New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-06

TO BRIDE TALESMEN - UNABLE TO
FIX BLAME FOR THE LYNcHING
UPON ANY OF THE CITIZENS.
New-Orleans, May 5.-After six weeks investi@
CATION the Grand Jury completed its labors on the
Hennessy case and the killing of Italians at the
Parish Prison by presenting the following special
report at 80 O'Clock this afternoon
sTo the Honorable Robert II. Mari, Judge Of Criminal
District Court Of the Parish Of New-orlcans Sec
tion "a
service there pending in Section b., this tribunal
the trial OF nine men, indicted for participation In the
assassination OF the late superintendent OF Police d. Y.
Hennessy, the night of October 5, $780,
"The enormity of that crime. executed at the mid
night hour created unusual interest throughout tho
whole country, while in our own city, vitally con-
cerned in the administration Of justice as deeply AFFECT
ing her social political and material welfare the senti.
ment of the popuaoe had crystazod into cconcrete
form OF expression that justice be rendered through
the recognized channels OF criminal Jurisprudence tnas
Se guilty perpetrators, whoever they were, be tried
by an impartial jury Of American citizens, and meet
with righteous conviction. One fact stood out In
awful prominence, above and beyond dispute or ques-
ton by any MANTLE fact that crime of unparalleled
atrocity had been committed, evidenced by the five
terrible deathdeang weapons, the numerous sugs ana
bullets fired on their errand of human destruction and
found mbedded in the fences and houses at the scene
besides the missiles that struck down the solitary man
who would never have been marked as the victim had
he not filed the responsible place Of chief officer OF
the law.
The verdict is now of official record, bearing
date March 49, 1891 We cannot be mistaken In the
assertion that the verdict startling, amazing, q
bitter disappointment, shocking to public opinion pro-
vong the repeated accusation that some OF the jury
had been unfaltnful to their office.
DILIGENT INVESTIGATION.
~As the trial neared termination, IL was not pos
sble for any observer fail to realize the comments
made on every Ide touching the action OF some men,
bers Of the Jury, when the should be submitted
CHARGES and speculation abounded, coupled with the
welknown connection of certain parties Of unenviable
authority as shown by their presence daily In the
courtroom, and building arousng the suspicion that
the most subtitle, dangerous and powerful influences
known to the practice Of criminal law were being cx-
ercsed in behalf OF the defence These considerations
have led us to investigate the subject embracing all
IFS attendant conditions and incidents. The inquiry
has been conducted with the utmost diligence, devoid
of fear or partaty, with the single purpose OF fasten-
ing the guilt on the proper persons and presenting
them under indictment TO this tribunal
Each one of the twelve Jurors of the trial was
summoned and asked to make n statement. None
objected but all rather welcomed the opportunity.
1t was notable feature of the statements thai
they primarily sought TO justify their verdict Dy at-
tacng the line OF evidence presented by the State and
attaching much weight to the arguments Of counsel for
defence. II freely admitted by the Jurors that
remarks had been made in the iury-room as carly as
the first day when testimony offered and repeated
a number of times afterward, that the State was
making poor case,' and were positively repeated at
the of the States evidence. One quarrel at least
was reported arising from the accusatop by one juror
Of another with the expression: you talk Ike you
were fixed before you here They formed no
10 xraic theA
was strung though impressed with the deep interest
as shown day by the crowd Of spectators In the
courtroom.
"It is clearly brought out by evidence Of the jurors
that affecting three of the accused, Poliz, Scafedi
and Monastero the jury engaged in the deliberations
In their case some four five hours, attended with
intense excitement and repeated ballots the turys
vote stood, six guilty, six not guilty. THIS Is a
clearly defined indication Of the convictions of the jury
as to the three accused II impresses US deeply as
it must every to whom the fact Is conveyed,
and forces the conclusion that the evidence was
sufficient justify the six jurors who stood reSolute
and determined for verdict of guilty, making it we'll
nigh impossible 10 reach any other conclusion than
a mistrial. These three accused named above were
probably the unwilling actors designated by leaders OF
the conspiracy TO execute vilanOus part in which
they had neither personal motive or interest
TALEsMAN HAS BEEN APPROACHED.
Following this Investigation, it quickly learned
preached. Every clew offered was taken up; as
rule the talesmen who had been previously marked
out were seen when alone, invited away to some
secluded and unsuspeced place, weldesgned preexts
guarding the real meaning Of the talks, but quickly
leading up to the great trial. Talesmen were visited
at their homes during the evening or early morning,
intercepted while their way to the Court House,
stopped in the corridor Of the court, and the vile
work was deliberately carried forward in the court
room during the trial one favOrite expression was
that big money might be made by going the jury
and doing right.
Among tho talesmen a number OF our citizens have
noby come forward from OF duty, relating their
experiences, furnishing at least some Of the missing
links in the chain Of crcumstantal evidence drawn
around the organized gang of jury brbers. IL is not
TO be questioned that the work was Systematically
cuted after careful preparation, and it had 10 be done
Quickly as the hours were few and time precious. The
necessity was imperative for complete lists OF taesmen,
but such lists easily obtained in other trials.
The Grand Jury knows that the list of 500 taesmen in
the Hennessy case was in the Office OF o'Maley and
Adams at IL o'clock Sunday morning, February D.,
1891 though the trial Judge issued special orders satur
day evening that the list not TO be made public or
given TO counsel OF either side until Monday morning.
1t Is not shown by whose hands the list secured,
but enough is shown TO confirm the past secret and
powerful influence Of the sOcaled private detective
agency and counsel Adams to handle the machinery OF
the court.
"The official relations Of the Jury Commissioners
to the court in tho trial OF criminal are so in
timate and farreachng in their consequences, that
the maladmnistraton Of their duties has become the
fountain source Of the successful fixing Of jurors In
important trials Great small pieces OF evidence show
that the lists Of tampered with when drawn
from the jury-wheel and before they reached the jury
box in the court. OMalley put In possession OF
the lists almost Immediately after the names were
drawn and before they reached the DistrctAttorneys
Office in due course. Influential friends alone could
accomplish these ends, but one was sacured In the
person OF one Of the commissioners lately removed.
It is further shown that in the Office OF this detective
agency is kept book Of names and addresses OF jury.
men. Out Of 300 names drawn for the February
thlrtx. the LIST In Q,ALalIay a