Haymarket Affair Digital Collection

Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1
Testimony of Robert Lindinger (first appearance), 1886 Aug. 4.

Volume L, 482-490, 9 p.
Lindinger, Robert.
Cornice-maker.

Direct examination by Mr. Zeisler. Testified on behalf of the Defense, Spies, August et al.

Stood in Crane's Alley during the Haymarket meeting. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): Parsons, Albert (vol.L 483), Spies, August (vol.L 483), Fielden, Samuel (vol.L 483), Spies' speech at Haymarket (vol.L 485), McCormick Reaper Works strike, meeting or riot (vol.L 485), Zepf's Hall (vol.L 485), Captain Ward's command to disperse (vol.L 486), Fielden's response to the police advance at Haymarket (vol.L 486), time and place origination of the gunfire (vol.L 487), Knights of Labor (vol.L 488), the Arbeiter-Zeitung (vol.L 489), Cornice-makers' Union (vol.L 488).


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[Image, Volume L, Page 482]

ROBERT LINDINGER,

A WITNESS CALLED AND SWORN ON BEHALF OF THE DEFENDANTS, WAS EXAMINED IN CHIEF BY MR. ZEISLER, AND TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS:

Q WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

A ROBERT LINDINGER.

Q WHERE DO YOU RESIDE?

A I LIVE AT 53 NORTH CLARK STREET.


[Image, Volume L, Page 483]

Q WHO DO YOU LIVE WITH?

A WITH KARL RICHTER, A FRIEND OF MINE, AND PALLOR.

Q WHERE WERE YOU ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 4TH?

A 53 NORTH CLARK STREET.

Q ABOUT WHAT TIME WERE YOU THERE?

A WAS THERE AT SEVEN, HALF PAST SEVEN.

Q WHERE DID YOU GO FROM THERE?

A WENT DOWN TO THE HAYMARKET.

Q WITH WHOM?

A I AND FRIEND KARL RICHTER.

Q ABOUT WHAT TIME DID YOU ARRIVE AT THE MAYMARKET?

A BEFORE EIGHT ABOUT, I BELIEVE--- I KNOW IT WAS TEN OF FIFTEEN MINUTES TO WALK DOWN THERE.

Q DID YOU SEE ANY OF THE DEFENDANTS AT THE HAYMARKET THERE DURING THAT NIGHT?

A YES SIR.

Q WHICH ONES?

A I SEEN MR. SPIES, MR. PARSONS AND MR. FIELDEN

Q THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT YOU SAW THERE, ARE THEY?

A YES SIR.

Q WHEN DID YOU SEE MR. SPIES FIRST, AND WHERE?

A I SEEN HIM WHEN HE CAME UPON THE WAGON ON THAT NIGHT, NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE.

Q YOU NEVER HAD SEEN HIM BEFORE?

A NO SIR.

Q ABOUT WHAT TIME WAS THAT?

A IT WAS BEFORE NINE O' O'CLOCK, BEFORE THE MEETING BECAN.

Q WHAT WAS THE FIRST WORDS THAT YOU HEARD HIM SAY?

A I HEARD HIM SAY, WHETHER MR. PARSONS WAS THERE.


[Image, Volume L, Page 484]

Q WHERE WAS HE WHEN HE SAID THAT?

A HE WAS ON THE WAGON.

Q AFTER THAT DID HE COMMENCE TO MAKE A SPEECH TO THE CROWD AT ONCE?

A NO SIR, HE WENT DOWN FROM THE WAGON DOWNWARDS FROM ME

Q WHERE WERE YOU STANDING AT THAT TIME?

A I WAS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ALLEY, MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK.

Q YOU MEAN MIDWAY BETWEEN THE TWO SIDE WALKS, AND IN THE MIDWAY BETWEEN THE CURB STONE AND THE WALL-- IS THAT IT?

A YES SIR.

Q AT THE MOUTH OF THE ALLEY THERE?

A YES SIR.

Q WHICH ALLEY DO YOU REFER TO?

A I MEAN THE FIRST ALLEY FROM RANDOLPH STREET.

Q THE FIRST ALLEY NORTH OF RANDOLPH STREET?

A NORTH OF RANDOLPH STREET ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

Q ON WHAT SIDE OF THE STREET?

