Haymarket Affair Digital Collection

Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1
Testimony of John Stift, 1886 July 30.

Volume K, 697-698, 2 p.
Stift, John.
Officer, Chicago Police Department.

Direct examination by Mr. Ingham. Cross-examination by Mr. Foster. Testified on behalf of the Prosecution, People of the State of Illinois.

Searched Oscar Neebe's house on May 7, 1886 and confiscated a pistol, a sword and a red flag. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): items confiscated from the Arbeiter-Zeitung office or the defendants' homes (vol.K 698).


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[Image, Volume K, Page 697]

JOHN STIFT,

a witness called and sworn on behalf of the People was examined in chief by Mr. Ingham and testified as follows:

Q You are a police officer?

A Yes, sir.

Q Connected with what station?

A East Chicago Avenue station.

Q Did you go to the house of Neebe the defendant shortly after the 4th of May?

A I did.


[Image, Volume K, Page 698]

Q On what day?

A It was on Friday morning, the 7th day of May.

Q What did you find there?

A I found there a 38 calibre Colt's pistol. I found a sword there, and I found a breech loading gun and a red flag.

Q What condition was the revolver in?

A There were five chambers fired out. One was loaded with a cartridge and one with a shell in it.

Counsel for defendants objected to the testimony on behalf of all the defendants and particularly those other than Mr. Neebe.

Cross Examination by
Mr. Black%

Q What kind of gun was it you found?

A Breechloading gun with a large bore in it.

Q A smooth bore-- it was a sporting gun?

A It may be. It had a large bore in it.

Q Don't you know it was?

A I could not tell.

Q Are you familiar with weapons sufficiently to know?

A It was a gun. I have not seen very many of that kind.

Q It was not a rifle?

A No, I don't think it was a rifle.

Q Smooth bore gun?

A Yes, sir.

Q Double or single barrel.

A Single barrel.

Court adjourned to ten o'clock A. M. July 31st, 1886.


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