Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1 Examination by Mr. Grinnell. Accepted as a juror in the case of Illinois vs. August Spies et al.
Examination of James H. Cole (second appearance), 1886 June 22.
Volume A, 200-203, 4 p.
Cole, James H.
Bookkeeper, C. B. & Q Railroad.
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[Image, Volume A, Page 200]
Cross-examination of Mr Cole
By Mr. Grinell.
Q Mr Cole, you have ben in this city seven years?
A Yes.
Q You are born in Ohio?
A No; Utica, New York.
Q When did you leave Utica?
A I was 20 years old.
Q Did you have any profession or trade when you left?
A I had been in the freight office of the New York Central from the time I was sixtenn. I had been in the rail road business, you might say, from boyhood.
Q Were you connected with the other road that runs up north-west -- up towards Oswego?
A I was with that railroad before the consolidation.
Q Where did you work on that road?
A Syracuse.
Q You left there when you were about 20 years old?
A Yes.
Q From there you went where?
A To Clinton, Iowa.
Q How long did you stay there?
A About eighteen months. My father and myself had the contract to build 20 miles of road from Clinton Iowa, to DeWitt; it was the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad and is now part of the Northwestern road.
Q You were contractors?
A Yes.
Q Is your father living now?
A No; my father is dead. My father was paralyzed then; he was paralyzed on the way out.
Q Did you have any trouble with your labor arrangements or organizations at that time or any time during your life?
A No sir; not with those men.
Q Later?
A No; not excepting while I was in the service and was injured and came home for an instrument to wear, and having it adjusted, it was put in the hands of the government. I was in charge of three gangs of men and they struck on me three times; but I did not lose any men.
Q The strike was adjusted?
A I raised them twice, the third time they struck I cut them down lower than the first price I raised them from.
Q After leaving Clinton where did you go
A I came to Chicago.
Q You remained in Chicago how long?
A I think it was about a year; not much more than that.
Q What year would that be?
A well, I said before 1855 or 1856. I think it was 1856 and 1857.
Q And from here you went to Cleveland,
A. Yes.
Q And you remained in Cleveland until the war broke out
A Yes sir.
Q What business were you in there?
A In the railroad business -- the Cleveland & Columbus and Cincinnati & Lake Shore.
Q Was tht under Mr. DeWitt Brown?
A Mr. DeWitt Brown was in the iron business at that time.
Q You staid three until the war roke Iut?
A Yes.
Q And you enlisted, as I remember you to state, in the 41st Ohio?
A Yes.
Q That was a regiment made up at Cleveland?
A Yes, Colonel Hayes was the Colonel.
Q You were sworn in as an officer?
A Yes sir.
Q To what rank were you sworn in?
A As Captain.
Q Where were you mustered?
A I was mustered at Clevehand and from there we went to camp Dennison.
Q What branch of the army did you get into first -- under what General?
A From camp Dennison we went up the Ohio River to Gallipolis, and from there to La Fayette, and we were brigaded under General Nelson at camp Leroy, in Leroy county Kentucky.
Q When was your regiment mustered out?
A I was injured after I went unto service at that camp.
Q You came back to Cleveland?
A In March, 1862, I came back for this instrument.
Q All told, how long did you live in Cleveland.
A I lived in Cleveland -- I called it my home from 1857 to until 1869.
Q Did I ask you if you had any conscientious scruples against the inflcition of the death penalty?
A No sir.
Q What in your opinion that?
A I have no conscientious scruples.
Q You believe in the infliction of that penalty in proper cases?
A I do.
Q You say you have not been in business lately?
A Not since the first of April, except I had nine days employment. Of course, I have my family to support, and I went to the Burlington road, where I was before went to the Continental. Four and a half years I was with the Burlington.
Q What department were you in?
A I was auditor of freight received
under Mr. Cook., and I settled the business of the station with the general office. I was engaged nine days during the strike, while the men were striking there. I assisted them to educate the new check clerks, that is all.
Q On The C.B.&Q.?
A Yes.
Q You believe in the maintenace of the laws of the land?
A I do.
Q Have you any sympathy or any afiliations, directly or indirectly, with any individuals or class of individuals who have for their purposes or object the overthrow of the law?
A I have not.
Q If taken as a juror in this case, can you determine the innocence or guilt of the defendants, or any of them, upon the proof presented to you here in court, regardless of any opinion any influence, or anything except the evidence itself, and under the instructions of the court?
A I certainly can if I have my brains and don't get tired out.