Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1. Direct examination by Mr. Grinnell. Testified on behalf of the Prosecution, People of the State of Illinois. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): Pinkerton National Detective Agency (vol.K 34), discussion of legal procedure (vol.K 35), People's Exhibit 17 (vol.K 36). WILLIAM A. PINKERTON, a witness called and sworn on behalf of the people, was examined in chief by Mr. Grinnell and testified as follows: Q What is your name? A William A. Pinkerton. Q You are at present the head and chief of Pinkerton's National Detective Agency? A I am. Q Your office is in Chicago? A One office here, yes sir. Q Do you know the last witness, Johnson? A Yes sir. Q Did you agency, or did you, as the chief of that agency last year at any time engage the services of any man to as certain what was being done by the socialists, so-called, socialists or anarchists?
Testimony of William A. Pinkerton, 1886 July 26.
Volume K, 34-36, 3 p.
Pinkerton, William A.
Head and Chief of Pinkerton National Detective Agency.
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Objected to.
THE COURT: How is that admissible?
MR. GRINNELL: I want to follow it up by proving these reports were made for certain purposes at that time, at the instance of certain individuals. Mr. Foster has already asked questions about, endorsements pn the back of this paper.
MR. ZEISLER: Not of this witness.
THE COURT: That don't tend to show whether the reports are accurate or not. The reports themselves are not in evidence.
MR. GRINNELL: It only goes to show the good faith in the transaction.
MR. FOSTER: That is, you want to corroborate your detective witness before he is impeached?
MR. GRINNELL: What did you, if anything, do with these reports as they were received from time to time?
Objected to.
THE COURT: The only way these reports could come in evidence or anything in regard to them, would be by putting them in in the way of impeaching testimony. They cannot come in as original.
MR. GRINNELL: I am not trying to put the reports in at all.
THE COURT: Anything in regard to the reports.
MR. GRINNELL: I am trying to show that Mr. pinkerton presented the reports from day to day.
THE COURT: I don't think that is admissible.
MR. GRINNELL: This advertisement which you permitted me to read I will read now. It is an advertisement taken from the Alarm of October 17th, 1885, last year, in the adertising column, under the heading of "Organized Groups", this is among them. "The armed section of the American Group meets every Monday night at 54 West Lake Street." I offer that in connection with this witness's testimony.