The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-07-01
RISON g a Z ES AJAR..
1 Gov. Altgeld Grants Pardons to
Three Chicago Anarchists.

THE BARS LET DOWN.

lg THE BARS LET DOWN.
CHICAGO. June 81. Three men who
for nearly six years have been known
as Nos. S,376, $3.50 and S,527 emerged
from the stone portal of the peni-
tertiary at Joliet at Z o'clock
Monday evening and once more
breathed the air of freedom, They
were Oscar Neebe, Samuel Fielder
and Michael Schwab, the anarchists
who had been convicted of completely
in the Hay,narket riot May 4, 1886,
when seven policemen were killed by
the explosion of a dynamite bomb.
They owed their liberty to Gov. Alt
geld's pardon.
REASONS FOR TUE PARDON.
Gov. Altgeld's pardon is based on the
grounds of packed jury; that the jury
men, according to their own answers,
were not competent; that the prisoners
were not proven TO be guilty of the
crime charged in the indictment; that
the trial Judge was prejudiced against
the prisoners or determined to win the
applause Of certain class.
THEY HEAR THE NEWS.
e S. Dreyer, the real-estate man and
banker, who has Interested him.
self in behalf of the men. arrived at the
prison from Springfield at 3:15 o'clock
in the afternoon with the pardons
in his pocket, and also a copy
of the governors statement of his
reasons for granting them. Mr.. Dreyer
was shown into the Office of Warden
Allen and presented his documents.
The warden examined them, found
them correct, and at once sent for the
three convicts, who were convicts no
longer.
Neebe, Schwab and Fielden entered
the warden's office dressed in their
prison stripes. They were stood up in
line and in the presence of Warden Al
len, Chaplain Roth, Clerk Miller and
Storekeeper Allen Mr.. Dreyer informed
them that Gov. Altgeld had signed a
pardon for each of them on GER
tain conditions. Tears stood in the
eyes of the men to whom this unex-
pe"ted news of freedom came. Their
emotion was apparent, though they
made strong efforts to conceal it.
THE CONDITIONS.
Mr. Dreyer made a short speech, III
which he said executive clemency was
extended to them on condition that
they promised to he hereafter honest, up
right citizens, TO go to work and earn
a living, and forevermore to refrain
from associating with men who
preached the doctrines which had
brought them within the prison walls,
aud to refrain themselves from again
propagating anarchistic theories. He
told them how they had been despised
by the whole civilized world, and hoped
that in view Of the mercy that was
shown them they would never give Gov.
Altgeld nor himself cause to regret the
action which set them free.
EAGERLY ACCEPTED.
All three of the men unhesitatingly
made the promise required of them.
The warden then presented each with
his pardon. which was the usual form
in such cases, with the governors sig
nature attached. Gov. Atgeld's review
of the case was not read on account OF
its length. Samuel Fielden, replying
for himself and comrades, assured Mr..
Drcycr that neither he nor Gov. Altgeld
would be given cause to repent their
course IN the matter.
OFF FOR HOME.
The liberated men then shook hands
with Mr.. Dreyer and were conducted
back into the prison, where they took
OFT their striped clothing and donned
civilian suits. Then they were taken to
tho official dining~room where a dinner
OF roast beet ham and eggs, stra wber-
ries and iced tea was served, Chaplain
Roth. Clerk Miller, Mr.. Dreyer,
Mr.. Allen, the warden's son, and the
late prisoners being the guests When
the lncal was finished it was nearly
time for the train to arrive which was
to bear the three liberated anarchists
back to Chicago. AS they came out
into the balny air of a per-
feet June evening one who had
known them in former days would
scarcely have recognized any one of
them. Prison life had left its mark on
each. Mr.. Dreyer walked down to the
station with the ex-prisoners, and in a
few minutes a Santa Fee train came
along and all boarded the smoking car.
The party left the train at Twenty
third street and boarding street cars
went to their respective homes. Field
en- to his wife and two children at III
West Polk street, Schwab to his family,
Il wife and two children, at 1877 Wash
tenaw avenue, and Neebe to his broth
er's residence on Sheffield avenue.
Numerous friends called on them dur
ing the evening to offer their congratu
lations.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CASE.
The case is one of the most remark
able in the history of the government and
has attracted the attention of the civ
ilized world. On the night of Nav 4,
1856, q meeting was held in hall in
Haynarket square, Chicago, to protest
regarding the killing Of two laboring
men in trouble which had taken
place in an effort to introduce rule
for an eight-hour day for the laboring
classes. The meeting was attended by
about 1000 persons, good order being
maintained until just as the last were
leaving the hall when detachment Of
police were called into quell disturb