A ON THE EAST SIDE.

Q WITH WHOM DID YOU STAND THERE?

A I STAND THERE ARM IN ARM WITH CARL RICHTER.

Q NOW ON WHAT SIDE DID MR. SPIES ALIGHT FROM THE WAGON?

A HE WENT DOWN NORTHWARDS.

Q DID HE COME TOWARDS YOU?

A NO SIR.

Q YOU NEVER SEEN THOSE GENTLEMEN BEFORE IN YOUR LIFT?

A NO SIR.

Q WAS HE THERE IN THE WAGON AT THE TIME SPIES WAS THERE? |INDICATING SCHWAB.|

A NO SIR, HE WAS NOT THERE IN THE WAGON.

Q DID YOU SEE HIM PASS BY WITH SPIES OR ANY BODY THAT NIGHT TO THE ALLEY?

A NO SIR, I HAVE NOT.

Q WHEN DID YOU SEE MR. SPIES AFTER THAT?

A WELL, HE CAME UP IN ABOUT FIVE OR TEN MINUTES TO OPEN THE MEETING.


[Image, Volume L, Page 485]

Q DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID?

A YES, HE SAID THAT MEETING IS NOT TO RAISE ANY DISTURBANCE IN THE CROWD.

Q DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE THAT HE SAID?

A I REMEMBER THAT HE SAID THAT MC.CORMICK MADE HIM RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT SHOOTING FOR THAT RIOT ON THE DAY BEFORE, AND THAT WAS A LIE.

Q HOW LONG DID YOU STAY THERE?

A I STAID THERE UNTIL THE LAST WORD WAS SPOKEN.

Q DID YOU HEAR THE EXPLOSION OF THE BOMB?

A YES SIR.

Q WHO SPOKE LAST?

A MR. FIELDEN.

Q DID YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID?

A YES SIR.

Q WHERE WERE YOU STANDING DURING MR. FIELDEN'S SPEECH?

A I WAS STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ALLEY UNTIL IT COMMENCED LIKE RAIN, AND THEN WE WENT BACK UNDER THE LAMP POST.

Q DID YOU HEAR SOMEBODY THERE MAKE A SUGGESTION ABOUT ADJOURNING TO SOME OTHER HALL WHEN IT COMMENCED TO RAIN?

A MR. FIELDEDN WAS TALKING TO SOME OTHER MAN ON THE WAGON.

Q WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT IT?

A I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS SAID---WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GOING HOME OURSELVES.

Q I MEAN WHAT MR. FIELDEN SAID ABOUT ADJOURNING?

A I HEARD HIM SAY THAT ON ACCOUNT OF THE WEATHER THEY WANTED TO GO OVER TO ZEPF'S HALL, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT WAS SPOKEN FURTHER.

Q AFTER IT HAD BECOME THREATENING A LITTLE, RAINING, WHERE DID YOU GO?

A I WENT BACK TO THE LAMP POST, A LITTLE BACK.


[Image, Volume L, Page 486]

Q WHO WAS STANDING NEXT TO YOU?

A I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY.

Q WAS YOUR FRIEND RICHTER WITH YOU STILL?

A YES SIR.

Q HOW LONG DID YOU STAY THERE WITH REFERENCE TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE POLICE?

A I STAID THERE AND SEEN CAPTAIN WARD SAY "IN THE NAME OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS I COMMAND THAT MEETING TO DISPERSE"----I SEEN THAT.

Q DID YOU HEAR MR. FIELDEN MAKE ANY REPLY TO THAT?

A I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE WORDS WERE ABOUR "PEACEABLE"---SOME THING LIKE THAT.

Q DID YOU HEAR MR. FIELDEN OR ANYBODY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD PRIOR TO THE POLICE COMING TO THE GROUND SAY IN A LOUD VOICE "HERE COME THE BLOOD HOUNDS---DO "YOUR DUTY AND I'LL DO MINE"?

A NO SIR, I ONLY HEAR SOME ONE SAY "THERE COMES THE POLICE."

Q WHO SAID THAT, "HERE COME THE POLICE"?

A SOME FELLOWS AROUND ME.

Q WAS THAT SPOKEN IN A LOUD TONE OF VOICE?

