August Spies
Encyclopedia
August Vincent Theodore Spies (December 10, 1855 – November 11, 1887) was an anarchist labor activist who was found guilty of conspiracy and hanged following a bomb attack on police at the Haymarket affair
.
in 1855 and emigrated to America
in 1872 with his mother, Christine, and his five siblings, Henry, Kenny, Maggie, Willy, and Adolph. His father had died in 1871. He settled in Chicago
, where he became an upholsterer. Involving himself in trade union activities due to the injustices he witnessed, Spies joined the Socialist Labour Party in 1877, where he began his deep involvement with labor causes and ultimately became editor of the anarchist daily newspaper, the Arbeiter-Zeitung
, in 1880.
was thrown. The bomb blast and ensuing gunfire
resulted in the deaths of eight police officers, mostly from friendly fire
, and an unknown number of civilians. Seven men were arrested, including Spies. Later, Albert Parsons
turned himself in.
Witnesses testified that none of the eight men charged threw the bomb. According to The Press on Trial, Spies had finished his speech but was still on stage when the bomb went off. However, all eight were found guilty, and seven were sentenced to death. One, Oscar Neebe
, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
In 1887, Spies and his co-defendants appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court (122 Ill. 1), then to the Supreme Court of the United States
. At the Supreme Court they were represented by John Randolph Tucker, Roger Atkinson Pryor
, General Benjamin F. Butler
and William P. Black
. Their petition for certiorari
was denied (123 U.S. 131).
Two of the defendants, Michael Schwab
and Samuel Fielden
, asked for clemency and their sentences were commuted to life in prison on November 10, 1887, by Governor Richard James Oglesby
. (The three were pardoned and released on June 26, 1893, by John Peter Altgeld
, the governor of Illinois.) Of the remaining five, Louis Lingg
killed himself in his cell with a cigar bomb on November 10, 1887. Spies, Albert Parsons, Adolph Fischer
, and George Engel
were hanged the next day (November 11, 1887). As he faced his demise on the gallows, Spies shouted
, "the day will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today."
and the only child of a wealthy Chicago chemist. She published an article on the trial for the Chicago Knights of Labor
. After Spies's death she married Stephen A. Malato, an attorney, in 1895. They divorced in 1902, and she reverted to the surname Spies.
Haymarket affair
The Haymarket affair was a demonstration and unrest that took place on Tuesday May 4, 1886, at the Haymarket Square in Chicago. It began as a rally in support of striking workers. An unknown person threw a dynamite bomb at police as they dispersed the public meeting...
.
Background
Spies was born in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1855 and emigrated to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1872 with his mother, Christine, and his five siblings, Henry, Kenny, Maggie, Willy, and Adolph. His father had died in 1871. He settled in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where he became an upholsterer. Involving himself in trade union activities due to the injustices he witnessed, Spies joined the Socialist Labour Party in 1877, where he began his deep involvement with labor causes and ultimately became editor of the anarchist daily newspaper, the Arbeiter-Zeitung
Arbeiter-Zeitung (Chicago)
The Arbeiter-Zeitung, also known as the Chicagoer Arbeiter-Zeitung, a German language anarchist newspaper, was started in Chicago, Illinois, in 1877 by veterans of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. It continued publishing through 1931...
, in 1880.
Anarchist
Known for his aggressive rhetoric, an enraged Spies published a leaflet on May 4, 1886 entitled Revenge! Workingmen to Arms! It included the passage: "They killed the poor wretches because they, like you, had the courage to disobey the supreme will of your bosses. They killed them to show you 'Free American Citizens' that you must be satisfied with whatever your bosses condescend to allow you, or you will get killed. If you are men, if you are the sons of your grand sires, who have shed their blood to free you, then you will rise in your might, Hercules, and destroy the hideous monster that seeks to destroy you. To arms we call you, to arms."Haymarket Square
On May 4, 1886, Spies spoke during a rally at Haymarket Square. Contrary to the mayor's explicit instructions, police intervened, sending units into the crowd in an attempt to disperse it. Violence erupted and a pipe bombPipe bomb
A pipe bomb is an improvised explosive device, a tightly sealed section of pipe filled with an explosive material. The containment provided by the pipe means that simple low explosives can be used to produce a relatively large explosion, and the fragmentation of the pipe itself creates potentially...
was thrown. The bomb blast and ensuing gunfire
Shooting
Shooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
resulted in the deaths of eight police officers, mostly from friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
, and an unknown number of civilians. Seven men were arrested, including Spies. Later, Albert Parsons
Albert Parsons
Albert Richard Parsons was a pioneer American socialist and later anarchist newspaper editor, orator, and labor activist...
turned himself in.
