Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1 Examination by Mr. Foster and Mr. Grinnell. Accepted as a juror in the case of Illinois vs. August Spies et al.
Examination of S. G. Randall, 1886 June 24.
Volume B, 19-26, 8 p.
Randall, S. G.
Seed dealer employed by J. C. Vaughn.
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[Image, Volume B, Page 19]
S. G. RANDALL.
MR. FOSTER:
|Q| WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
A S. G. RANDALL.
Q WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
A 42 LA SALLE STREET.
Q WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS?
A SEEDSMAN.
Q WHAT IS YOUR AGE?
A 23.
Q ARE YOU IN BUSINESS FOR YOURSELF OR WORKING FOR SOME BODY ELSE?
A I AM WORKING FOR J. C. VAUGHAN.
Q HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN CHICAGO?
A ABOUT TWO YEARS AND A HALF.
Q WHERE DID YOU LIVE BEFORE YOU CAME HERE?
A I LIVED IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Q WHAT PART OF PENNSYLVANIA?
A ERIE COUNTY.
Q WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE?
A I WAS A FARMER.
Q WERE YOU RAISED ON A FARM?
A YES.
Q ALWAYS BEEN ENGAGED IN FARMING EXCEPT YOUR PRESENT BUSINESS?
A UNTIL I CAME TO CHICAGO ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.
Q WHAT BUSINESS HAVE YOU BEEN ENGAGED IN BESIDES THE BUSINESS OF A SEEDSMAN?
A I RAN A MILK ROUTE OF MINE.
Q ARE YOU A MARRIED MAN?
A NO SIR.
Q DO YOUR PARENTS LIVE HERE?
A NO SIR.
Q WHERE IS THE PLACE OF BUSINESS OF THE FIRM FOR WHICH YOU WORK?
A 42 LA SALLE STREET.
Q IS THAT ALSO YOUR HOME?
A YES, I HAVE A ROOM IN THE SAME BUILDING.
Q SLEEP THERE?
A YES.
Q YOUR PARENTS DON'T LIVE IN CHICAGO?
A NO SIR; THEY LIVE EAST.
Q IN PENNSYLVANIA?
A YES.
Q WERE YOU HERE ON THE FOURTH OF MAY LAST?
A YES.
Q DID YOU HEAR OF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE HAYMARKET SQUARE ON THE NIGHT OF THE FOURTH OF MAY?
A I READ IT THE NEXT MORNING.
Q FROM WHAT SOURCE DID YOU HEAR IT--- READING OR FROM CONVERSATIONS?
A WELL, I READ IT A FEW DAYS AFTER AND I HEARD IT FROM SOME ONE WITH WHOM I AM WORKING.
Q HAVE YOU HAD A GOOD DEAL OF CONVERSATION IN REGARD TO IT AND READ CONSIDERABLE IN REGARD TO IT FROM THAT TIME TO THIS?
A NO SIR. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO READ MUCH.
Q WAS THE MATTER DISCUSSED ABOUT THE STORE A GOOD DEAL?
A NO SIR.
Q FROM ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU RECEIVED FROM WHAT EVER SOURCE. I WILL ASK YOU WHETHER YOU HAVE FORMED AN OPINION UPON THE QUESTION OF THE GUILT OR INNOCENCE OF THE DEFENDANTS, OR ANY OF THEM?
A NO; I HAVE NOT.
Q YOU FORMED NO OPINION UPON THAT SUBJECT?
A NO SIR.
Q WHERE WERE YOUR PARENTS BORN?
A THEY WERE BORN IN ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Q YOU SAY YOU ARE 23 YEARS OLD?
A YES SIR.
Q ARE YOU ACQUAINTED WITH ANY OF THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PROSECUTION?
A NO SIR, I AM NOT.
Q ARE YOU ACQUAINTED WITH ANY MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE OF THIS CITY WHO WERE PRESENT AT THE HAYMARKET ON THE FOURTH OF MAY?
A NO SIR.
Q HAVE YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ANYBODY THAT UNDERTOOK TO DETAIL THE FACTS AS THEY OCCURED THERE, AND WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN THERE?
