Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1. Direct examination by Mr. Grinnell. Testified through an interpreter. Testified on behalf of the Prosecution, People of the State of Illinois. Attended meeting on May 3, 1886 at Zepf's Hall. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): "Revenge" circular (vol.J 237), Zepf's Hall (vol.J 237), appearance of the street after the bombing (vol.J 238), Carpenters' Union (vol.J 237).
Testimony of Ernst Niendorf (first appearance), 1886 July 23.
Volume J, 237-238, 2 p.
Niendorf, Ernst.
Carpenter; German immigrant.
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[Image, Volume J, Page 237]
2 P. M.
ERNST NIENDORF,
produced as a witness on behalf of the People, being first duly sworn, testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
By Mr. Grinnell.
Q What is your name?
A Ernst Niendroff.
Q Where do you live?
A 21 Krober Street.
Q How long have you been in America?
A Three years
Q Do you remember the night that the bomb was thrown in the Haymarket Square?
A Yes.
Q Where were you night before -- on Monday night?
A In Zepf's Hall on West Lake Street.
Q What was going on there where you were?
A There was a meeting of the carpenters.
Q Who was the chairman or president of that meeting?
A I.
Q Who was the secretary of that meeting?
A Seliger
Q William Seliger?
A Yes.
Q When did that meeting open?
A At eight o'clock.
Q When did it close?
A After eleven o'clock.
Q Was Seliger there all the time?
A I think so.
Q Do you remember of a circular being distributed in that meeting called the "Revenge" circular?
A Yes, sir.
Q What time in the evening was it?
A Between nine and ten o'clock.
Q Do you know who distributed it?
A That I cannot say.
Q You may look at this circular, and say if this is the circular that was distributed, or one like?
A Yes, that is the same.
Q Do you know Balthazar Rau?
A By sight.
Q Was he there that night?
A Yes.
Q How many of these circulars were distributed at that meeting?
A That I cannot say.
Q How many people were there in that meeting?
A Perhaps 800 or 1000 members.
Q How many were in the meeting? How many were there that night?
A. 800 to 1000.
Q During the progress of the meeting did anybody else announce another meeting?
A Yes.
Q What was said?
A It was said that the members of the Armed Sections should go to their meeting place.
Q Was it designated where that place was?
A No.
No Cross Examination.