Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-08
THE CLAIM OF ITALY
For the New Orleans Lynching Is Set
Up by Consul CorteP.
SOME OF TIE KILLED ITALIANS,
According to the Consul, Who Gives Out
What Will Be Done.
A PROTEST SENT TO THE GRAND JURY

ESPECIAL TKLEeRAM TO THE DIsrAToH.i
NEW ORLEANS, May 7.-Senor p. Corte
has sent the following letter to the foreman
of the grand jury:
"w. H. Chatfee, Esq. Foreman Of the Grand
Jury:
''SIR-I am surprised to see printed
in the report of your honorable
body, published in the papers to-day, q
great alteration Of certain parts OF my state
ments made, not only before you, but es.
pecially of those made to Mr.. Lafaye and
another member OF the grand jury at my
residence, and not under oath OF secrecy.
"If. as it is publicly asserted, some mem.
bers of the grand jury we're in the mob, and
that body is trying to excuse their action, it
does not concern me personally, but can
not allow my statements to be altered or
partially published, with the object OF draw
ing in!erences contrary to my declaration.
1t is my opinion that solidity should exist
between good elements in order to guard
against bad ones.
Plenty of italian Criminals.
''In this sense. asked by the above two
gentlemen if there were any Italian crimi-
nails in this city, did not hesitate to reply,
without giving the number, that there are
not as few as there is of other nationalities,
but added that it would be difficult to get
rid of them. either because the most OF them
are naturalized Americans, who have the
support of politicians and certain authori-
ties, or because extraditions were too costly
in the United States.
II cited as an instance the extradition of
Esposito, to which most of the American
press expressed itself IN opposition, and
which was successful at a heavy expense,
and because the demand to extradIte was made
in the Northern States. Just because there
/ was surprised to see persons sacri'
feed whose precedents were good. who
were acquitted or not yet tried. As to the in
of the grand jury, was asked by Mr.. Lafaye,
on the 1st instant, If what was published in
the Delta on the 18th ultimo was true: but as
had just returned here from Pensacola. re-
piled that didn't know to what he alluded.
Fugitives From Justice Landed.
"Having read the article. 1 saw that by mis-
take 1t referred to the steamer Elysia. of the
Anchor Line, and then l said that as to the
Entella was surprised that the parties dele
gated expressly bv- the Mayor to examine
into the condition of the immigrants did not
while the list called for only 1872 This ex-
plains plainly to me how easily fugitives from
justice could be introduced in this country il
autQOrllles incompetent IN Sucu matters were
intrusted with said Investigations.
And it is partly to this undue mingling of
outsiders in the temple OF justice that ascribe
the bloody tragedy But the agreeable silence,
the studied reticence and other accompanying
irregularities will never destroy the truth
of the facts incurred and which I
denounced Co my Government. viz: That
an extra judicial body, appointed by the Mayor.
from the beginning premeditared, as it ap-
peared in its appeal, the killing of the prison
ers; that the same body assembled on the night
of the 18th of March to take. In cold blood, the
necessary steps to kill. for political purposes,
defenseless but fearful adversaries.
Innocent italian Blood Shed.
about 20 parties. among them some repre-
senting law and order. executed said project,
preventing before the commission of the deed
the -admittance into the rrison of the
large crowd Of children, women and
others gathered. through curiosity; that
innocent Italian blood was shed. Not
only nothing was done by the authorities to
prevent. but ofhcials contributed, directly or
indirectly in order to accomplish the work.
and that finally the names Of the participants
in the killing, as well as those of the instiga-
tors. are of public noto-iety
'P. CoRTE. Consul of Italy"
Signor P. Corte also made public to-day the
following letter to 'Unired States District At
torney Grant. written some time ago. 1t Is
the basis upon which Italy will demand com.
To Hon. William Grant, United States district
Attorney, New Orleans.
HONORABLE SIR-In reference to my inter.
view with you last Monday, 1 beg to state, &C.
cording to an examination Of their passports,
the information received from our Minister Of
Foreign Affairs and to the testimony Of the
survivors and of relatives and friends Of the
victims.
Those Who Were Killed.
1t appears without doubt that the persons
killed were the following: Antonio Abbagnetto
(Antonio Bagnetto). Uincenxo Traina Charles
Trainal, Antonio Grimuado (Antonio Mar.
cheze), Gerolamo Caruso James Caruso),
Emanelle Polizzi Emanuel Politz), Antonio
Scufidi (Antonio Scaffidi), Rocco Geraci
Loreto Comitis, Pietto Monastero, Francisco
Romeo Frank Romeol.
of the deceased persons. and that
of those who were robbed of their savings.
maltreated and confined in prison for about
six months and then acquitted, or re.
ssssss sR.rsfsre sa according d''% to sss
record in the Registration Ofice and
to the above named documents which l
have. and are at your disposal. There is no
doubt that at that time of their death Pietro
Monaster0, LOreto Conitz and Vicenzo Trama
were subjects of His Majesty. the King Of
Italy, as also Antonio Grimand0 whs arrived
here from Italy in November. 1888, although
his intention October y, 1890. to become ciri-
zen of the United States under the name Of
Antonio March, All the others killed, except
Macheca and Frank Romeo: the FIRST an Ameri-
can by birth and the second by virtue
of decree, signed by Judge Theard, dated
April g. 1885, must consider Italians, either for
their not having complied with tho fornlalities
required by an article Of the Italian civil code
to renounce their citizenship, or for not COM
plying with those of 2l65 the Revised Statutes
OF the United States. the only legal way TO be.
come an American citizen.
The Making of Citixens.
''If article 1S5 of the Constitution Of Louisiana
of 1879 accords to aliens .manifesting their in.
tention to become American citizens the
right to vote at certain elections and
under stated conditions, it does not &C.
cording to the terms of the document
given voters. made them American citizens.
of these conditions will prove,
If necessary, that the names Of several of the
Italians are considerably altered; that the
been signed by them when they did not know
how to write. and in other papers there are
Irregularities which destroy their value.
"Of the persons acquitted or released under
bail who were. as is said, maltreated and i'm
prisoned for six months. with the exception of
G. Paterno, Charles Matranea and John Caruso,
all are Italians, having the most of them their
"P. CoRTE."
It is rumored here that suit will be brought
against the city of New Orleans in the United
States Court for a large sum on behalf of the
heirs of the II prisoners lynched In the parish
prison.
A CHINESE PUPIL