Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-11-03
History of a Strange Feud'
From the New York Ilmes.J

rama aabie series of tragedies of which the
spuals of c,ims offer sny record. b,hind
the killing lie story that has not been
told.
To nobody /. SNsw York has the taking
of Chief Henneess's life, snd the revelations
following on the heels of that event. pos
sassed a more absorbing interest that 10 Mr.
Gsorge L Norton, editor of the MartneJour-
nal. Mr.. Norton lived 1t one time IN Nav
Orlespe, aud he has einoe frequently visited
tbst ci,y. He was intimately acquainted
With both Hennsssy sad Joseph q. NE
checs. N,, III.
bouse Oa being asked if he could tb'o"
anv light on The murder OF dennessy, be
said 'rhe death of Hsuoessy ends strange
feud in which he aud thraa ether New W
leans detectives figured. know Mr. ben
neesg very intima' ely Twelve years ago
there was > group Of brave and bright ce-
tectives on tbs Neg Orleans police force.
One was David @. Henuessy, another Ta9
Michael Hsnpessy, bis cousa another was
Thomas Deyerenux, and the fourth was ho-
| bert Harris, better known as BOD hstlis.
| They would attempt any capture. no matter
DOW dangerous Naturally these iour de-
tec!iyes we're jealous OF one another, and py
and by they got to hetios escn the other'
The two Hennessy boyF, however, stuck TO-
| geEher. ~, Gu.
''Ons thing led to another untii tnaiIy
there vCas en- open feud between Thomas
Devereaux and Bob Harris. 90 not know
the exact causes of the i'll feeling, but the
frst knowledge gained of it by the public
| gss when Deveteaux met Bob Harris on t6e
higW
his brains out Il vas In the broad Coy
LIGHT | think Dsyertaux was not convict
ed ot the killing, but the tragedy occssioneo
bsd feeling between him and the Hennessys,
and IL was 81 ouen secret thot Michael Hen
messy and D:vereauz 'isid' for each ct6er
| for months.
cat last they met 1t was In the office oil
John W. Fairfax, g leading stock broker
and the editor OF the New Orleans Cty
Item. Michael Hennessy was in Fairfax =
office on business and Devereaux happened
iu there. Michael Heunessy aod DeVereaux
had scme words, and pulling their pistols,
began shooting at esch other, Michael
Hennessy was hit by bullet and fell to the
floor. wounded fatally, 1t was at first
thougbt. Devereaux tried to get away, out
In doing 30 was shot and instantly killed by
David C. HeDnessy, who came into the
Office after the shooting began. Ihe latter,
before Devereaux could extficate himseli
from his position as the attacker of Michael
Hennessy, walked up to him end blew out
his brains. without giving him any chance
| to defend himself.
"Hennesey was not con victed OF this shoot
ing. His cousin Michael, who was believed
TO be mortslly hurt, managed to pull
through lef, New Orleans, and went to Gal
weston, Texas, where he resumed the 20
cation of a detective, not being connect
ed with the police department, though.
One day as he was getting Oft q street
car iu Galveston he was shot and killed
on the spnt by man whose name
| T do not remember. And now the killing
of David G. Hennessy puts al end to the
last survivor OF that famous quartet OF de-
tec,iges. Chief HenDessy was clever man.
| He was born and bred detective. Hle
father. who was detective, died with bis
.boots on, so that bis sons but followed tae
| shadow Of his fate.
"I was astonished to learn that Hennessy
had been murdered by the members OF the
Italian vendetta. OF the existence of the
vendetta in New Orleans I have never had
| the slightest doubt. There has been such q
thing there fo5 years, ard there have bsen
many murders as consequences of II. Chiel
Hennessy YVES the sort of man to arouse
the blt,e!est feelings toward him In the
breasts of bis enemies, and am not sur
prsed at the manner of his death. Person
ally he was always agreeable. He was a
quiet man, whom oue would be slow to
suspect OF being such daredeVii. He was
afraid OF nothing on earth. Physically, be
| was haudsome man.
"As for Mac5eca, knew him well. He
was fer long time prominent fruit I'M
porter of New Orleans. Of!ate as | under
stand, be has not pvospered 10 business, but
concerning this know nothing Of my, own
knowledge He was at one time, and may
now be, the owner Of several steamships en-
gagged in the fcuit trade. plying between
| New Orleans and Honduras aGo the bay
| Islands. He is weil-Sn OWE 10 everybody In
New Orleans, aud bss for years been promi-
nent in politics. He vas born In I!aly and
came from respectable family. He has
two brothers, John AMI Michael, who like
wise are the owners of fruii-carrying steam
ers. Joseth r. Macheca is about forty
eight years of age. He is democrat, and
go was Henpessy. Formerly Hennessy and
Macheca were warm triends."