Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1. Direct examination by Mr. Grinnell. Cross-examination by Captain Black. Testified on behalf of the Prosecution, People of the State of Illinois. People's Exhibits 1 (vol.I 18), 2 (vol.I 18), 3 (vol.I 18) and 4 (vol.I 18) introduced into evidence. Bushick made blueprints of Haymarket Square, Zepf's Hall, Neff's Hall and Greif's Hall. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): Neff's (Thoeringer) Hall (vol.I 6), Greif's Hall (vol.I 9), location/dimensions of Haymarket (vol.I 2), People's Exhibit 1 (vol.I 2, 18), People's Exhibit 2 (vol.I 6, 18), People's Exhibit 3 (vol.I 9, 18), People's Exhibit 4 (vol.I 13, 18).
Testimony of Felix V. Bushick (first appearance), 1886 July 16.
Volume I, 2-18, 17 p.
Bushick, Felix V.
Architect.
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June 21, 1886, to July 16th, 1886, examination of talesmen and jury. (See Vols. A to H., inclusive-- hereto annexed.)
Friday, July 16th, 1886, 11 A. M.
FELIX V. BUSHICK,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 Felix V. Bushick.
Q You are an Architect?
A I am.
Q You are a draughtsman and architect?
A I am, sir.
Q You know the locality --- Have you examined and made a plat of the locality embraced, beginning at a central point at Desplaines and Randolph streets?
A Yes sir.
Look at this map and explain it to the jury. Is that in any any scale, or drawn upon any scale, and if so, upon what scale
MR. BLACK: Q Did you make this map or cause it to be made?
A I made it. I took all the measurements myself there. This here (pointung to diagram) is Halsted street; from here to there is North Halsted; from there South Halsted; Union street, Desplaines, Jefferson, Clinton,; this is West Lake street; Randolph street. This part of Randolph street is called Haymarket.
MR. GRINNELL: Q Between what two streets is it called Haymarket?
A Between Desplaines and Halsted. And this is West Washington; this is Waldo place; and here is Eagle
street; Haymarket is laying down Eagle street; and Waldo place, a small street. This part is the police station, police court, on Desplaines street.
Q Called Desplines Street Station?
A Desplaines Street Station.
Q You may give the dsitance Desplaines Street Station is from the corner of Randolph street?
A It is 75 feet. This part here, corner of Lake and Desplaines strests is Zepg's Hall. Here, ninety feet from the corner of Clinton streets is Flour's saloon.
Q Called Four's Hall?
A Flour's Hall. And forty-seven feet from the corner of Lake---
Q East of Clinton?
A On Lake and Clinton street. Forty-seven feet from Clinton east, on the north side of the street is Grief's Hall. It is 54 West Lake.
Q Do you remember the number of stories to that building?
A I believe it is three stories.
Q I think it is four and a basement?
A Four and a basement? Well, I don't know.
Q Stone front. What is the width of Hay-market Square?
A Haymarket square is 150 feet.
Q What runs through the corner of it?
A The City Street car railroad.
Q Double track?
A Double track.
Q What is the distance from the north rail to the north edge of the street?
A 51 feet.
Q The same on the south?
A The south the same.
Q What is the width of Desplaines street?
A 80 feet.
Q What is the width of Deplaines street between the sidewalks?
A 48 feet and six inches.
Q What is the width of Haymarket Square between the sidewalk and the track?
A That is 51.
Q Between the sidewalks?
A Between the sidewalk and track. The sidewalk is 16 feet.
MR. SALOMON: Q Are the figures on there?
A The figures are on these.
MR GRINNELL: Q What is the width of Eagle street?
A 40 feet.
Q What is the width of Waldo Place?
A 40 feet.
Q And the alley round the Desplaines Street Station?
A 17 feet.
Q The width of Eagle street that you gave of 40 feet embraced lot line to lot line-- embraced the sidewalk?
A Lot line to lot line.
Q What is the width of the alley north of Randolph street? on Desplaines that runs into Crane Bros. manufactory?
A 11 feet wide.
Q You have got the alley represented as running into the block making a right angle and going south?
A Yes sir; here is this alley (indicating on diagram).
Q North of that is another alley?
A Yes sir.
Q How wide is that alley?
A 14 feet.
Q And midway between Jefferson and Desplaines to another alley?
A 17 feet and 9 inches wide runs to this alley here and here (indicating).
Q Steps there?
A Steps there.
Q Give me the distance of that alley to the corner of Randolph street, this alley of Crane Bros.?