A NO SIR.
Q DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT NEWSPAPER YOU READ THE ACCOUNTS IN?
A I THINK IT WAS THE TRIBUNE; I COULD NOT TELL YOU; I THINK IT WAS.
Q DID YOU READ ALSO IN THE TRIBUNE OR ELSEWHERE OF THE ARREST OF THESE DEFENDANTS?
A NO: I HAVE NOT.
Q DID YOU EVER HEAR THE NAMES OF THESE DEFENDANTS BEFORE YOU WERE SUMMONED AS JUROR IN THIS CASE?
A I HEARD OF A FEW OF THEM.
Q ARE YOU ACQUAINTED WITH ANY OF THEM?
A I AM NOT.
Q HOW MANY EMPLOYES ARE THERE ABOUT THE STORE WHERE YOU WORK?
A I THINK THERE ARE ABOUT TWENTY ALL TOGETHER.
Q WHAT IS YOUR PARTICULAR DUTY?
A I AM IN THE SEED DEPARTMENT.
Q WELL, WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO DO?
A WELL, I WAS PUTTING UP SEEDS AND SHIPPING.
Q THAT IS, IN THE PACKAGES AND BY THE POUND?
A WELL, THEY WERE NOT ALL WEIGHED OUT.
Q YOU MEAN GARDEN SEEDS?
A GARDEN SEEDS AND FIELD SEEDS.
Q PUT UP IN SMALL PACKAGES?
A WELL, SOME OF THEM ARE, YES. CORN AND OATS ARE NOT PUT UP IN PACKAGES.
Q NOT IN SMALL PACKAGES, PERHAPS NO SIR.
Q AND THAT WAS YOUR BUSINESS?
A YES SIR.
Q DO YOU KNOW ANY THING ABOUT SOCIALISM, COMMUNISM OR ANARCHISM?
A I KNOW KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THEM EXCEPTING WHAT I HAVE READ OCCASIONALLY.
Q DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PRINCIPLES WHICH ARE ADVOCATED BY THOSE CLASSES OF PEOPLE?
A NO SIR; I DON'T UNDERSTAND THEM.
Q YOU HAVE NO PREJUDICES, HAVE YOU, AGAINST ANY OF THE CLASSES TO WHICH I HAVE REFERRED.
Q YOU ANSWERED, I BELIEVE, THAT YOU HAVE NO ACQUAINTANCE WITH ANY OF THESE DEFENDANTS HERE?
A NONE AT ALL.
Q DO YOU KNOW OF ANY PREJUDICE OR BIAS THAT YOU HAVE IN THIS CASE, OR OF ANY REASON WHY YOU COULD NOT LISTEN TO THE TESTIMONY
AND RETURN A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL VERDICT IN THE CASE, UNDER THE EVIDENCE AND THE LAW AS GIVEN YOU BY THE COURT?
A I DO NOT.
Q YOU DON'T KNOW OF ANY REASON?
A NO SIR.
Q ARE YOU ACQUAINTED WITH ANY MEMBER OF THE POLICE FORCE OF THE CITY?
A NO SIR.
Q OR OF THE DEFECTIVE FORCE OF THE CITY?
A NO SIR.
Q YOU HAD NO CONVERSATION WITH ANY OF THE CITY OFFICIALS IN REGARD TO THIS MATTER?
A I HAVE NOT.
Q WHEN DID YOU GO INTO THE EMPLOY OF YOUR PRESENT EMPLOYER?
A LAST FALL.
Q WHAT HAD YOU BEEN DOING BEFORE THAT TIME?
A I HAD A MILK ROUTE.
Q THAT IS, YOU HAD A WAGON, AND IT WAS YOUR BUSINESS TO DRIVE OVER A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE CITY AND DELIVER MILK IN THE MORNING?
A IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON.
Q WERE YOU WORKING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE OR FOR YOURSELF?
A FOR MYSELF.
Q DO YOU OWN THE WAGON THAT YOU DROVE?
A YES, I OWNED THE WAGON.
