Illinois vs. August Spies et al. trial transcript no. 1 Direct examination by Mr. Foster. Cross-examination by Mr. Grinnell. Testified on behalf of the Defense, Spies, August et al. Attended the meeting of the Lumber Shovers' Union on May 3, 1886 where August Spies was a speaker. Testified on various topics (page numbers provide a partial guide): socialists and/or socialism (vol.M 235), McCormick Reaper Works strike, meeting or riot (vol.M 234), eight-hour movement (vol.M 234), Lumber Shovers' Union (vol.M 233), Spies, August (vol.M 233).
Testimony of Albert Schlavin, 1886 Aug. 6.
Volume M, 233-236, 4 p.
Schlavin, Albert.
Lumber worker.
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[Image, Volume M, Page 233]
ALBERT SCHLAVIN,
A witness called on behalf of the defendants, was duly sworn and testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. FOSTER.
Q What is your name?
A Albert Schlavin.
Q Where do you live?
A 703 14th Street.
Q How long have you lived in Cook County?
A Five years.
Q What is your business?
A Lumber worker.
Q Are you a member of the Lumber Shover's Union?
A Yes, sir.
Q Were you at the meeting in the afternoon of May 3rd last at the Black Road?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did you hear Mr. Spies speak there that day?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did you know that he was going to speak that day?
A No.
Q Did you see him before?
A No.
Q Are you a socialist?
A No, sir.
Q A communist or anarchist?
A No, sir.
Q Have you any acquaintance with Mr. Spies?
A No, sir, I don't know him.
Q Who interduced Mr. Spies?
A The other colleagues said that was Mr. Spies who was speaking on the car.
Q Did you hear Mr Breest introduce him--was he chairman of the meeting?
A I heard it from about the car, that it was Mr. Spies that was speaking, whether Mr. Breest said so or no I can't say.
Q Did Mr. Spies speak in German or English?
A German.
Q Did you hear what he said?
A Oh, yes, sir.
Q What did he say?
A He spoke of the eight hour system and the wages, the rate of wages, that was his theme.
Q Did he say anything about force or guns or dynamite in his speech?
A No, sir.
Q Did you hear the bell, ring at McCormick's factory?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did you see any part of the crowd start in that direction?
A Yes, sir, sidewise where the cars were standing, they went over towards the factory.
Q Now, were the people that started towards the factory in the body of the meeting or on the outside of the meeting?
A From the outskirts of the meeting.
Q Before the bell rang had Spies said anything about McCormick?
A No, sir.
Q What did Spies say, if anything, when the bell rung and the outside of the crowd started in that direction?
A When the bell was ringing and the people were going towards
the factory he said that they should remain there, and he continued to speak.
Q How long after the bell rung. A 10 or 15 minutes, might have been something like that.
CROSS EXAMINATION
BY MR. GRINNELL.
Q How far were you standing from the car?
A Below the car, about 10 paces from it.
Q How many people were there there--
Mr. Foster: One minute, please.
Q Did you hear any objection to Spies speaking on the ground that he was a socialist, if so, what did you hear, and what was said and done?
A I didn't hear anything of that.
Q You didn't hear anyone in the crowd object to his speaking?
A No sir.
Mr. Grinnell: Q How many people were there in that crowd that day?
A About 5000 to 6000 men.
Q What were you there for?
A I belong to the labor union.
Q Well, were you not there to hear a report of the committee from the bosses, to see what the bosses would do about the eight hour movement?
A Yes, sir.
Q Did you see Spies when he got through speaking?
A No, as we went away I went home and I didn't see him any more.
Q The last you saw of him then he was on the car?
A Yes, sir,
as we went down.