The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-02
IA VENDETTA In NEW ORLEANS.
The sicilian Feud and its Origin.


b 49,. = ..|I
The commercial locality on Old Levee street
tor Decatur street.) between Toulouse and St.
Louis streets, was yesterday morning the scene Of
one of those bloody conflicts which have been Of
too frequent occurrence IN this city for some time
whatever may have been the causes leading to
them. The heart shrinks at their recurrence and
the ghasty forms of the unfortunate victims stare
humanity In the face, imploring cessation OF the
holocaust at the shrine of anger aud vengeance.
The victim Of the ARRAY W hch took place yester-
day morning was Sicilian from Palermo, ven
known In this city. Three men were also wound.
ed--Frank Saearro, Of the same nationality !;
shot through the index of the left hand,
causing painful wound; Frank Phillips, a
baker lempl0yed In the bakery Of Messrs. Nor
man e Reiss, near the scene of the conflict, shot
in the calf OF the right leg and third person,
supposed to be Sicllian from hessina, who ef-
fected his escape, and the nature of whose wounds
have, therefore, not been ascertained. The test.
mony given before Coroner Avlla and Deputy
Coroner Espinola, yesterday, h the best account
of the affair that can be reached. We give it be.
low. Bscarro is in custody, but, from the evil
dence given yesterday, cannot be supposed to
godfather and the man killed.
The recent rencontres between Sicilians from
Palermo on the one side and those from Messina
on the other, have induced Us to ferret out their
community who are honest and industrious citi.
zens, and many OF whom are possessed Of wealth
and influence, we must say that the feud is re-
strcted to a small circle only, composed in part
Of men whose names have figured conspicuousy
in the annals Of crime. In October last the dis
sension between the Pelermians and Messinians
did not exist and came about follows, as far as
we could ascertain:
In October last Litero Barba, said to be an ex.
celleut man, inonensive withal, brave as Caesar,
was killed at the corner of ST. Philip and Char
tres streets, under mysterious circumstances, and
Mr.. Octave Belot, cClored member of the Legis.
lstnre. was charged with the murder: and had to
flee for his life. Returning some weeks later and
surrendering himself TO the authorities, be was
examined on the charge by Recorder GastineI,
who acquitted Mr.. Belot, the evidence failing
entirely TO sustain the charge. Is Is claimed by
knowing ones that the perpetrators of the deed
were Palefmians, well known among the Sicili.
ans. But with that terrible instinct and worship
for the Uendettd for which they are celebrated,
the perpetrators were not brought to justice.
Shortly afterwards. however, truce was agreed
upon. and through the instrumentalty Of
Ignscio Frenns and Gaetano Musco, the
former of whom is said to have
kindled all the evil passions of the Paermsns,
brought about reconciliation, and for a while
matters went on smoothly. Some weeks later,
Pi Anielo, Palerman, brother OF the deceased,
gave ball or s0iree at house on Royal street,
between ST. Philip and Ursulines, at which, 10
order to show the sincerity Of the Pslermisns. a
posed to be in sympathy with the Messinians,
were invited. The ball was exceedingly CAV until
q late hour in the night, when suddenly general
row occurred, firing and cutting being the order
Of the moment. Ia which several parties were
severely wounded. One msH had his life saved
by the guitar upon which he played, which was
mashed to pieces by the projectiles, and the next
morning be was met crying over his guitar. which
he had borrowed for the occasion, and try
ing to raise q subscription to pay the
owner for the damage incurred, and other
wise regardless Of the consequences OF the affair.
The ball was necessarily broken up. essinian
or Trspanese, named Banana, was severely shot
twice in the body; another man named Mateo,
PeleImiaD, and said to have been the one who
killed Barbe, was also shot, ball entering his
face near the nose and coming out at the neck.
The man Frenna, mentioned above, and in whose
house, near the Tfem6 market, the party OF nickel
couDterfeters were arrested some time last year,
and Salvador Rosa, another Palermisn. who will
be remembered as having been tried for the hor-
rible murder OF Mr. Wells, an old and most re.
spectacle gentleman, while the latter was commis-
ssry of the Poydras market. were both at the ball,
but our informant tells Us, hed inglorously in the
incipiency OF the row. ll-t
Mateo, the man shot in the face is said to be
daring fellow, and, although his jugulsr vein had
been cut by the shot, courageously dragged him.
self all the way to Frenna's house, near the
IRENE police station, where be remained without
being discovered, under the very nose OF the
police, until he got WELL Mateo having recov
cred, IT is further stated, conspired with Rafael
Anielo, the deceased and resolved to kill sIl the
Messinians and Trapanese, who are in the mi
nority In this city. They had been anticipated,
however, by their friends. who, the next nothing
after the ball. twenty-five or thirty in number as.
sembled near the French Market, armed with
Spencer rifles, Trabuoos and other arms con-
cesled under their clothes, and swore
upon stilletto death and destruction 10
all PalemiaDs and their sympsthizsrs. and
surrounding the markets commenced a search for
them. Happily, the latter, having been advised
Of the nefarious designs OF their enemies. had al.
ready taken refuge IN another portion Of the city
few nights ago. Mateo and Anielo boldly enter.
ed the holse of Casa Blanca, on Chartres street,
between Main and St. Philip streets, and deliber-
ately commenced firing at him and the inmates.
Casa Bianca flew, with Joseph Banana, to Mr..
Llado's drug store, corner of Main street. where
they were pursued by their enemies. aud Casa
Blanca was shot In the right side and Banano In
the left side. Finding that there was little securi
" for them in this city. Casa Bianca Bansno and
Pedro AlIucho, q friend, fed TO Galveston, but
were pursued even 70 that place by Sacsrro, who
is reported to have killed a man there also. When
they discovered that they were pursued, they re.
turned TO this place and resumed their occupation
OF fruit dealers, not however. at the French Mar.
were quietly engaged when the onslaught
they say, was made upon them few
days ago, which caused the death Of Mr.. ]. d.
Clark and the wouDding of another person for
which Casa Blanca and Alucho are now confined
in the Parish Prison. They say that they were es-
Gaping from the murderous attack OF their would
be mnrderers. Since the affair the Palermians are
said TO march In squads at night In search of Mes
snians and frapanese, in order 70 shuttle off their
mortal coils. The terror which they have
created in the latter would seem 10 be sustained
from the fact, to our personal knowledge, that
they keep in their houses which are well provided
with arms OF ell kinds ready TO defend their lives
at any rate. Anelo. the deceased, is said to have
been the man who shot Banana at the ball. How
long this state of affairs will last time only win de-
termine.
The general belief Is that the witness Saccarro,
whose testimony ia given below, and who is q
young man between rs and 30. knows perfectly
well who the party was that killed his godfather,
and who be so cody shot, as is shown By the tes.
timony of Mr.. Martin. But il is not in the courts
that they will seek redress. "La Vendettan is too
sweet 10 them and sooner or later they must
meet again and settle their bloody differences
with more blood.
II is said that the man who killed Arielo after
walking out OF the store bleeding aud lmping, /
directed his course through ST. Louis street, Ex.
change Alley, thence down Canal and up St.
Charles, where be was last seen by persons who
noticed his bloody appearance. The pistol and
the eWOrc-caue sword ueed nv SaccarrO In aven0-