Q DID YOU OWN THE COWS, OR DID YOU BUY YOUR MILK?
A I BOUGHT THE MILK.
Q HOW LONG WERE YOU IN THAT BUSINESS?
A I WAS IN THAT BUSINESS FROM THE SPRING UNTIL FALL.
Q WHAT HAD YOU BEEN DOING BEFORE THAT?
A I HAD BEEN IN A HOTEL.
Q WHAT HOTEL?
A THE CITY HOTEL.
Q WHERE IS THAT LOCATED?
A 16TH AND STATE STREETS.
Q IN WHAT CAPACITY WERE YOU IN THE HOTEL?
A WELL, I WAS IN SEVERAL WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE CITY. I WENT
THERE AS A COMMON LABORER AND THEN I GOT IN THE DINING ROOM BEFORE I LEFT.
Q AS A WAITER?
A YES.
Q AT THE TIME THAT YOU WENT INTO THE EMPLOY OF THE SEED STORE, WAS THERE ANY TROUBLE WITH ANY OF THEIR EMPLOYERS--- HAD THERE BEEN ANY STRIKE OR ANY THING OF THAT KIND?
A NO SIR.
Q ARE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY TRADES UNION OR LABOR UNION?
A I AM NOT.
Q HAVE YOU EVER BEEN?
A NO SIR.
Q YOU ARE EMPLOYED THERE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY NEEDED ASSISTANCE, AND NOT BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN ANY STRIKE OR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE EMPLOYES?
A NO SIR; MY BROTHER WAS THERE BEFORE ME.
Q HOW LONG HAD YOUR BROTHER BEEN THERE?
A HE HAS BEEN THERE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW.
A AND HE SECURED YOUR EMPLOYMENT?
A YES.
Q SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN THERE HAS THERE BEEN ANY TROUBLE AMONG THE EMPLOYES ON ACCOUNT OF THE WAGES OR HOURS OF LABOR?
A NO SIR; THERE HAS NOT.
Q WERE YOU EVER INTERESTED IN A STRIKE?
A NO SIR.
Q DID YOU EVER PARTICPATE IN ONE?
A NO SIR.
Q WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL?
A IN ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Q TO WHAT EXTENT DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL? TO WHAT EXTENT ARE YOU EDUCATED?
THE COURT: I CAN NOT GO INTO THE QUESTION OF HOW MUCH EDUCATION A MAN HAS GOT.
MR. FOSTER: |Q| I WILL ASK YOU IN A GENERAL WAY AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE EDUCATED SUFFICIENTLY TO READ AND WRITE?
A YES SIR.
EXAMINATION OF S. G. RANDALL BY MR. GRINNELL.
Q YOU WORK WITH VAUGHN, THE SEEDMAN?
A YES.
Q HOW OLD ARE YOU?
A 23.
Q HAVE YOU ANY CONSCIENTIOUS SCRUPLES AGAINST THE INFLICTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN PROPER CASES?
A I HAVE NOT.
Q DO YOU BELONG TO ANY LABOR ORGANIZATION?
A I DO NOT.
Q HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN CHICAGO?
A A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS.
Q AND BEFORE THAT WHERE DID YOU LIVE?
A I LIVED IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Q WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
A IN ERIE COUNTY, PENNSLYVANIA.
Q WERE YOUR PARENTS BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA?
A YES.
Q YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER BOTH BORN IN THAT STATE?
A YES.
Q ARE THEY LIVING NOW?
A MY MOTHER IS LIVING.
Q WITH YOU HERE, OR LIVING IN PENNSYLVANIA?
A SHE IS LIVING IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Q BEFORE YOU WENT TO WORK FOR MR. VAUGHN WHO DID YOU WORK FOR IN CHICAGO?
A I WORKED FOR MYSELF.
Q YOU GAVE UP THE MILK BUSINESS, AND HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR MR. VAUGHN, THE SEEDSMAN?
A YES. I AM IN THE FIELD AND GARDEN SEEDS DEPARTMENT.
Q A SALESMAN?