A That is 150 feet and 6 inches.
Q From the alley to Desplaines?
A From the alley to Desplaines street.
Q That is on Randolph?
A On Randolph.
Q Now what is the distance from Randolph on the alley to the alley, to Desplaines street?
A 90 feet.
Q What is the daitance of that alley from where you are taking it down to the station?
A It is 247 feet about, may be 6 inches, more or less.
Q 250 feet?
A Ys sir.
Q Do you remember the width of the car track -- what space they occupy on the streets?
A Yes sir; about 5 feet; the whole tracks are 15 feet.
Q This drawing that you have represents the locality you have spoken of?
A Yes sir.
Q In the City of Chicago?
A Yes sir.
Q County of Cook?
A County of Cook.
Q State of Illinois?
A State of Illinois.
MR. FOSTER: Q I suppose these distances are noted on the map?
A All put down.
MR. BLACK: Designate which is the north, south, east and west, or at least which is the north point?
A Here is north and that is east. The first place we arranged it just as it stood.
MR. SALOMON: Q You made the map yourself, did you?
A Yes sir.
Q And they are correct as made by you?
A Correct. (Another map handed to witness by Mr. Grinnell.) This is a place called 58 Clybourne Avenue.
MR. GRINNELL Q Who is the proprietor, do you remember?
A I do not know the name. It is a two story frame building.
MR. BLACK: Q What place is that?
A It used to be called Bleimers (?) Hall in old times, I don't know what the proprietor is now. This is the entrance door, and that is a saloon; here is the hall.
Objected to generally; admitted subject to objection
A This is a walk that goes in between the two buildings; here is the other building a neighbor building; this walk is 6 feet and 4 inches wide; you can admit here from the street, and can go in the rear door of the saloon and out from the saloon into this walk. Here is a little hall where you can go into this large hall from the street-hall for meetings.
Q Same floor is it?
A All the same floor.
THE COURT: Q The dimensions are on that?
A Yes Sir.
Q What is this here?
A It is a water closet.
Q What partition, if any, is there between this place that you have described, hall or walk, and the next lot adjoining?
A There is a building stands there.
Q How do you get from the street to this walk? Do you go up or down a step, or is it flush with the street?
A The sidewalk runs about 9 inches higher than this place.
Q You step down?
A Step down. I have marked here. This is the height of the sidewalk. The sidewalk is higher.
Q The sidewalk on the street is higher than the walk there inside?
A Yes sir.
Q How is this walk in the inside in reference to the floor of the saloon?
A It is a little lower than the floor of the saloon
Q Describe as you found the inside appearance of this hall? What is there in the rear end of it?
A There is a little platform. Here is a room for a bar. Here you go two steps down--- when you go out from the saloon into the hall, you have to step two steps down. There are chairs and everything for seats furnished.
Q The front part of this is a saloon?
A A saloon.
Q This indicates the bar?
A The bar.
Q You have the distance here?
A Yes sir, they are there.
Q They show for themselves, do they?
A Yes sir.
Q Two story building, you say?
A Two stories here.
Q And this represents the walk or doors in it?
A Yes sir. This is the fence seven feet and six inches high in the front of the building between the two buildings.
Q I understand you to say that there were two or more steps from the saloon down to the hall?
A Two.
MR. BLACK: How is the floor of the hall, Mr. Bushick, as compared with the level of this walk that you have spoken of?
A It is lower.
Q How much?
A Maybe about 6 inches.
MR. ZEISLER: Q What kind of a door is this?
A This is closed by up and down boards, and in the middle
of these boards is a small door, so if you don't want to open the whole thing, then you opem the small door in the hall in these up and down boards.
MR. GRINNELL: Q Is this map a scaled drawing?
A Yes sir.
Q What is the scale?
A A quarter of an inch to a foot.
Q Is this (indicating another drawing) a scale drawing?
A Yes sir. It is here.
Q That represents 58 Clybourne Avenue?
A Yes sir.
Q Otherwise known as Neff's Hall, although you say you do not know that?
A Yes sir.
Q That is the City of Chicago?
A Yes sir.
Q County of Cook and State of Illinois?
A County of Cook and State of Illinois.
Q What is the actual scale of this map (indicating large drawing)?
A We do not have an actual scale to any of those. It is too large to have a quarter or a sixth. I make the scale here, putting it all in. (Another drawing handed to witness by Mr. Grinnell.) This is 54 West Lake known as Grief's saloon, the upper part; this part is the saloon and this part is the basement. The saloon is 51 feet and 6 inches long.
