The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-19
THE WORK OF
HIRED ASSASSINS.
LaVleSS Secret Societies in
New Orleans.
Chief Of Police HeaneSSy Murdered for
Enforcing the Law.
Mayor Shakespeare 10 Be the Next Victim.
Damaging Evidence Against a
Prominent Italian.
Special to THE MoRSINe CALL

New ORLEANS, Oct. 1S.-Joseph Ma
checa and several other Italians were ar
rested to-day charged with being accessories
to the murder of Chief OF Police Hennessy.
At special meeting of the City Council
this morning Mayor Shakespeare's riessage
was read denOuncing the murder of Hen
messy through hired assassins; declaring
that terrible secret orders exist in New Or
leans; that the Chief of Police was assas-
sinated for enforcing American laws; that
any citizen performing his duty, or under
any circumstance incurring the enmity of
these societies, is liable to have the sentence
of death passed on him, and the sentence
carried out by assassins who say nothing
and know nothing; that some leading Italians
are at the head of these orders, while others,
more peacefully inclined, are blackmailed
and threatened with death, or Obliged to
leave the city if they do not comply with the
edicts of the society; that this state of affairs
has gone on long enough and must be stopped.
The Council is called on to take initiative
steps to drive, if necessary, these people
from the United States. A resolution was
duOpltu lllaI GIlc NAY VI dppUIut d IOlll
of fifty or more, if he deems proper. to
thoroughly investigate these secret orders
and report. This afternoon the Mayor re-
ceived an anonymous communication noti-
flying him that he will be the next victim.
Mayor Shakespeare SAYS this will not deter
him from doing his duty. he has appointed
a committee OF fifty. The most Intense ex-
element over the Developments prevails in
the city, and there is danger of The lower
classes being melted to iuaugurate a bloody
race war against the Italians.
The meeting OF the Committee of Fifty
tonight was secret, but the committee an
nOuncea that it would pursue the inyestiga-
ti0n to the end, bring the murderers of
Hennessy tn justice and break up the
Italian assassination leagues in this city.
A thousand dollars was raised on the spot
and by next week the committee expects to
have $4,000 to assist In the work. One of
the facts stated was that the ship Elysa is
coming up next week with 100 Italian emf
grants on board. The Mayor interviewed
the Custom house authorities and as a
result they will go down and meet the ship,
and, unless the emigrants can satisfy the
officers that they are desirable financially
and morally, they will not be allowed to
land.
Joe Macheca, who was arrested to-day,
has heretofore BEEN considered prominent
Italian, above the murderouS plots OF his
more ignorant fellow-cOuntrymen. Since
his arrest some damaging evidence has de-
veloped. The owners OF the shahty where
the assassins are supposed to have plotted
and gathered, identided Macheca as tile man
who rented the place from them and paid a
months rent in advance. Several parties
also say they followed Macheci on the night
of tbs murder. He and the Matr0ngas, also
supposed TO be leaders in the affair, were
eating biz supper While the shooting was
going On. They remained until o'clock IN
the morning having good time, and when
they parted Macheca is alleged to have said,
Boys, I've done all | can. l am only sorry
he was not killed at the first fire."