Deny Bail to Anarchists
AUTHORITIES HOLD THEM ON CHARGE OF PLOT TO MURDER.
Nine Men and Three Women Arraigned at Harrison Street and Remanded,
the Latter
Being Set Free Later in the Day—Habeas Corpus Writ to Be Tried—Evidence
of Conspiracy to Kill President Seen in Selection by Czolgosz of
a Derringer.
Charged by the Chicago officials
with conspiring to murder the President of the United States, nine
men and three women were arraigned before Justice Prindiville yesterday
morning. The men were remanded without bail. Bail was allowed to
the women, and later the charge against them was dismissed. Self-confessed
Anarchists and boasting of their unbelief in all government and
law, the prisoners had been expected to pose as martyrs. Instead
they plainly showed their fear and anxiety over their detention
and the charges pending against them.
Shortly before 9 o’clock the nine
men were taken hurriedly from their cells in the basement of the
City Hall and under a heavy guard led to a patrol wagon. They were
rushed into the vehicle, which was then driven rapidly to the Harrison
Street Police Station. There they were all locked up in one cell
while waiting for their case to be called.
At the word of the bailiff the nine
men, each guarded by a detective in citizen’s clothes, were taken
into the courtroom. The three women were already there. The women
cried and threw their arms around the men’s necks. The twelve defendants
were:
Abraham Isaak Sr., |
Hippolite
Havel, |
Abraham Isaak Jr., |
Henry
Travaglio, |
Clemence Pfuetzner, |
Michael
Roz, |
Martin Rosnick, |
Morris
Fox, |
Alfred Schneider, |
Julia
Mechanic, |
Maria Isaak, |
Maria
Isaak (daughter). |
Cases Continued Ten Days.
“What do you want done with these
people?” asked Justice Prindiville when he saw the dozen prisoners
lined up before him.
“We ask a continuance of ten days
and want the defendants held without bail,” replied Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney John E. Owens.
“Sept. 19,” said the court. “Men without
bail. Women bail in the sum of $3,000 each.”
“May it please the court,” shouted
a man who proved to be Leopold Saltiel, an attorney, “I am here
representing these defendants and consent to the continuance. I
was called into this case about an hour ago and have had no time
in which to prepare myself for an argument.”
The appearance of an attorney in the
interest of the defendants was a surprise to nearly all of them.
Some of them had just declared they would employ no attorney, because
they did not recognize law.
“Can we not have an immediate hearing,”
anxiously inquired Abraham Isaak Sr. “We are being kept in a vile
place and are uncomfortable. It is a shame.”
As if aroused by the protests of Isaak
the other defendants grew demonstrative and began to voice their
protests against their confinement. Their words availed them nothing,
and after their cases had been set for Sept. 19, the prisoners were
all returned to their cells.
Women All Set Free.
Later in the day City Prosecutor
Taylor, Chief O’Neill, and Captain Colleran appeared in court and
dismissed the charges against the three women and all three were
released. They returned to their home at 515 Carroll avenue, the
place where they were arrested along with the men in the raid on
the place on Friday night.
“The cases were dismissed because
we did not feel justified in holding the women,” said City Prosecutor
Taylor. “They were detained because they were found in the company
of the men. This was deemed necessary in a case of this nature.
They are now free to return to their home. We are satisfied they
were in no way connected with the alleged conspiracy.”
Habeas Corpus to Be Tried.
Efforts will be made to obtain the
release of the nine men on a writ of habeas corpus today. Leopold
Saltiel, Charles T. Brown, and Raymond Robbins, attorneys, have
been retained in the case, by whom is not clear. They held a meeting
in the Unity Building last evening and decided to call on Mayor
Harrison, Chief O’Neill, and Captain Colleran today, in an effort
to ascertain why the nine prisoners were not released. If unable
to convince the authorities that the men should be given their liberty,
they will at once sue out a writ of habeas corpus. In that case
the writ probably will be made returnable tomorrow morning.
Pistol Evidence of Plot.
It is the theory of Mayor Harrison
that Czolgosz selected a derringer as the best weapon with which
to commit his crime on the advice of some expert on firearms. Then
the Mayor goes one step farther in his reasoning and declares the
would-be assassin was the person selected to carry out a well laid
conspiracy.
“I regard the selection of a derringer
as the strongest point in the charge that President McKinley was
attacked as the result of a conspiracy,” said the Mayor. “Not one
man in 5,000 would buy a derringer to commit a crime. Yet it is
the best weapon for such an act as Czolgosz was guilty of. I believe
that others bought the weapon for him and planned the act.”
Thinks Prisoners Too Unanimous.
“As far as the Chicago Anarchists
now under arrest are concerned, I think the most suspicious thing
against them is the fact that with singular unanimity they all declare
they took Czolgosz for a spy while he was in Chicago. They all point
out the warning against the man printed in the Free Society as proof
of their innocence. Dr. Taylor tells me that Czolgosz confesses
to having been in Chicago as late as Aug. 17. If that is true it
tends to break down the statements of those Anarchists now under
arrest in Chicago. We are working on this case and are going to
get to the bottom of it.”
Derringer Chosen by Expert.
“The illustration in T
T of the weapon used by Czolgosz
convinces me that he had the advice of some one who was an expert
on firearms,” said Theodore G. Steinke, who is well versed in the
use of different styles of firearms. “It is the shortest and most
effective weapon in existence. There are revolvers with short barrels
which could be concealed under handkerchiefs, but they have not
the power of the derringer with its comparatively long barrel. A
short barrel revolver may not always kill, but a Derringer is considered
‘sure death’ under ordinary conditions.”
Schuettler Watching Anarchists.
Captain Schuettler says he has under
surveillance a number of men whom he suspects of being Anarchists.
“I have several of these men under
watch,” said the Captain. “We are doing this just for safety, and
can place our hands on them in case they do not conform and live
up to the laws.” Captain Schuettler said he would make no arrests
until some demonstration was attempted.
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