Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-07-29
THE CHICAGO ANARCHISTS.
The Evidence Becomes More and More
Damaging Each Day.
Pinkerton's Detectives Attended all
Their Meetings and They Did
Not Know IL


| In the trial Of the anarchist In Chicago
July Gath, u sensation was created among
them by the appearance in the witness box of
Andrew Q. johnson, one OF the Pinkerton
detectives, Brcsthless attention was given as
the witness commenced his testimony. Spies
regarded him with an expression Of surprise
and alarm and Immediately began an earnest
conversation with his attorney Witness be-
| gan his testimony by stating that he was u
member OF the American branch OF the in
ternational workingmen's union aud belonged
TO the armed section Of that force. He at.
tended all their meetings from February -,
! 1885, TO January 1885. At the first meeting
witness attended Parsons stated that IL was
called to give the merchant princes an op2or-
/ tunlty to attend and hear what the commun-
| lists had to say. Ht said: ~ want you all to
unite aud throw off the yoke. We need no
| president, no congressman, no policemen, no
| judges. Let us rise and extermlnate them"
At subsequent meeting during the La
Sale strike, Fielding said 1t was a b!es-
sing that something had been Invented
with which they could fight militia who were
armed with Calling guns.
referring to the board of trade opening. What
splendid opportunity there would be TO blow
| up that den of robbers. Fielder said ] want
YOU to 90 to lodging houses aud get all the
tramps to go with us. The more the merrler
| Witness then related several meetings he had
attended. He heard Parsons say at one OF
them: lived on snow-balls all last winter,
but by God, Pll not live on them this winter.
The next meeting was on April 30, on Market
| square. Fielder said: want all wcrkingmen
to arm themselves and sweep the capitalists
| from of the earth. Parsons then said every
workIngman must save little Of his wages
and buy Colts revolver and Winchester
rifle. We will march to the board OF trade
building and while the band is playing We will
sing the 'Marseillaisc' On May 10, Decoration
| day. proceeded the witness, was standing on
the corner Of Fifth Avenue and Washington
street, with Spies. Some policemen passed
along and Spies said few dynamite bombs
would soon scatter them. The MALTA then
passed and Spies said: Oh, they are only boys
| 80 men could route them, At the Ogden grove
| picnic June Z, 1885, Fielden said: want you
to organize, and by organization mean force (;
| learn how to make and use dynamite. The
next meeting was August 49, 1885, at Gref's
hall. Parsons talked about the street car
employees. lie said II one shot had been fired
and Bouield had got that shot the whole city
would have deluged with blood. The next
meeting was August "a, at Grepfs hall. This
was meeting of the armed section Of the
armed socialists. Fielder aud Parsons wer c
! PRESENT
want the history Of that meeting said Mr.
Grlnnell
! There were some twenty or twenty-three
men present, resumed witness. After having
been there short time man armed with a
sword and dressed In blue blouse and a
SLOUGH hat entered the room and ordered all
to fall in. He said whoever wanted to join
should come forward. Myself and two others
stepped to the front. We were then asked our
names. 1 gave mine and was told that
my number was 49," Two men who
could not show cards besides two others
were expelled. The man with the sword
then put us through a regular manual drill
for an hour. When we were through
the drill the master brought In ten other men
dressed like himself, who he introduced as
members of the Lehr und Weir veren They
drilled for ten minutes. We were then in
vited TO inspect q tin box. 1t contained two
cans that looked like tomato cans, which we
were told were dynamite bombs. We then
proceeded to the election Of officers. man
named Walters was selected as captain, and
Parsons as lieutenant We resolved TO call
ourselves the international Rifles" and ad-
journed until the following Monday. At our
next meeting, August 81, Captain Walters
drilled us for an hour and quarter. Par
sons and Fielder were present The captain
suggested that money should be used to pro-
cure arms. Parsons spoke up and said: Look
here boys, why cannot we some night make a
raid on the First regiment armory and help
ourselyesl There are only few men on
guard and we can easily do 1t. This sug-
gestion seemed TO meet with approval, but
no action was taken. Witness told of several
other open meetings he had attended which
were Of similar character as those already
described. At meeting January Ia Fielder
! said they had plenty of dynamite and they
would use 1t when the time came. At tho
frs meeting of the armed section It was I'M
de rstood that the International rifles, In case
Of a conflict, were to act In concert with the
Lehr and Weir verein.
"Was any time mentioned for conflict"
| asked Mr. Grinnell.
The first Of May was always mentioned as
| good time. Parsons said at meeting that
May was our opportunity to strike for glory.
If the eight-hour movement should fail, 90
600 men would be out Of employment and
would be glad to join us. Witness said he
had seen Mosps book at several meetings
The chairman had them for sale. The dues
! for armed section was ten cents a month
Fielden was treasurer and secretary Of one Of
the groups.
MURDERED FOR MONEY.