in connection with the bombing, he took over management of the Arbeiter-Zeitung. He was himself arrested only a few days later because of his association with the defendants and the Arbeiter-Zeitung. At trial, the evidence against Neebe was particularly weak, as even the State's Attorney reportedly admitted. The evidence presented against him was based on his political views and that he had attended socialist meetings, was associated with Arbeiter-Zeitung, and that a shotgun, a pistol and red flag were found in his home. One witness claimed that he had been seen distributing the famous "Revenge" Circular. Neebe insisted he had only handed him one that he found and hadn't even read it himself. Despite this, Neebe was sentenced to 15 years in prison. In his final address to the court, he declared: "There is no evidence to show that I was connected with the bomb-throwing, or that I was near it, or anything of that kind. So I am only sorry, your honor-that is, if you can stop it or help it-I will ask you to do it-that is, to hang me, too; for I think it is more honorable to die suddenly than to be killed by inches. I have a family and children; and if they know their father is dead, they will bury him. They can go to the grave, and kneel down by the side of it; but they can't go to the penitentiary and see their father, who was convicted for a crime that he hasn't had anything to do with. That is all I have got to say. Your honor, I am sorry I am not to be hung with the rest of the men." While serving his sentence, his wife Meta died in 1887. He was promised he could attend her funeral, but instead was allowed to view her remains privately at his home. On June 26, 1893 Illinois Governor John Peter Altgeld pardoned Neebe and two of his co-defendants, having concluded that they were innocent. Later years Neebe remarried the year he was released. He had three more children with his new wife Regina Hepp. Neebe, who had been involved with (and then expelled from) the Socialist Labor Party and active in the trade union movement prior to the Haymarket Affair, joined the Industrial Workers of the World soon after its founding in 1905. He was listed as one of their main