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. Identified Mathias Degan's body in the morgue. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): Degan, Mathias (vol.K 699).
Testimony of John Degan, 1886 July 31.
Volume K, 699-700, 2 p.
Degan, John.
Brother of Mathias Degan; German immigrant.
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[Image, Volume K, Page 699]
July 31st, 1886, ten o'clock A.M.
Court met pursuant to adjournment.
JOHN DEGAN,
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 John Degan.
Q Do you know Mathias J Degan?
A Yes sir.
Q Are you a brother?
A Yes sir.
Q Where was he born?
A He was born in the old country.
Q What old country?
A In Germany.
Q Do you know how old he was when he died?
A I believe he was 34 years old.
Q How long had he been in this country?
A To my knowledge, I believe he come here when he was four years old or five.
Q How long have you been here?
A I was born here.
Q Do you know how long he had been on the police force?
A He went on with the three hundred a little over a year ago.
Q Was he a large man or a small man?
A A very large man.
Q Was he married or single?
A He was married.
Q Is his wife living?
A No sir.
Q Has he any children living?
A Yes sir.
Q How many?
A One boy.
A How old?
A 14 years old.
Q You are German, are you?
A Yes sir.
Q Do you know when he died--when did you see him first after the 4th of May last?
A I seen ab him about seven o'clock on the morning of the fifth.
Q Where?
A In the morgue.
Q Seven o'clock on the morning of the 5th?
A Yes sir.
Q At the morgue, at the county hospital?
A Yes sir.
Q That was in Cook County, State of Illinois?
A Yes sir.
Q Was he living or dead when you saw him in the morgue?
A Dead.
MR. BLACK: That is all.