November 10 - Suicide or Murder?

Labor History in 2:00 · Nov 10, 2026 · 1m

On this day in Labor History the year was 1887. That was the day that Louis Lingg died in prison, awaiting execution for his alleged role in a bombing at a worker’s rally at Haymarket Square in Chicago the year before.

Louis was born in Germany. His father worked for a lumber mill. One day, while trying to clear a log jam, his father fell into an icy river. Although Louis’ father lived, he could no longer carry the same work load. The company fired him, despite his twenty years of service.

Louis began to question a labor system that would let this happen. He became a carpenter’s apprentice…