Haymarket Affair Digital Collection

Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1.
Testimony of Edward John Hanley (first appearance), 1886 July 19.

Volume I, 307-309, 3 p.
Hanley, Edward John.
Police officer, Chicago Police Department.

Direct examination by Mr. Ingham. Cross-examination by Captain Black. Testified on behalf of the Prosecution, People of the State of Illinois.

Police officer at Haymarket. Claims in his testimony to have seen Samuel Fielden shoot at the police from behind the wagon. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): actions of the police at and leading to Haymarket (vol.I 307), Fielden, Samuel (vol.I 308).


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[Image, Volume I, Page 307]

EDWARD JOHN HANLEY,

a witness for the people, having been duly sworn, was examined in chief by Mr. Ingham and testified as follows:

Q What is your name?

A Edward John Hanley.

Q You are a police officer?

A Yes sir.

Q Were you one of the officers present at the Haymarket?

A Yes sir.

Q In whose company were you?

A I was in Lieut. Steele's.

Q Which rank?

A I was in the first rank, and No. 4 from the east end.

Q Were you in the very first line that marched down?

A The first line.

Q How far from the east were you?

A I should judge I was about five or six feet from the curbstone.

Q You say you were the fourth man?

A I was the fourth man.

Q At the time the bomb exploded, how far were you from the wagon?

A I was about four or five feet.

Q Which direction were you from the wagon?

A I was facing north.

Q Did you notice the man speaking, the last speaker?

A I did.

Q Did you see the bomb before it exploded?

A No sir.

Q The bomb was in your rear, behind you?

A The bomb went right behind me.


[Image, Volume I, Page 308]

Q Tell me what you saw after the bomb was thrown?

Mr. BLACK: Gentlemen, I do not see that this officer's name is in this list of witnesses.

Mr. GRINNELL: Well, let us use this witness now, then.

Mr. INGHAM: Q Were you a witness before the grand jury?

A Well, I was notified to be there and they told me they didn't need me, they had enough witnesses there.

Q Then you did not go before the grand jury?

A No sir.

THE COURT: Well, there is no objection made.

Mr. INGHAM: Q Tell what you saw immediately after the bomb was exploded?

A As we were proceeding north of Randolph street on Desplaines street, I heard the remark from the wagon, a man speaking on the wagon--

Answer objected to as irresponsive.

THE COURT: (To witness): Listen to the question, and answer that question. (Last question read)

A Immediately after the bomb exploded I turned my face from where the explosion was and I looked for the wagon again, and I noticed that man right over there (indicating defendant Fielden), by the wheel of the wagon, with a revolver, right behind, firing; I saw one shot go; then I thought it was time to draw my revolver, and just as I got my revolver, they rusjed for the alley, that was a little south of the wagon.


[Image, Volume I, Page 309]

Mr. INGHAM: Who rushed into the alley?

A Well, him and about I really should judge about twenty more; they kept firing about fifteen or twenty shots after they started to run in the alley.

Q How many did you see run toward the alley?

A Well, I should judge there was about twenty run in that direction.

Q Did you watch those running into the alley?

A Yes sir.

Q Do you know whether this man run or not?

A After the shot was fired there he was gone with the crowd, and I could not exactly--the crowd all got mixed up there.

Q Do you know whether he run with the crowd or not?

A He run with the crowd.

Cross Examination
By Mr. Black.

(Counsel requests defendant Fielden to stand up, and he does so.')

THE WITNESS: That is the man.

Q You recognize Mr. Fielden as the man whom you saw fire and who run up the alley?

A Yes sir; run towards the alley.

Q Toward the alley?

A Yes sir.


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