Q What is the number of that place?
A 54 West Lake.
Q The one designated on this map as this red spot here?
A It is.
Q What was the height of the basement?
A 8 feet.
Q How do you enter it?
A From the front and from the rear. From the rear from the saloon goes steps down in the front.
Q What is the basement--- what is it used for?
A When I come down there I saw a number of benches standing.
Q What kind of benches?
A Well, wooden benches, about a foot wide and 13 feet 9 inches long. And here, this was all empty, nothing else in there, except some old broken stuff.
Q Rubbish?
A Yes sir.
Q The back part of that is used as a kitchen?
A Yes sir.
Q How did you get down there?
A From these steps from the saloon, you go down there, in there or you can go around here, around this way.
Q Go out the outside? Well, that indicates a scale too?
A Yes sir.
Q That is 54 West Lake?
A West Lake.
Q Known as Grief's place?
A As Grief's.
Q Grief's, I would say. That is in the City of Chicago?
A Yes sir, County of Cook and State of Illinois.
MR. ZEISLER: Q When were you there, Mr. Bushick?
A About three or four weeks ago.
MR. BLACH: Q Those benches, are moveable, are they not?
A Yes sir.
Q Not attached in any way to the floor?
A No sir.
Q The front end of the basement is occupied by windows and a glazed door is it not?
A Yes sir, it is.
Q Did you observe whether the glass was broken out of the door and whether the door was rudely made up?
A This door, the glass was complete, it was all right; but this door everything was covered up and broken, and also in this window.
Q Now, in front of the baeement, was there any area way?
A Yes sir.
Q Designed upon your plat there, is it?
A Yes sir. Marked 5 feet 10 inches wide.
Q You can enter that area way either from the door in which you say the glass was broken, from the basement, or you can enter it direct from the steps?
A. From the steps.
Q. So that any person from the sidewalk could walk down the steps into that area way?
A Yes sir, without going into the hall.
Q And the glass of the front of the basement extends down into the area way, does it not?
A Yes sir.
Q So that from the area way you can look through the glass windows?
A Look through into the hall, or from the hall out into the area.
Q You remember how many stories there are to that building?
A I guess three. I don't know. I can't tell.
Q There are then two or more stories above the saloon story?
A There is two, anyhow.
Q Did you make any plan of those stories?
A No sir, I did not.
MR GRINNELL: Q What are underneath here?
A Water closets, and some parts for kindling and something else.
Q And these people upon the sidewalk out doors, can walk down there and walk into those closets?
A Yes sir.
MR. BLACK: Q Did you ohserve whether there were any other closets in connection with the saloon than those lower closets?
A No, there were not.
Q So that persons passing from the rear part of the saloon into the closets had either to go out front and go down stairs or go up stairs through that rear way into the closets?
A Yes sir.
Q There is no door between the steps and the area way is there?
A No, there is only the opening for the door, I believe the door is broken out. Used to be a door there anyhow
Q Above the area way, or any portion of it, is there an open grating in the sidewalk?
A Yes sir.
Q It is a fact, is it not, that a person from the sidewalk can look through the grating and into the windows into that lower hall?
Objected to. Objection sustained.
Q I will ask you whether you observed anything that would obstruct the vision through the grating and the windows down through that area way into the hall, from the sidewalk?
A I haven't seen anything ---
Q (Interrupting.) To cut off the vision?
A To call attention anyway.
MR. GRINNELL: Q Look at this map (handing another drawing to witness)?
A This is Zepf's Ha l. This is a saloon corner of Desplaines and West Lake street.
Q The one designated on this large map as a large red spot?
A Yes sir. On this corner is the entrance to the saloon and from here you can go up to the saloon and the rear hall which opens to Desplaines street, or you can leave and go in there. Also there is a door which leads you up stairs. This steps up, this here (indicating). There (indicating) is the hall up stairs. This is the counter, shelves. These are several tables, all movable except the counter and the iron columns. Here is a partition which closes this room from
the saloon. The room is called the cloak room. You have to pass through the cloak room to go from the rear up stairs or from there out onto the street.
JUROR REED: Is this a ground plan and section?
A This is the ground and this is the section.
MR. SALOMON: Q By the ground, you mean the first floor?
A That is the first floor, yes sir.
MR. GRINNELL: Q Describe this corner here so that they will understand.
A This is the northeast corner of Desplaines and Lake streets. This sharp corn r here is broken because of the entrance to the saloon. Here this steps lead down to the basement.
