Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-16
THE NEW ORLEANS AFFAIR
Report and Appeal of the Com
mittee of Fifty to the
Mayor
Consul Cortes was Convinced
OF the Existence of the
Malta
Asking That immigration from
Sicily and Lower Italy be
Prohibited

New ORLEANS, May 15-The committee
OF nity made It's report TO the mayor last
night. 1t says in part: 1.-The first work
OF the committee was to obtain from the
chief OF police a report OF ninety four
assassinations by Italians and Slclllans
where the accused escaped for want OF
evidence. Then following the assassna-
tion OF Hennessy, the result OF the trial
demonstrated to the people that no one
was safe from the mysterious band that
was operating regardless Of the law. It
was only when the fear grew to absolute
conviction, that the people rose in their
might, took the law into their own
hands, and then followed the event Of
March IA"
The report then at length goes on TO
show the existence OF the Malta, and tells
OF visit made to the Italian consul TO
secure Information. He stated that he
was ready to cooperate with the COM
mittee and prepare a report containing
the information In his possession. He was
convinced OF the existence OF the Malta
ana had strong suspicious as to who were
the leaders. He furnished the committee
10 the Hennessy assassination he had I'm
some way incurred the dispeasure of a
coterie composed principally OF the men
VINO met death at the parish prison. They
Invited him to supper, and although he
partook only OF oyster SCUM. he was taken
very i'll that night with symptoms of
poisoning, and was satisfied that his life
had been attempted. The written inform
alton he promised. however, never came.
After some delay he notified the com
mittee that, 1t being an extra judicial
DodY, he did not feel warranted in giving
Information. During the interview the
committee called his attention 10 the pub-
llshed statement in New York paper to
the effect that the mayor had appointed
an extra judicial body, but its object was
frustrated owing TO his (Corte's) earnest |
protests and the intervention Of Mr. |
Blaine. we reminded him." saws the |
report, that he and prominent Italian |
citizens had called on the committee be- |
lore the mass meeting last fall and an
proved pacific course and asked him /
how he reconcile1 his published state |
ments made In the New York Tribune
lie SAID they were made as an individual, |
not as consul, and that the reporter had |
greatly exaggerated the statements"
The committee, In pointing out the
remedies OF the existing trouble, suggests
restriction Of immigration, reform M the
criminal laws and the administration of
criminal laws and the administration of
criminal Justice. law recognizing the ex-
lstence OF bar association and endowing
II with full power to try and disbar auy
attorney whose evil practices render him
unworthy Of being an officer OF the court.
The only radical remedy" says the re-
port, which suggests itself TO us is the
entire prohibition Of immigration from
Sicily and lower Italy. IL was found
necessary TO prohibit Chinese immlgra-
tlon and congress passed the necessary
laws. The danger 70 California from
Chinese was no greater than the danger
TO this state from Sicily and the south of
Italy, they are undesirable citizens and
there Is no reason why they should be
permitted TO participate in the blessings
Of freedom and civilization which they
are not only unable TO appreciate. but
which they refuse TO understand and ac-
cept."