Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1 Direct examination by Mr. Grinnell. Cross-examination by Mr. Foster. Testified on behalf of the Prosecution, People of the State of Illinois. Testified as to Harry Gilmer's general reputation for truth and veracity. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): Gilmer, Harry (vol.N 229).
Testimony of Canute R. Matson, 1886 Aug. 10.
Volume N, 229-233, 5 p.
Matson, Canute R.
Deputy Sheriff of Cook County.
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[Image, Volume N, Page 229]
CANUTE R. MATSON,
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 Canute R.Matson.
Q You live in Chicago?
A Yes sir.
Q How long have you been in Chicago?
A Twenty years.
Q Deputy sheriff of Cook County?
A Yes.
Q Do you know Harry L. Gilmer?
A Yes sir.
Q How long have you known him?
A Four or five years.
Q Do you know his reputation for truth and veracity among his associates and neighbors in the city of Chicago?
A Yes sir.
Q Is it good or bad?
A It is good.
Q Would you believe him under oath?
A Yes sir.
CROSS EXAMINATION BY
MR. FOSTER:
Q Where does Mr. Gilmer live now?
A I don't know.
Q Where did he live last month?
A I don't know.
Q Where did he live last year?
A I don't know.
Q Where did he live in 1884?
A I don't know.
Q Who were his associates in 1884--the men that he visited or that he lived with, the men that he associated with from day to day at his place of residence, who were they?
A I don't know.
Q Do you know any of the persons, the men or women with whom Gilmer has associates and visited and revisited back and forth for the last ten years?
A Yes sir.
Q Who are they?
A Members of the Veteran Club.
Q I am not talking about the members of the Veteran Club.
Q How long have you been in Chicago?
A Twenty years.
Q Deputy Sheriff of Cook County?
A Yes.
Q Do you know Harry L. Gilmer?
A Yes sir.
Q How long have you known him?
A Four or five years.
Q Do you know his reputation for truth and varacity among his associated and neighbors in the City of Chicago.?
A Yes sir.
Q Is it good or bad?
A It is good.
Q Would you believe him under oath?
A Yes sir.
CROSS EXAMINATION BY
Mr. Foster.
Q Where does Mr. Gilmer live now?
A I don't know.
Q Where did he live last month?
A I don't know.
Q Where did he live last year?
A I don't know.
Q Where did he live in 1884?
A I don't know.
Q Who were his associates in 1884---the men that he visited or that he lived with, the men that he associated with from day to day at his place of residence, who were they?
A I don't know.
Q Do you know any of the persons, the men or women with whom Gilmer has associates and visited and revisited back and forth for the last ten years?
A Yes sir.
Q Who are they?
A Members of the Veteran Club.
Q I am not talking about the members of the Veteran Club.
I am talking about those that visited him and he visited socially?
A I don't know that.
Q You don't know any of them?
A No sir.
Q Never did?
A No sir.
Q How long have you been an officer of Cook County?
A I have been nearly four years.
Q You are a member of the Veteran Club, are you?
A Yes sir.
Q You seen Gilmer there at the Veteran Club?
A Yes sir.
Q Do you know of his being in the Cook County jail?
A No sir.
Q Never heard of that?
A No sir.
Q Never knew of it of your own knowledge?
A Never knew of it, never heard of it that I know of.
Q Why did you ever make an investigation to find out whether he was a man of truth or not, or did you ever make any such investigation?
A Because he applied to me for recommendations.
Q Who did you go to see?
A I don't remember particularly.
Q He applied to you for recommendation because you were a member of the Veteran Conps, and because he was a member of the Veteran Corps?
A I don't know why------I don't know that I can tell what my object was.
Q This Veteran Club consists of sixteen or fifteen
hundred vettrans?
A Yes.
Q You never knew where he lived during the entire time when he lived in the City of Chicago?
A No sir.
Q You never knew who his intimate associates were, those that he saw and smoked his pipe with?
A No sir.
Q You don't know and never have known what his associates, his immediate associates said in regard to his reputation for truth and veracity.