Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1 Direct examination by Mr. Foster. Cross-examination by Mr. Ingham. Testified on behalf of the Defense, Spies, August et al. Introduced August Spies as a speaker at the meeting of the Lumber Shovers' on the Black Road, May 3, 1886. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): socialists and/or socialism (vol.M 230), McCormick Reaper Works strike, meeting or riot (vol.M 230), Greif's Hall (vol.M 232), eight-hour movement (vol.M 232), Central Labor Union (vol.M 230), Lumber Shovers' Union (vol.M 229), Spies, August (vol.M 229).
Testimony of Frederick Breest, 1886 Aug. 6.
Volume M, 229-233, 5 p.
Breest, Frederick.
Lumber worker; German immigrant.
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FREDERICK BREEST,
a witness called on behalf of the defendants, was duly sworn and testified as follows:
Direct Examination
By Mr. Foster.
Q What is your name?
A Frederick Breest.
Q Where do you live?
A 691 Laflin street.
Q How long have you lived in this country?
A Four years
Q How long in Chicago or rather in Cook County?
A Three years.
Q What is your business?
A I work at lumber work, lumber yards.
Q Are you a member of the Lumber Shovers' Union?
A Yes, sir.
Q Are you a socialist?
A No sir.
Q A communist?
A No sir.
Q Anarchist?
A No sir.
Q Do you know Mr. Spies?
A Not beyond his making a speech there.
Q Were you on the Black Road on the 3d day of May last at a Lumber Shovers' meeting in the afternoon?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did you hear Spies make a speech there?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did he speak in German or in English?
A German.
Q Were you there when Fehling spoke?
A No.
Q You didn't hear him?
A No, sir.
Q At the time Mr.Spies began to speak did you hear any objection against his speaking on the ground that he was a socialist?
A Yes, sir, for a few voices, but weak, and then I introduced Mr. Spies as a member of the Central Labor Union and then he was asked to speak.
Q How many voices objected to his speaking because he was a socialist, according to your judgment?
A That I can't say, very weak.
Q It was you, then, who announced that he was a member of the Central Labor Union, was it?
A Yes, sir.
Q Where were you when you made this announcement?
A I stood up on the car.
Q Did you hear all of Spies' speech?
A Yes, sir.
Q Do you remember what he said or a part of what he said?
A Yes, sir, I remember a part, but I made no note of it, and I can't say about him, he spoke simply in the interests of the Union, and said that we should stick together.
Q Now, in that speech was there anything said in regard to the use of arms or dynamite?
A No.
Q Were you there when McCormick's bell rang?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did you see a part of the crowd start towards McCormick's when the bell rang?
A Yes, sir, the people that stood at the very extreme of the meeting, a part of them went towards the factory.
Q When they started to go towards the factory did Spies day anything in reference to their going?
A No, he said the people should remain there, they should not mind that, and should quietly remain with the meeting.
Q When did you first learn that Spies was to speak there that day?
A That I heard on the second at the Central Labor Union.
Q Were you at the Central Labor Union at 54 Lake Street on Sunday?
A Yes, sir.
Q Were you there when the arrangement was made that Spies should speak at the Black Road?
A Yes, sir, a member of the Central Labor Union told us that Spies would come and speak.
Q How did you come to preside at the meeting at the Black Road, or introduce Mr. Spies?
A I was the recording secretary of the Union at that time and because the president was not present and the time had passed and the people wanted the meeting opened I opened the meeting.
Q How long did Spies speak after the people on the outskirts started towards McCormick's?
A Oh, a good 15 minutes.
Q Was he the last speaker?
A No, several spoke afterwards in Bohemian and Polish.
Q Do you know where Spies went after he got off of the car?
A He was, so to speak, the last one coming from the car, and he went off towards Blue Island Avenue and 22nd Street, further I didn't see him.
CROSS EXAMINATION
BY MR. INGHAM.
Q How long have you belonged to the Central Labor Union?
A Since the Lumber Yard Union started.
Q When was that started?
A On the 4th of April.
Q Where was that started?
A Blue Island Avenue, 550, Grief's Hall.
Q Did it hold its meetings there?
A Yes, sir.
Q Were you one of the delegates to the Central Labor Union?
A No, sir.
Q How did you come to be at Zepf's Hall then--Grief's Hall?
A I went down that Sunday with our delegates, I wanted to know the Central Labor Union.
Q How long were you at Grief's Hall that day?
A It might have been two hours and a half.
Q What time did you get to the meeting near McCormick's?
A Three o'clock.
Q Was that meeting called with reference to the McCormick trouble, or simply for the benefit of the lumber shovers?
A Only in the interest of our own matters.
Q To help you lumber shovers to get 8 hours, was it?
A Yes, sir.
Q It was also to hear reports of committees sent to your bosses, wasn't it?
A Yes, sir.
Q Where did you see Spies last that afternoon?
A As we went away east to 22nd Street, afterwards I didn't see him.