Evening star., 1936-06-21
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Trial of the men accused of partici-
patton in the Haymarket riots in Chi
cago fifty years ago was begun shortly
after the tragedy. The
Trial Of the Star OF June ~, 1886,
says:
Anarchists. The conduct Of the
Chicago men who were summoned to
serve as Jurors in the anarchist trials
Yesterday was not calculated to strike
terror to the hearts of wrongdoers. No
sooner had the court opened than they
began with one accord to make excuses,
and a supplemental panel had to be
sworn. It is scarcely to be wondered
that the much-hunted Parsons was en-
boldened to walk into the room and sit
down to watch the proceedings as II
nothing had happened. If the business
men and property holders Of Chicago
are not willing to lay aside other affairs
long enough to do their share toward
ridding the city of the leaders OF its
lawless element they need not look Tor
much sympathy from outside when they
suffer through riot and pillage. 1t is all
very well FOR them as taxpayers to con-
tributeato the support OF police force,
but the police cannot do everything.
The most that lies in their power is to
set in motion the wheels of the great
engine of justice. The rest must be
done by the citizens Of Chicago them
selves"
The reference to Parsons, one OF the
participants in the riot, was followed by
the following dispatch from Chicago in
The Star of June %, 1886:
THE Daily News this morning prints
an account of the movements Of
Anarchist Parsons subsequent to the
Haymarket riot. 1t says that when the
bomb exploded on that night Parsons
leaped from the wagon and ran to his
home. After a conference with his wife
they decided that his flight was neces-
sary. BY morning he was on the Rock
Island train with a ticket to Omaha.
His disguise was thorough. Parsons
hair and mustache are iron gray in
color, but personal vanity has led him to
the use of dark dye, and even his most
intimate acquaintance have known and
described him as a dark-haired man.
Before leaving his home on the night
of his fight he removed the dye from
his hair and mustache. The result was
a thorough change in his appearance.
On reaching Omaha Parsons went di-
rectly to the home of Anton Rune, the
patron of Nebraska anarchists and the
proprietor of suburban road house. Up
to that time the anxiety to apprehend
Parsons had not reached the pitch it
attained subsequently and no one had
started in pursuit Of the anarchist. The
newspapers kept him informed of the
progress of public sentiment and the
growth of the desire in Chicago for his
return. He then took alarm and, through
the mediation of. Ruhe. secured refuge
on farm near Papillion. small town
twenty miles west of Omaha. There he
remained until Friday last, and. yielding
to the advice of Captain Black, he start
ed for Chicago. He boldly entered
Omaha, purchased his ticket and made
his journey of 500 miles without an at
tempt at concealment. His beard dur
ing his absence had covered his face
and when he appeared before his wife
at 7 o'clock Monday morning she scarce
" knew. him. In the forenoon he Sc
cured the services of a barber and
after taking dinner at the home of q
friend. he took cab for the Criminal
Court"
Parsons stood his trial with the others
was convicted and was one of the -four
men who were hanged for the crime.