A NO; I PACK THE ORDERS AND HELP SHIP THEM AND SEND THEM DOWN TO THE SHIPPING CLERK.
Q YOU HAVE BEEN THERE HOW LONG?
A I HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE LAST FALL.
Q ARE YOU A MARRIED MAN?
A NO SIR.
Q DO YOU BELIEVE IF YOU WERE TAKEN AND SWORN AS A JUROR IN THIS
CASE THAT YOU COULD DETERMINE THE INNOCENCE OR GUILT OF THESE DEFENDANTS UPON THE PROOF PRESENTED TO YOU HERE IN COURT, REGARDLESS OF EVERYTHING ELSE?
A YES, I THINK I COULD.
Q DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE AND OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES?
A YES, I DO.
Q HAVE YOU ANY SYMPATHY WITH ANY INDIVIDUALS OR CLASS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE FOR THEIR PURPOSE OR OBJECT THE OVERTHROW BY FORCE OF THAT LAW?
A NO SIR, I HAVE NOT.
Q DO YOU KNOW ANY OF THE DEFENDANTS?
A I DO NOT.
Q HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANY OF THEM BEFORE BEING CALLED HERE?
A I THINK I HAVE SEEN THE MAN WITH THE FULL BEARD HERE|POINTING TO MR. FIELDEN.|
Q HAVE YOU HEARD HIM SPEAK?
A I THINK I SAW HIM AT THE LAKE FRONT.
Q WHEN?
A WELL, IT WAS EITHER THIS SUMMER OR LAST; IT WAS ONE SUNDAY WHEN I WAS THERE.
Q DID YOU HEAR OTHERS OF THE DEFENDANTS AT THE LAKE FRONT AT THAT MEETING?
A NO SIR; I DON'T REMEMBER ANY OF THEIR FACES.
Q ARE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY LABOR ORGANIZATION?
A NO SIR, I AM NOT.
Q WHAT CHURCH WERE YOU BROUGHT UP IN?
A I WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. MY FATHER AND NOTHER ARE UNIVERSALISTS.
Q DO YOU KNOW ANY OF THE COUNSEL UPON THE OTHER SIDE?
A I DO NOT.
Q HAVE YOU ANY PREJUDICE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER SUCH AS WOULD LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE NOW THAT YOU WOULD BE IMPARTIAL OR UNFAIR IN THE TRIAL OF THIS CASE?
A NO SIR.
Q YOU LIVE AT THE STORE, 42 LA SALLE STREET?
A YES SIR.
Q THAT WOULD BE ABOUT LAKE STREET?
A IT IS RIGHT OPPOSITE THE ENTRANCE TO THE TUNNEL.
Q YOU HAVE A ROOM THERE?
A YES.
Q HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING THERE?
A EVER SINCE I COMMENCED WORKING THERE.
Q WHERE DID YOU LIVE BEFORE THAT?
A 339 LEAVITT STREET, NEAR HARRISON. I LIVED THERE ABOUT SIX MONTHS.
Q DOES MR. VAUGHN OCCUPY THE WHOLE OF THAT BUILDING?
A HE DOES.
Q YOU ROOM IN ONE OF THE ROOMS, THE ENTIRE BUILDING BEING OCCUPIED BY MR. VAUGHN?
A YES.
Q I UNDERSTOOD YOU TO SAY THAT YOU HAD SEEN FIELDEN ONCE?
A YES.
Q HAVE YOU ANY ACQUAINTANCE WITH HIM WHATEVER?
A I HAVE NOT.
Q HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATION WITH ANYBODY THAT EXPRESSED THEMSELVES IN FAVOR OF ANY OF THE DEFENDANTS? HAS ANYBODY EVER TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT THEM?
A NO SIR.
Q ARE YOU A COMMUNIST OR A SOCIALIST?
A NO SIR.
Q ARE YOU AN ANARCHIST?
A NO SIR.
Q HAVE YOU ANY ASSOCIATION OR AFFILIATION WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO PROFESSED THAT--- ANY ONE OF THOSE FAITHS, OR WHATEVER THEY MAY BE CALLED?
A NO SIR.