The Rise and Fall of Anarchy in America: From its Incipient Stage to the First Bomb Thrown in ChicagoMcLean, George N.
History
The Rise and Fall of Anarchy in America: From its Incipient Stage to the First Bomb Thrown in Chicago
McLean, George N.
Anarchists -- United States; Haymarket Square Riot, Chicago, Ill., 1886
Not a sound came from the spectators. For a moment the courtroom was
silent as the tomb. The prisoners were struck with horror. Spies' face
blanched white as the paper on which his death sentence was written.
His lips quivered, and he mechanically tapped the floor with his foot
and nervously stroked his moustache. Neebe was completely stunned.
The blood rushed to his face, and the perspiration stood out on his
forehead in great drops. Schwab's yellow face seemed to look into
vacancy, and he had a wandering, stupid stare. Parsons was visibly
affected, but he kept himself up better than the rest, and maintained
a certain air of nonchalance. He made an effort to flaunt a red
handkerchief out of the window at the crowd on the outside, but was
promptly checked by a bailiff. Fielden fairly quaked. He shook like
an aspen leaf, and in every way showed his great fear. Fischer was
ghastly. When the verdict was first being read he held a half-consumed
cigar in his mouth, but when the death penalty was reached the weed
fell from his lips to the floor. Lingg appeared sullen and stoical,
but when the sentence was read his face flushed, and he was seen to
tremble. Engel betrayed no emotion. When the verdict became known to
the thousands assembled outside a great cheer rent the air.
Captain Black asked that the jury be polled. The jurymen answered with
firm voices. Captain Black said he would desire to make a motion for
a new trial. State's Attorney Grinnell said it would be impossible to
dispose of the motion during the present term, but by agreement, the
motion could be argued at the September term. This was agreed to by the
defense.
The Court.--"Let the motion be entered and continued until the next
term, and let the defendants be taken back to jail." Judge Gary then
arose and addressed the jury as follows:
"GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY:--You have finished this long and very arduous
trial, which has required a very considerable sacrifice of time,
and some hardship. I hope that everything has been done that could
possibly be done to make those sacrifices and hardships as mild as
might be permitted. It does not become me to say anything in regard
to the case that you have tried, or the verdict you have rendered;
but men compulsorily serving as jurors, as you have done, deserve
some recognition of the service you have performed besides the meager
compensation you have received."
The Foreman of the jury said: "The jury have deputed to me the only
agreeable duty, that it is in our province to perform, and that
is to thank the Court and the counsel for the defense and for the
prosecution, for your kindly care to make us as comfortable as possible
during our confinement. We thank you."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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