Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-26
Tragedies in New Orleans.

New Orleans has been the scene of a
number Of rather startling tragedies
since the exposition was opened,
The first was the shooting Of two we'll
known young men on Canal street by two
young girls. The second was the assassi-
nation of Capt. Murphy at midday, in one
of the leading thoroughfares Of the city,
by Police Justice and the officers Of his
court. The third was the killing Of an
ex-criminal Sheriff Of the city and the
wOunding Of a State Tax Collector by a
newspaper publisher, and the fourth,
which was mentioned in our dispatches
yesterday morning, was the killing Of a
man and woman by, it is supposed, the
husband OF the woman.
These tragedies have had a bad effect
on the future OF New Orleans. IL is true
that crimes are being committed all the
time in all the cities of the country, and
1t may be that the number of crimes COM
mitted in New Orleans, in a year, is not
greater than in other cities having the
same number of Inhabitants, but there are
more crimes of violence committed there.
Since the exposition began there appears
to have broken out an epidemic of crimes
of violence.
People who reside in peaceful and we'll
regulated communities have a horror of
anything like murder. They keep away
from localities where deadly weapons are
used on the slightest proyoeation, and
where human life appears to be held
cheaply.
Doubtless the number of tragedies that
has occurred in New Orleans within the
last few months has kept many people
from visiting the exposition. tbs unfor-
tunate for New Orleans and for the ex-
position that the tragedies to which we
have called attention occurred at the time
they did. ltmaY be that during the next
six months there will not be a single
homicide within the limits of the city.
OF course the snootings have served to
call attention to the city government, and
to suggest questions with respect to the
management of the citv's affairs. These
inquiries were not answered in a
way calculated to impress visitors with
the idea that New Orleans is a well-gov-
erned city. A contrary impression was
obtained. The hospitality of New Orleans
=
sition, which is all that has been claimed
for it, did not serve to counterfeit the I'M
favorable impression that was made by
the way that the city is governed.
1t may be that to this un favorable i'm
preston on visitors that the feeling of
| depression among business men in New
Orleans that is so quickly noticeable is
| largely due. There are comparatively
few who appear to think that the exposi-
ton has benefited the city to any consid-
cradle extent, and very many openly say
/ that it has harmed it. 1t is certain that
/ business men are complaining that bust
ness was never so dull in the city as it
has been since the Inauguration Of the
/ exposition. Failures are not infrequent,
aad others are freely predicted.
/ 1t cannot be. however, that the exposi-
ton has not brought a vast amount of
money to the city. 1t is estimated that
visitors are not spending less than $1,000
600 a month. This money must fiud its
way into all channels of trade. Every
body, however, except the hotel keepers,
saloon keepers and clearinghouse keep
ers, is grumbling. 1t would be interesting
to know the cause of the depression.