The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-01-28
BAPTIZED IN BLOOD.
New Orleans Times. Democrat.

In the great revolution of progress, each succeeding day records the work of the restless hand of enterprise in obliteration of the old landmarks of the city. But while the scenes of olden time steadily vanish from view, memory lives and researches in the labyrinth of the past find food for thought in the happenings of the time, when the vendetta was not, as at present, confined almost solely to the nomadic Italian population. The ven- detta with that class of people, true to their Corsican instincts, still flourishes and to this day finds ghastly expres- sion ill the gory corpse of a victim slain in cold blood. Knowing no law and fearing nought thereunto pertain ing, the vendetta, once proclaimed, is religiously carried out to the final consummation. It is tragedy of not one life but of many, and from gener- ation to generation is handed down as a special behest, recorded in letters of blood, which only the blood of the enemy can wipe out. Living in lit tie world all their own, this class have no confldants in the world beyond. No one knows, or for that matter cares, what becomes of them. The law admits itself powerless to solve the mystery of the death penalty inflicted by these self constituted executioners, but still, aside from this one charac- teristic, even the lowest of the class make good citizens. They pay promptly, are obedient, conform in the strictest sense to the word and let ter of the municipal ordinances, and in fact, would serve as shining exam pies to other classes of greater preten- sions, save that they keep their troubles among themselves to them- selves. Their reticence is something marvellous, and never word, except under extraordinary circumstances, can be elicited from them before le- gal tribunal or where it could become generally known.
 In the execution of vendetta no place is sacred but a church. There they meet, the victim and the assassin, and devoutly chant their prayers. The sanctuary is inviolate. The vendetta, i'll the holiness of religion, is forgotten and all are at peace. In the street or by the hearthstone it is, however, quite different, and with ruthless hand the slayer hurls soul into eternity without qualm of conscience. It is simply the ending of another chapter, beginning anew with the retaliation of relative or friend. Thus it is always the same to the same. Italian witnesses to these bloody scenes bring no terror to the assassin. Tongues forget their office. Keen eyes lose their sight. Expectant ears retain no sound of the murderer's voice or omin- ous click of the pistol. Externally impassive-internally the fires of ven geance seem famed to savage fury by the very self-constraint which denies evidence to the law.
 Knowing all this, it was therefore a matter of surprise to the police when the only one that ever spoke in public accusation, some years ago, was brought into the Third Precinct sta tion. It was a remarkable case, for many reasons. The victim had been knifed-an unusual method in the ven- detta, doubtless for the reason that, spite of all the skill popularly attrib- uted to the Italian in the use of keen- edged steel, the pistol is surer and a deadlier weapon. A horse- pistol, one of those ancient affairs of immense calibre, loaded to the muzzle with bullet and buckshot, and even nails, is the favorite weapon, and by the rule prescribed in the true vendetta it is invariably left beside the victim, tell ing those who chose to assume his wrongs who did it. There is no hesi- tancy to assassinate, but there is cer- tain chivalrous scorn against hiding it from the friends of the deceased under the veil of secrecy.
 No one of the curious crowd about the knifed Italian expected that he would divulge the name of his enemy. The knife had been driven with great force through his cheek bone into hls jaw and thence into his neck. It was wedged in. The blow was intended for his back, and hc turned just in time to get it in the face. After much wrenching the steel was finally ex- tracted and then he spoke, telling the name. An immediate arrest followed, and to verify the Identification the slayer was brought to his victims bedside. There had been time for thought, and when asked ''is this the man who stabbed you, he raised him. self slowly in bed, gazed long and earnestly ct the man who nnmoyed fearlessly met his eyes, and said, "No, love him as a brother" Then he swung his long arms circling around the mans neck, and in spite of band ages, kissed him. It was the Judas kiss which signed his death warrant.