Anarchy and Anarchists / A History of the Red Terror and the Social Revolution in America and Europe; Communism, Socialism, and Nihilism in Doctrine and in Deed; The Chicago Haymarket Conspiracy and the Detection and Trial of the Conspirators

by Michael J. Schaack

“You were talking to him?”

“Yes, sir.”

“When I was at Central Station, I think, both Inspector Bonfield and Lieut. Kipley were present when I made the statement that I could recognize the man, if I ever saw him again, who threw the bomb. Afterwards I told all the details to Mr. Grinnell. I explained matters more to him than to anybody else. I would not be positive that I told Mr. Bonfield I saw the man light the match. I gave a description of the man that I saw throw the bomb. I think the man had a black or blue sack coat on. I think he had black eyes, and somewhat light whiskers. The bomb went in a westerly direction. I have seen Mr. Spies the last year and a half, and knew him by sight, not by name. I heard him speak at public meetings, seen him very frequently, but never knew his name. I heard him once on Market Street, a year ago last spring. I did not inquire who it was that spoke. I knew from hearing him and reading the papers that Spies was one of the speakers. I frequently heard the name of August Spies. At the time I had the conversation with Bonfield I described to him as well as I could the man that struck the match and lighted the fuse. It was either Bonfield or one of the officers in the Central Station. They were all together. I was twice over at police headquarters. This picture here (photograph of Schnaubelt) was shown to me first some time last week, at the State’s Attorney’s office. I was in the city during the time the Coroner’s jury was examining into the cause of the death of different policemen, and at the time the grand jury was examining into this case. The officers knew my name and address. They never called on me to go before the grand jury or the Coroner’s jury.

“The man who threw the bomb was about five feet and eight, ten or nine inches high. I don’t think he was a man over six feet tall. The first time I told Mr. Grinnell of my experience at the Haymarket was when I made my second visit to the Central Station, on Sunday after the Haymarket meeting. I think at that time I only told Mr. Grinnell that I could identify the person that threw the bomb, if I saw him. I think I told him at that time that I saw one man strike a match and light the fuse, and another man throw the bomb. Mr. Fischer was brought in while we had the conversation at the Central Station. I looked at him. I said nothing about his being the man that struck the match. I knew him by sight. I identified him as being one of the men who composed the group in the alley.

“I received some money two or three times when I have been over here from Mr. James Bonfield—ten or fifteen cents, sometimes a quarter. At the conversation at Central Station I was not told that I was wanted as a witness before the grand jury. I saw the picture of Rudolph Schnaubelt about six weeks ago, when Mr. Grinnell sent for me. I did not tell any person at any time, except the officers that I mentioned, that I saw the act of lighting the bomb accomplished. Neither Mr. Grinnell nor Bonfield, nor any other officer, told me to keep silent in regard to the matter.

“I am six feet three in height. I could pretty near see right over the head of the fellow who threw the bomb. When I gave a description of the man who came from the wagon and lighted the match that lit the fuse they did not bring out Mr. Spies for me to look at. Spies had kind of dark clothes on that night. His hat was black or brown. My impression is it was a limber-rimmed hat. I first told Mr. Grinnell one day last week that this is the man that struck the match, when I saw him sitting here in court. I think Mr. Fischer had on a blue sack-coat that night. I think he had a black necktie. If Schnaubelt had any necktie that night it was a very light one. Spies had a turn-down collar that night and not any necktie. I think the upper buttons of Mr. Schnaubelt’s coat were buttoned. I think Spies had one or two buttons of his coat buttoned up when he came from the wagon into the alley.”

Martin Quinn was recalled and testified to finding, at Engel’s house, a machine for making bombs.

“Engel said it had been left there by some man about four or five months previous to that time. Mrs. Engel gave a description of the man who left the machine down at the basement door, as a man with long black whiskers and pretty tall. Mr. Engel said he thought he knew the man, and he thought the machine was made for the purpose of making bombs. There had been a meeting at Turner Hall, where this man had made a speech about the manufacture of bombs, and the next thing was, this machine was brought over, and Engel had said to him he wouldn’t allow him to make any bombs in his basement; so the man went away. Engel didn’t know where he was.”

John Bonfield was recalled and testified to being at the Central Station when Officer Quinn brought Engel and the machine there. Bonfield, being asked by State’s Attorney Grinnell to explain the purpose of the apparatus, said: