10 O'Clock, and
were shown to chairs which had been re-
served for their accommodation. AttOr-
ney Kate Kane was the next to arrive and
select choice location. Then came Mrs.
Parsons with her two children, a girl and
a boy, both wearing smiles and looking as
happy as If they were off on a picnic.
Little Lulu, the daughter led her brother
up to their uncle, General Parsons, who
had secured seat near his brothers chair,
and received his careSSes. When they re-
turned to their mothers side, Mrs. Neebe
and her little boy occupied seats next to
Mrs. Parsons, and Mrs. Captain Black
was supplied with chair by Captain Bon
field just behind them. The prisoners
came into court at precisely 10 O'Clock,
and Immediately the children of Mr.. Par
sons rushed to his knees. Their example
was followed by Neebe's little boy, Il
bright little fellow who was taken upon
his fathers lap. The presence of these
children afforded a very impressive scene
The contrast between the sad faces of
their convicted sires and their own smiles
and playful acts was well calculated to
awaken sympathy in the hearts
of beholders. Mrs. Parsons was
dressed in neat suit of black
and holding her little boys hat
in one hand and newspaper in the other
sat trembling with suppressed emotion.
She kept her eyes steadily upon the court
while the latter was delivering his deci-
sion, with her lips compressed, her eyes
partly distended and her hands tightly
grasping the articles which she held, and
was unquestionably the most affected lis
tener. Tears flowed slowly but steadily
from the red, swollen eyes of Mrs. Neebe,
which seemed, along with her deep, heavy
sighs, to afford her a measure of relief.
But Mrs. Parsons could neither sigh or
weep. Nature has not provided her with
means of unloading the burdens of the
heart. She could only suffer in silent
trembling, which was the best proof of
her Spanish-Indian origin she has yet af-
forded.
Engle, Lingg and Fischer devoted
themselves to their morning papers most
of the time occupied by the court in rem
dering his decision. They seemed to take
but little interest in what was said, while
Fielden, Parsons, Neebe, Schwab and
Spies bent forward in close attention. in
order to catch each word, Parsons and
Neebe held their children upon their
knees during the whole time.
Captain Bonfield supported by strong
contingent of detectives and baliffs, oc-
cupied seat just behind August Spies
and the other prisoners, while a number
of policemen were scattered throughout
the audience.