Oscar Neebe and Haymarket

ON was at home during the H event, He was questioned and released on May 5, 1885. On May 9, police searched his house while he was at work. They found a 38-caliber revolver, a sword, a breech-loading rifle, and a red flag. He was arrested on May 27.


CDT 5-28-86
ON was taken into custody on May 27. Found at home at 307 Sedgewick, he was was reported as quiet and undemonstrative when arrested. and told officers that he could prove that he had been at home the evening of May 4. He was taken to County Jail with Lingg and Engel. He was first booked into the Boys department and later transferred to the Mens department.

Background was given - he was engaged as a partner in the Acme Yeast Company, at 508 Sedgewick. He was described as German, and about 30 years of age. A member of the Socialist Publishing Society, the Trib described him as "an active anarchist." He had been found at the offices of the Arbeiter-Zeitung on May 5, was arrested but then soon after released. He received permission from Mayor Harrison to continue publishing the A-Z, and managed it for a few days after.

"His name had not been mentioned in connection with the Anarchists for some days, and the fact that he was to be indicted was kept a secret because he was not under arrest."









6/4 Bail is fixed at $17,000.

6/5 He is released on bond - details of bond listed.

ON and Hepp give speeches.

8/1 IMPORTANT long story covering esp. the Neebe defense. Also defense discusses how frequently newspaper accounts are wrong. (Mr. Salomon's Effort)

NYT Aug 9, 1886 story covering previous days' picnic to support and raise funds for the men. ON appears - the only one granted bail - and is cheered by the crowd.

"They Tell Their Story of Hope" - CDT - Chairman of the Grand Jury never believed Oscar was guilty. "Grinnell himself admitted, that prior to his argument to the jury, that the evidence against Neebe was not sufficient . . . " Article continues that Neebe was never an anarchist, and added that he had gained weight in prison. Louis took his kids while he was in prison. There is re-reporting of the lost fingers.

Physical appearance details in CDT: "Pen Pictures of the Anarchists."

Messer-Kruse: Grinnel agreed on June 3 that ON could post bail. Rau testified that they all went out and experimented with explosives. Defense decided to allow all 7 cases to be tried as one. "Oscar Neebe didn't even know the H meeting was happening," In prison, ON was a nurse in the hospital.