New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-27
THE MALTA INQUIRY.
REPORT EXPECTED SOON FROM THE
GRAND JURY IN NEW ORLEANS.
~ IS EXPECTED TO SHOW STARTLING FACTS
ABOUT ITALIAN SECRET SOCIETIES
ALI. THE MEN LYNCHED HAD
VOTED IN LOUISIANA.

VOTED IN LOUISIANA.
Nev-Orleans April 90 (SpeciaD.-The Grand Jury
ractlcally concluded their labors on Wednesday and
ne report may now be looked for at almost any
ment 1t has already been predicted in the columns
a, The Tribune that the document would be rich in in
,crestng not to say sensational disclosures. Much is
expected from the papers left by Hennessy, though
whether their full significance can be reached by this
Investigation may be doubted. Certainly it would not
under ordinary for much of the strange
and startling information lie had collected relates to
men who were not, directly at least, involved in the
Hsnnessy assassination. II may be, however. that
the Grand Jury VII regard their investigation as
embracing the whole question of italian criminal so
c,eties in New orleans, and will think it their duty
10 render report which will be an answer to all the
complaints that have been made, either in this
country in Europe, against their city. In that
ease the report will make particularly interesting
reading.
The bravado Of the OMalley increases in ex-
act proportion he realizes his personal safety. Be
fore the first outburst of popular Indignation he fed
and hid himself. He knew New-Orleans, however,
and felt that as soon as the excitement subsidized
his danger would cease He calculated with precision
the moment at which he might safely reappear and,
finding his estimate accurate, he has become holder
and holder until he is Unexpectedly offensive m
his tone toward the community. No attention is paid
70 him. however. 1t is believed that the state has
perfectly defined and thoroughly impregnable case
against him for perjury, and it is the feeling all
hands that dog who is about to be cared off to the
pound may be allowed TO indulge himself in little
harmless snar7ng at the threshold. His story about
Hennessy's dying words is beneath contempt. He de-
ehres that Hennessy said "Never mind me; catch
Devereauxl" But this is absurd. Devereaux had
been dead ten years. He killed by Hennessy in
desperate personal encounter in brokers' office in
Graver-st. in 1881 He had already shot down Hen
nessys cousin, and was at the moment trying 10 XIII
Hennessy himself. Why, then, should the dying
Chief of Police, nearly ten years afterwaTd when he
was by the testimony Of all who saw him, In null
possession of his senses. exoaim Catch Devereaux"f
The mans whole story is as ridiculous as IL Is lmpu
dent.
O'Maley however. is not the only man who was In
danger lust after the lynchng. am told by gentle
men here who are in position to know and who can
moi be suspected of fasehood that no less person
than Thomas j. Semmes, the acknowledged leader OF
tbe NeyyOrleans bar made narrow escape oil having
nubuc and disgraceful afIront put upon him. Mr.
semmes is a distinguished lawyer, occupying as high
etaon socially as he does professionally He enjoys
q large and lucrative practice. is president OF he
Boston Club the arstOcrac club of the city has t"lee
been president Of the American Bar Assocatoh ana Is
known far and wide gentleman OF most conspicuous
lepal and personal attachments When he accepted the
nIace Of leading counsel for the defence in the Hen
n.ssv murder case his friends were astonished. lie
&, not criminal lawyer, has not for years figured az
such and being advanced in age and rlch III pro
fessional honors had TO be known as one VINO &C
cepted only the most important ana comPcleu 9aSeS,
involving hurge property htelgss nIe and gone
ant of his chosen province before te pal III SuVi
csse seemed unaccOunabe But when IL became hlo"it
Sot he had charged large fee and had lnlsteu upon
rmeD in advance it was longer possible to sup
nose that he had been animated oy ply ". t reoIe
Charity and then the Indignation OF Ts1 @ tbip feel
toward him knew bounds Especially was tHs tr
10 manifest i'm the club which he had presldea IS
Ioe many wears Even those who had liked ana au
mired him most were turned AGAINST tI n,in an
n S fer thorough discussion it agreed to call
nu eSniar meeting and appoint committee to walt
anon him and ask him to resign not only nis Ic
but his membership as well. rms Wouu lat lime II
SScame known that Mr.. Semmes was lying danser9usl9
in al his home. The project was then apaldo1eu pv
Of Sympathy pat y.a ST be sandy sad that Mr. viii
again recover his place in public estlnauon , de
community forgyes but does not ana MIL dS ago is
csnane some little speculation. They sailed from
Palermo several days after she 6aonS 10 the
9Te"t and most vicious classes of the island Already
humber of them have been arrested I0r catIyIe
deadly weapons But they are under vgIIaliC ; St
yciance and il is unlikely that they viii DO any serious
harm II is fully believed however, thaU lleS INo
some scheme Of vengeance in view dasy @ NI many
OF those known TO belong 10 the Mana anu Iee f ~
visible reason for their having come mere except I
ieter unless they have more Intelligence than they
seem to have, but the country may MAKE ICSem S
easy. New-Orlans will take care OF them hanulS
should II become necessary. . A., - bo
The Italian Consul now admits that the men VINO
were lynched had registered and voted In LOuaslna
but claims that they ignorant OF the slgnhcahGe
of their acts and did not intend TO reInqusil Iher
italian citizenship. That is all that the people here
claim Nobody doubted their ignorance still less their
vicious and murderOus proclivities The question y
whether they did or did not become american c!ti
under laws. And that question seems pretty