Huntsville gazette., 1891-03-21


formed the crowd that none of those in
that cell were the prisoners wanted
Then the mob filed out into the yard.
Glancing up at one of the condemned
cells on the second floor a blanched and
ghastly face was seen at the bars of the
door. That's Scoffedi,'' shouted one
excited individual, and Immediately sew
eral shots were fired at the cell. The
individual, whoever he was, quickly dis
appeared. Several more shots were
fired at the door.
They are in the female department,
shouted thrill voice.
''Where is the key? Bring us the
key" yelled another, and rush was
made for the door separating the two
divisions. The door was found securely
locked.
''Batter it down." said one; "Hold
on" young man with Winchester
replied. I've got the key" and he held
a long key over his head. This an.
nouncement was greeted with yells.
The door was opened and the crowd
made break to get in.
''Hold on, gentlemen said the young
man who had produced the key, 1--WE do
not want to shed innocent blood. Who
knows the assassins?"
Il do and 81 shouted dozen men.
''Let me in, know them," said one
determined man, and he was admitted.
About seven men entered, and the
corridor was found deserted with the
exception of one person. This was an
old negro woman. ''Dey are upstairs,
boss" she said, in answer to question.
No material resistance was offered by
the police or the sheriff to the work of
the citizens, who were armed with shot
guns and pistols, and who not only rep
resented the humber classes, but the
most prominent bankers, citizens, mer-
chants and professional men in New Or
leans.
A wagon filed with policemen dashed
up to the scene, but they were driven
away amid shower of mud, and did
not seem anxious to charge the crowd.
The sheriff's deputies found that resist
ance was useless and they had to stand
by and see the doors battered down.
When apprised of the approach of the
mob, the prison officials transferred the
Italians from the male to the female de-
partment, and when the armed men who
got on the inside of the Jail found
them, the prisoners ran down into the
yard below. They begged and pleaded
for mercy, but for some of them there
was no mercy shown at the hands of the
outraged citizens. When the prisoners
reached the yard they tried to seek
places of safety. but there were none to
be found, and the shot guns belched
forth and the slayers of Hennessy fell
dead in their tracks.
Macheca, the arch-conspirator, crouched
down in a corner with his hands before
his face and screamed. A dozen bullets
entered his body, and he pitched head
foremost on the stone pavement dead.
In the great confusion it was difficult
to ascertain who had been killed.
While the work of vengeance was
going on inside a crowd of men came
out of the Jail with the crazy assassin
Politez Some one had a rope, and as
the miserable Italian was rushed to the
corner the line was thrown over an arm
of post and s'olitez was drawn up in
the air, but before he strangled to death
a dozen shots rang out and his body
was riddled with bullets.
Then, on the other side of the prison
Bagnetto, one of the assassins, was
brought out, already in the throes of
death from bullet wound in the head.
A rope was thrown over the limb of a
tree and he, too. was hoisted in the air.
Police Officer Heron, who was in the
prison, was shot in the neck and he is
the only one outside of the prisoners
who suffered. After the work was
done Mr.. Parkerson addressed the dense
mob of citizens and advised them to dis
perse. They frantically applauded,
and when he had finished carried him
bodily on their shoulders. The multi
tude participating in the avenging work
marched to Canal street after the bloody
work was over, shouting and waving
handkerchiefs in the air.
There is intense excitement in the
city. As soon as the shooting was
known the ambulance was telephoned
for, but its presence was not necessary,
and only the coroner's services are re-
quired. Eleven men were killed in all.
The list is:
Manuel Politez.
Pietro Monasterio.
Antonio Scoffedi.
Joseph p. Macheca.
Antonio Marchesi.
Antonio Bagnetto.
Frank Romero.
Loretto Comitz.
Jim Caruso.
Roco Geraci.
Chas. Trania.
The five latter were charged as acces-
sorieS.
A meeting of citizens will be held to-
night to determine what to do with De-
tective d. G. O'Malley, who worked up
the testimony in favor of the defense.
Endorsed by the Exchanges.
NEW ORLEANS, March 14.-President
Chaffee called the members of the cot
ton exchange to order at 1870 this after
noon, and stated that he had been
called upOn bv Il large committee of