Witnesses testified that none of the eight men charged threw the bomb. According to The Press on Trial, Spies had finished his speech but was still on stage when the bomb went off. However, all eight were found guilty, and seven were sentenced to death. One, Oscar Neebe
Oscar Neebe
Oscar William Neebe I was an anarchist, labor activist and one of the defendants in the Haymarket bombing trial.-Early life:...
, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Trial
The trial of Spies and his associates was highly controversial. The jury was selected specifically by a special bailiff; one of the jury members was a relative of one of the slain policemen. Julius Grinnell, the State's Attorney, told the jury, "Convict these men, make examples of them, hang them, and you save our institutions." During the trial, the jury was allowed by the judge to read articles in support of political violence written previously by the defendants as evidence. While in prison, Spies wrote an autobiography.In 1887, Spies and his co-defendants appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court (122 Ill. 1), then to the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. At the Supreme Court they were represented by John Randolph Tucker, Roger Atkinson Pryor
Roger Atkinson Pryor
Roger Atkinson Pryor was both an American politician and a Confederate politician serving as a congressman on both sides. He was also a jurist, serving in the New York Supreme Court, a lawyer, and newspaper editor...
, General Benjamin F. Butler
Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)
Benjamin Franklin Butler was an American lawyer and politician who represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and later served as the 33rd Governor of Massachusetts....
and William P. Black
William P. Black
William Perkins Black was a lawyer and veteran of the American Civil War. He received America's highest military decoration - the Medal of Honor - for his actions at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, in 1862.-Biography:...
. Their petition for certiorari
Certiorari
Certiorari is a type of writ seeking judicial review, recognized in U.S., Roman, English, Philippine, and other law. Certiorari is the present passive infinitive of the Latin certiorare...
was denied (123 U.S. 131).
Two of the defendants, Michael Schwab
Michael Schwab
Michael Schwab was a German-American labor organizer and one of the defendants in the Haymarket Square incident.-Early years:...
and Samuel Fielden
Samuel Fielden
Samuel Fielden was a socialist, anarchist and labor activist who was one of eight convicted in the 1886 Haymarket bombing.-Early life:...
, asked for clemency and their sentences were commuted to life in prison on November 10, 1887, by Governor Richard James Oglesby
Richard James Oglesby
Richard James Oglesby was an Illinois statesman and U.S. Army officer. He served in the Mexican-American War and was a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He also served Illinois in the legislature. Near the end of the civil war, he was elected the 14th Governor of...
. (The three were pardoned and released on June 26, 1893, by John Peter Altgeld
John Peter Altgeld
John Peter Altgeld was the 20th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1893 until 1897. He was the first Democratic governor of that state since the 1850s...
, the governor of Illinois.) Of the remaining five, Louis Lingg
Louis Lingg
Louis Lingg was a German anarchist who committed suicide while in jail, after being arrested as an agitator during the Haymarket Square bombing.-Birth:...
killed himself in his cell with a cigar bomb on November 10, 1887. Spies, Albert Parsons, Adolph Fischer
Adolph Fischer
Adolph Fischer was an anarchist and labor union activist tried and executed after the Haymarket Riot.-Early life:...
, and George Engel
George Engel
George Engel was an anarchist and labor union activist executed after the Haymarket riot, along with Albert Parsons, August Spies, and Adolph Fischer.-Early life:...
were hanged the next day (November 11, 1887). As he faced his demise on the gallows, Spies shouted
Last words
Last words are a person's final words spoken before death.Last Words may also refer to:* Last Words , an Australian punk band* Last Words , a memoir by George Carlin* Last Words , a 1968 short film directed by Werner Herzog...
, "the day will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today."
Marriage
In January 1887, while still in prison, Spies married Nina van Zandt (1862–1936). She was a graduate of Vassar CollegeVassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
and the only child of a wealthy Chicago chemist. She published an article on the trial for the Chicago Knights of Labor
Knights of Labor
The Knights of Labor was the largest and one of the most important American labor organizations of the 1880s. Its most important leader was Terence Powderly...
. After Spies's death she married Stephen A. Malato, an attorney, in 1895. They divorced in 1902, and she reverted to the surname Spies.
Selected quotations
Laws are cobwebs for the rich, and chains of steel for the poor.
Anarchism does not mean bloodshed; it does not mean robbery, arson, etc. These monstrosities are, on the contrary, the characteristic features of capitalism. Anarchism means peace and tranquility to all.
See also
- 1880 US Census with Spies in Chicago, Illinois
- May dayMay DayMay Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....