A NOT VERY LOUD.

Q WHEN YOU HEARD MR. FIELDEN MAKE THAT REMARK OUT OF WHICH YOU REMEMBER ONLY THE WORD "PEACEABLE"---NOW, WAS THAT SPOKEN IN A LOUD TONE OF VOICE OR WAS IT SPOKEN IN A CONVERSATIONAL TONE?

A IN A QUIET VOICE. I BELIEVE THE CROWD AROUND HIM COULD RIGHTLY UNDERSTAND IT, COULD EASY UNDERSTAND IT.

Q WHAT I MEAN WAS IT A REMARK, WAS THAT SPOKEN AS IF ONE MAKES A PRIVATE REMARK, OR WAS IT SPOKE AS IF ONE WOULD HOLLER IT-- HOW WAS IT DONE?


[Image, Volume L, Page 487]

A IT WAS NOT TALKING TOO LOUD, BUT IT WAS I BELIEVE THEM PEOPLE AROUND THERE WHICH WAS NOT IN A NOISY PLACE COULD UNDERSTAND IT VERY EASY.

Q DID YOU SEE THE SHOOTING AND HEAR THE SHOOTING?

A YES SIR.

Q WHEN DID YOU HEAR THE SHOOTING WITH REFERENCE TO THE EXPLOSION OF THE BOMB, BEFORE OR AFTER THAT?

A PRETTY NEAR AFTER, IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS.

Q IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EXPLOSION OF THE BOMB?

A YES SIR.

Q HOW LONG AFTER?

A ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO.

Q WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER THAT?

A AFTER THAT, I WAS GOING TO MAKE ME A WAY THROUGH TO RANDOLPH STREET, AND I COULDN'T GET THROUGH----THERE WAS PILES OF PEOPLE LAYING THERE, AND I HAD TO STAND STILL, AND I LOOKED BACK ON THE WAGON.

Q DID YOU NOTICE MR. FIELDEN?

A I DID NOT. FIELDEN WAS FROM THE WAGON ALREADY.

Q FIELDEN HAD GONE OFF THE WAGON?

A YES SIR.

Q DID YOU NOTICE HIM WHILE HE WAS STEPPING OFF THE WAGON?

A I BELIEVE HE MADE PREPARATION TO GET DOWN WHEN HE SAID THAT LAST REMARK.

Q DID YOU SEE A PISTOL IN HIS HAND AT THAT TIME?

A NO SIR.

Q DID YOU SEE HIM FIRE A SHOT?

A NO SIR.

Q DID YOU SEE ANYBODY IN THE CROWD FIRE A SHOT?

A I DID NOT.

Q WHERE DID THE SHOTS COME FROM THAT YOU SAW AND HEARD?

A I HEARD ONLY ONE SIDE SHOTS, BUT THAT WAS WHEN I LAST LOOKED AT THE WAGON, AND I SEEN SHOTS A LITTLE DIAGONALLY TO THE WAGON.


[Image, Volume L, Page 488]

Q FROM WHERE?

A THERE WAS THE POLICE STANDING. I DIDN'T KNOW FROM WHERE THE SHOTS CAME.

Q YOU SAW THEM FROM WHERE THE POLICE STOOD?

A YES.

Q HOW DID YOU GET HOME?

A I WENT HOME ALONE.

Q IN WHAT WAY DID YOU GO?

A THROUGH TO RANDOLPH STREET.

Q SOUTH COWARDS RANDOLPH?

A SOUTH, YES.

Q ON THE SIDEWALK?

A YES.

Q WERE SHOTS COMING IN THERE?

A THERE WERE SHOTS COMING IN AND I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WERE SHOT IN FRONT OF ME.

Q DID YOU SEE ANYBODY ON THE SIDEWALK SHOOT BACK TOWARDS THE POLICE?

A NO, I DID NOT.

Q DID YOU STICK TOGETHER WITH YOUR FRIEND KARL RECHTER ALL THAT TIME?

A NO SIR, WE WENT OUT AFTER CAPTAIN WARD SAID, COMMANDED THE MEETING TO DISPERSE.

Q YOU LOST SIGHT OF HIM?

A YES.

Q ARE YOU A SOCIALIST?

A NO SIR.

