Johann Most

Released
Date of birth:05. 02. 1846
Date of death:17. 03. 1906
Age:60† Deceased
Gender:Male
Race:White
Era:1900s
State:New York
Time Imprisoned:
9 Months 30 Days
Support
Anarchism
Johann Most

Biography

Johann Most was a German-American anarchist and the editor of the newspaper Freiheit, an advocate of "propaganda of the deed" whose writings influenced a generation of radicals. He was imprisoned repeatedly on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States he served a year on Blackwell's Island in 1887 for an incendiary speech, and after the assassination of President McKinley he was again prosecuted: in People v. Most (1902) he was convicted of endangering the public peace and sentenced to one year in prison for republishing a fifty-year-old article by Karl Heinzen advocating the assassination of political rulers.

Cases

Blackwell's Island Penitentiary
Charges: Incendiary speech / unlawful assembly.
Incarcerated: Jun 2, 1886
Released: Apr 1, 1887
Sentence: One year's imprisonment and a $500 fine. Committed to Blackwell's Island on June 2, 1886 and released on April 1, 1887. Verdict as recorded: Yes — convicted in New York; sentenced June 2, 1886. Charges as recorded: Incendiary speech / unlawful assembly — for a New York address advocating armed action.
Convicted: Yes
Institution State: New York
Blackwell's Island Penitentiary
Charges: Incendiary speech at Kramer's Hall, New York.
Incarcerated: June 1891
Sentence: Twelve months. Having exhausted his appeal (affirmed June 16, 1891), he served the term on Blackwell's Island beginning in late June 1891. Verdict as recorded: Yes — sentenced December 8, 1887 to twelve months, then released on $5,000 bail pending appeal; the conviction was affirmed June 16, 1891.
Convicted: Yes
Institution State: New York
Blackwell's Island Penitentiary
Charges: Endangering the public peace.
Incarcerated: June 1902
Released: April 1903
Sentence: One year on Blackwell's Island. The term began shortly after the appeal was affirmed on June 10, 1902; he was released by April 9, 1903, having served a year less about two months' commutation for good behavior. Verdict as recorded: Yes — sentenced in October 1901; the conviction was affirmed on final appeal June 10, 1902. Charges as recorded: Endangering the public peace — for republishing in Freiheit Karl Heinzen's article "Murder against Murder" advocating the assassination of political rulers, days after the assassination of President McKinley (People v. Most, 75 N.Y.S. 591).
Convicted: Yes
Institution State: New York
Blackwell's Island Penitentiary
Charges: Republishing an article discussing tyrannicide
Incarcerated: 1901
Released: 1902
Sentence: He was given a one-year sentence at Blackwell's Island beginning in 1901. Verdict as recorded: Yes — disturbing the public peace
Convicted: Yes
Institution State: New York

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