The most sensational evidence of the trial, as showing the inside workings of the armed sections of the socialists, and at the same time the most damaging as indicative of their motives and designs, was that of Detective Andrew C. Johnson, of the Pinkerton agency, an entirely disinterested person who was detailed in December, 1884, by his agency, which had been employed by the First National Bank to furnish details of the secret meetings which it was known were being held by revolutionary plotters at various places throughout the city. Johnson is a Scandinavian, thin-faced and sandy-haired, born in Copenhagen, and thirty-five years of age. He told his story in a calm, collected, business-like manner. Mr. Grinnell asked: "Do you know any of the defendants?" Witness--"I do." "Name them."--"Parsons, Fielden, Spies, Schwab and Lingg." "Were you at any time connected with any group of the International Workingmen's Association?"--"I was." "What group?"--"The American group." "Were you a member of any armed section of the socialists of this city?"--"Yes, sir." "When did you begin attendance at their meetings?"--"The first meeting I attended was the 22d of February 1885, at Baum's pavilion. The last meeting I attended was the 24th of January of this year." "At whose instance did you go to their meetings?"--"At the instance of my agency." "Did you from time to time make reports of what you heard and saw at their meetings?"--"I did." Mr. Grinnell passed over to witness a bundle of papers and asked: "Have you in your hand a report of the meeting of the 22d of February, 1885?"--"Yes, sir." "Were any of the defendants present at that meeting?"--"Yes, sir; Parsons was present." "Refer to your memoranda and tell me what was said by Parsons at that meeting."--Objected to; overruled.--"Parsons stated that the reason the meeting had been called in that locality was so as to give the many merchant princes who resided there an opportunity to attend and see what the Communists had to say about the distribution of wealth. He said: 'I want you all to unite together and throw off the yoke. We need no president, no congressmen, no police, no militia, and no judges. They are all leeches, sucking the blood of the poor, who have to support them all by their labor. I say to you, rise one and all, and let us exterminate them all. Woe to the police or to the military whom they send against us.'" "That was where?"--"At Baum's pavilion, corner of Cottage Grove avenue and Twenty-second street." "Have you a report of any other of the defendants speaking at that meeting?"--"No, sir." "What is the next memorandum that you have?"--"The next meeting was March 1. That night I became a member. I went to Thielen, who was at the time acting as treasurer and secretary for the association, and gave him my name and signified my willingness to join the association. He entered my name in a book and handed me a red card with my name on and a number."