Q HOW MANY SOCIALISTIC MEETINGS HAVE YOU EVER ATTENDED IN YOUR LIFE?

A THAT WAS THE FIRST I EVER ATTENDED.

Q HAD YOU SEEN MR. SPIES EVER BEFORE IN YOUR LIFE?

A NO SIR, NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE.

Q HAD YOU EVER SEEN FIELDEN BEFORE?

A NO SIR.

Q HAD YOU EVER SEEN PARSONS?

A NO SIR.

Q HAVE YOU EVER BELONGED TO ANY SOCIALISTIC ORGANIZATION?

A NO SOCIALISTIC ORGANIZATION.

Q YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE CORNICE--MAKERS UNION, ARE YOU NOT?

A I AM A KNIGHT OF LABOR, TINNER AND SHEET IRON WORKERS ASSEMBLY,


[Image, Volume L, Page 489]

620 18.

Q YOU ARE A CORNICE MAKER BY TRADE, ARE YOU NOT?

A YES.

Q DO YOU BELONG TO ANY CORNICE MAKERS UNION?

A YES, I BELONG TO THAT UNION, TO THAT KNIGHTS OF LABOR UNION.

MR. FOSTER: HE SAYS THE TIN AND SHEET IRON WORKERS.

THE WITNESS: THAT IS THE CORNICE-MAKERS UNION.

MR. ZEISLER: Q DID YOU NOTICE IN WHAT DIRECTION MR. SPIES WENT AFTER HE HAD CALLED FOR PARSONS?

A HE WENT DOWN ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE WAGON---I DON'T KNOW ON WHICH SIDE.

Q FOR HOW MANY FEET COULD YOU FOLLOW HIM WITH YOUR EYES?

A I DIDN'T FOLLOW HIM ONLY UNTIL HE WAS DOWN OFF THE WAGON.

Q YOU SAY HE GOT OUT ON WHAT END?

A THE NORTH END.

Q ON WHAT SIDE, THE WEST OR EAST?

A I COULDN'T SAY THAT, I DIDN'T FOLLOW HIM NO MORE THEN.

Q HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY?

A OVER THREE YEARS.

Q HOW LONG IN CHICAGO?

A I AM HERE SINCE MAY LAST YEAR-- MAY OR JUNE, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY.

Q YOU KNOW THE LEHR AND WEHR VEREIN?

A I DON'T KNOW.

Q YOU NEVER BELONGED TO THAT?

A NO SIR.

Q WERE YOU ARMED THAT NIGHT--DID YOU HAVE ANY WEAPON WITH YOU?

A NO SIR, NO WEAPONS.

Q IN WHAT WAY DID YOU LEARN OF THE HAYMARKET MEETING?

Q I WENT DOWN TO SEE IF I HAD A LETTER IN BOWLES SALOON ON WELLS STREET, NO 91, AND I TOOK THE ARBEITER ZEITUNG, AND SEEN THAT NOTICE.

Q I WILL ASK YOU WHETHER THE PAPER SHOWN YOU IS THE ARBEITER ZEITUNG, TUESDAY, MAY 4TH, 1886?


[Image, Volume L, Page 490]

A YES.

Q LOOK AT THIS NOTICE HERE IN THE FIRST COLUMN ON THE FOURTH PAGE, AND STATE WHETHER THAT IS THE NOTICE THAT YOU SAW?

A I SEEN THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THERE IS ANOTHER NOTICE IN THERE---THAT WAS THE LAST, WASN'T IT?

Q YOU REMEMBER THESE WORDS |INDICATING|?

A YES.

Q DID YOU SEE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT?

A I BELIEVE I SEEN A NOTICE IN THESE COLUMNS.

Q AMONG THE EDITORIALS YOU SAW IT?

A YES SIR.

Q EVERY WORKINGMAN OUGHT TO BE THERE--THIS LITTLE EDITORIAL YOU SAW?

A YES.

Q "TO-NIGHT THERE WEILL BE A GRAND MASS MEETING ON THE HAYMARKET, NO WORKINGMAN OUGHT TO MISS IT?"

A YES, THAT IS THE ONE.

Q THAT IS WHY YOU WENT THERE?

A YES SIR.

Q IT DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ARMS, DID IT?

A NO SIR.


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