Q What is there here?
A That is an iron column. All these blank spaces is iron columns.
Q And all these spaces, this space (indicating) is vacant space?
A Yes sir, platform and steps.
Q Iron platforms and steps where you step on it?
A Yes sir, iron platforms with steps.
Q Where you walk around here (indicating)?
A Yes sir.
Q And this is the door?
A Yes sir.
Q Glass door in front?
A These are the show windows.
Q Corner of Desplaines?
A Northeast corner of Desplaines and Lake.
Q Also in the City of Chicago?
A City of Chicago, County of Cook and State of Illinois.
MR. BLACK: Q What is the distance of that hall from the alley between Crane Bros. manufactory and the building which corners on Randolph--- between that alley and Zepf's Hall?
A 362 feet, 6 inches.
Q You personally made the diagram that you have there, did you?
A I did.
Q And that building I understand is three stories above the basement?
A Yes sir.
Q The hall occupies the third story?
A Yes sir. Here you get it (indicating).
Q And from the saloon there are two stairways leading up to the hall?
A One in the rear here and one in the front.
Q And on the second flloor there is one stairs coming up to the hall from the center room?
A From the center, yes sir.
Q Did you make any diagram or examination of the basement of that building
A I did not sir. The basement is not occupied; it is too low; he says he could not rent it to any body.
Q The basement is unoccupied?
A Yes sir.
Q The measurements made by you are correctly represented on the diagram?
A Yes sir. Here is the scale too.
MR. GRINNELL: Here is Grief's Hall at 54 Lake. Just in reference to the sidewalk, the steps to get into it, the steps to go from it, how is that? How are the sills--- the door to go into the saloon, in reference to the sidewalk, directly in front of it?
A Outside, right above the area, in the middle between the steps and the west corner or west side of the building--- west corner of the building---
MR. BLACK: That is the entrance door to the saloon?
A The entrance door to the saloon.
Q Is it in the middle of the front of the building?
A No, near to the steps.
Q Near to the steps?
A Right near to the steps, and the door is on the west, on the corner of the west entrance the door leading up stairs.
Q It is represented by that shaded space that you now point to?
A Yes sir.
Q That means the saloon and that means the door, dir.
THE COURT: The question was whether the door of the saloon, the door step going into the door was higher or lower than the sidewalk?
A It is one step higher.
MR. WALKER: Q How many inches?
A 8 inches.
MR. Grinnell: Q The front of the saloon-- how did you get into the saloon from the sidewalk? Do you step on to a platform?
A A platform.
Q An area?
A An area.
Q Platform right in front of the saloon about four to six feet wide?
A Along on the sidewalk.
Q There is some area lights there?
A Here is the sidewalk, and that is the 8 inches high from the sidewalk up there.
Q And that is the steps down stairs?
A Yes sir.
Q And this is the railing there?
A Yes sir.
Q And this is all flush straight up to there?
A Sidewalk up to there.
Q Now, how high or how low or what is the distance rather, of the basement floor below this sidewalk? Do you know that? Or is it simply the ceiling? That would be 8 inches.
A That would be about 8 feet--- 9 feet. 8 feet is the sidewalk, and you have a foot between the ceiling and the floor--- between the top of the floor and the top of the ceiling, one foot, and from below the ceiling down to the floor is 8 feet. That is 9 feet.
MR BLACK: Q But the floor of the saloon is nearly a foot above the sidewalk, is it not?
A I mean from the sidewalk.
MR. GRINNELL: Q How far is that basement floor below the the sidewalk?
A That is what I say. Nine feet below the sidewalk.
Q But the ceiling is only 8 feet?
A You have a foot between.
MR. BLACK: Q The floor is above the level of the street, isn't it?
A Well, excuse me. That is so.
MR. GRINNELL: There is joists there, I suppose?
A. There is 8 inches between the top of the floor and the top of the sidewalk, that is the steps.
Counsel for people offered the four plats above referred to in evidence. Admitted subject to objection. (Same marked people's Ex's 1,2,3, & 4, contained in Vol. of "Exhibits" hereto attached.)
Q What side of Clybourne Avenue is 58 Clybourne Avenue?
A It is the right hand-side as you come from the city.
THE COURT: Northeast or southwest?
MR GRINNELL: Q Or west of what. Clybourne Avenue runs which way?
A Northwest is Clybourne Avenue.
Q Which side of Clybourne Avenue? Is it towards the lake
A Shows to the northeast side. Here it is (indicating plat); it is marked here.