Haymarket Affair Digital Collection

Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1
Testimony of John B. Ryan, 1886 Aug. 10.

Volume N, 164-166, 3 p.
Ryan, John B.
Attorney.

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

Defended Stenner at the hearing presided over by Justice Scully (vol.157-163). Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): Fielden, Samuel (vol.N 164).


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JOHN B. RYAN,

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 B. Ryan.

Q. You are a lawyer?

A. Yes sir.

Q. Were you at the Desplaines Street station at the time the boy Stenner was examined, the preliminary examination after the 4th of May riot and massacre?

A. The name I don't recollect. I don't remember his name very well.

Q. At the time quite a batch were there, and Salomon appeared for some?

A. Yes sir.

Q. You were appointed, designated to defend Stenner?

A. A young man.

Q. Did you hear the proof in that case?

A. Yes sir.

Q. Officer Wessley and Foley?

A. I remember officer Foley, and the other officer I don't remember.

Q. Wessler, was he there in that case?

A. I don't know, I can't distinguid Wessler by name. Foley I am well acquainted with. He was there. I cross examined him to some extent.

Q. Was anything said on that trial by Foley as to the description of the man that fired the shots over the wagon?

Objected to.

Q. Was anything said by Stenner, anything said by Foley at


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that time as to where he obtained or found the pistol?

Objected to on the ground there is no foundation for it.

THE COURT: I don't think there is anything in the record that Foley said on that trial anything about it.

MR. GRINNELL: I will ask you if Stenner said on that trial that the pistol that was found by Foley or Wessler was obtained fifty feet or more feet from the wagon?

Objected to.

THE COURT: I don't think Stenner was asked about that.

MR. GRINNELL: I don't know whether he was.

MR. BLACK: He was not.

MR. GRINNELL: It is in regard to Wessler I called him. I will see if he recognizes Wessler as soon as he is brought in. Is officer Wessler in court. (Wessler here stood up).

Q. Look at this man and state whether you recognize him as having seen him before?

A. Yes sir, I know that officer well. He was there that morning.

Q. Tell whether or not Officer Wessler in describing the man on that trial, on the preliminary examination before Justice Scully, describe the man that he saw shooting at or about the wagon as a large man with black whiskers, or whiskers about his face, saying at the same time that he would recognize him again if he ever saw him, that he thought he


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would recognize him again if he ever saw him --

Q. Did Wessler state that before the Justice?

A. I remember the young man that I was defending to state that.

Q. He stated that?

A. Yes.

Q. He stated that he could recognize the man?

A. That he could recognize the man that he saw shooting.

MR. BLACK: I move that the answer be stricken out as irresponsive and improper.

THE COURT: Yes.

MR. GRINNELL: I will ask you now, if Stenner, the boy that you defended there, if he stated before the Justice of the Peace that the man that did the shooting at or about the wagon was a large man, full whiskers, and that he thought he would know him again.

Objected to; objection sustained.

Q. You were appointed to defend Stenner?

A. Yes.

CROSS EXAMINATION
By Mr. Salomon.

Q. You defended the one man?

A. Yes, I had more than that, I had two or three of the men. Justice Scully appointed me to this young man. There was nobody there. I have to get their two names -- they lived up my way near 14th Street and 25th.


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