Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-03-21
eleven MEN LYNCHED.
a Terrible Vengeance Executed at
New Orleans, La
Chief Hennessey's Death And the Iialians'
Acquitted Caused the Uprising-Re-
spectacle Citizens Took the Law
Into Their Own Hands.

A vengeance, frigh;ful enough to strike
| terror into the hearts of even the most reck-
less members Of the murderous Sclian Malta,
was consummated in New Orleans, when
eleven OF the nineteen Italians indicted for
completely in the assassination of David C.
Hennessey chief of police, on October Is last
were one By one either shot TO death or hang
ed by crowd of citizens aroused to desperate
indignation by the failure of jury to convict
| even one of the accused.
The scene around the Courthouse at the
termination of the trial WAS such as to Indi-
cate the probability Of tragedy like that of
| to-day. The large crowd denounced the
members of the jury as they left tor their
homes, and it seemed almost as if they might
be made the victims OF mob violence. The
evening papers were outspoken and emphatic
upon the result, and the States declared that
the jury had been bribed. Recent develop
1 ments, especially the sensational conduct of
Polietz one Of the accused, had convinced the
public generally that the prisoners were
| guilty.
With scarce a break the night long the
| popular excitement continued. The Com
mittee of Order, known as the Committee of
/
killing of Chief Hennessey, he'd a secret
meeting, and another conference OF the inti-
mate friends of Hennessey was held some
| where else.
1t is impossible to learn what was done at
these secret meetings, but the excitement was
so intense that lynch law was openly advo-
| Gated as the solution of the matter, on the
ground that repeated trials had proved that it
was impossible to convict Italians of muir
der
When day came the light fell upon an ap-
parently CAIN city, but it WAS not long before
the agitation that had shown itself at night
| reappeared and general movement of many
men towards the Clay statue began. By 10
A. NJ vast multitude was already congre-
gated on Canal ST., almost filling up the space
from curb to curb on each side of the bouev-
ard. Just on the stroke Of 10 o'clock shout
went up from the people stationed at st.
Charles ST.. and number of gentlemen among
| whom were Mr.W. s. Parkerson. Mr.. John c.
Wicklitfc and others who signed a call for
mass-meeting came marching along and be-
gan walking round and round the range of
Clay monument.
Fall in fall in !" was the the cry, and,
amidst the crowd, formed the procession
which went around the railing several times.
"Hurrah for Parkerson % "Hurrah for Wick.
life !" Get inside the railing and give US q
speech" These and other cries made up
confusion of noises, among which the angry
tone was significantly predominant. The
space inside the railing was occupied by
dense crowd.
Come down from those steps, was the re-
quest, "and let Mr.. Parkerson and Mr.. Wick.
life get there"
The crowd obeyed with alacrity and soon
the speakers held their positions of vantage.
A rush was made for the narrow gate, and in
q minute there stood packed mass of hui
manity around the statue of the immortal
| Clay.
Mr.. Parkerson spoke first. He said that
once before he appeared before the people in
| grand mass-meetug assembled to discuss
matters of Rital interest to the community,
and again he faced the people Of New Orleans
| to denounee the infamous act which was
consequ mt upon the most revolving crime in
the criminal annals of any community. That
act was the finding of the jury in the murder
trial, and that crime was, as everybody knows
the foul assassination of Chief Hennessey.
II desire neither fame nor name nor glory"
said Mr. Parkerson. 81 am plain American
citizen, and as good citizen am here"
After this speech the indignant crowd, about
20J0 stroag, started for the parish prison.
which they reached at 1880 o'clock. After
slight resistance the Jail was surrendered and
the citizens rushed in and killed eleven of the
men who had been indicted for the murder,
as follows:
Msnuel Poietz Pietro Monastro, Antonio
Scafedi, Joseph 2. Macheca, Antonio
Marchesi, Antonio Bagnetto, Frank Romero
jim Caruso, Rocco Gerachi, Charles Trahiue
ard ComiteZ
After the men had been put to death Mr..
Parkerson addressed the crown urging them
to return to their homes or respective places
of business without further demonstration.
The act OF the committee, though so bloody,
was accomplished without unnecessary dis
order, without riotng, without pillaging and
without the iuflicton OF suffering upon auy
| y
slightly hurt. IL was not an unruly, mid
night mob 1t was simply sullen, deter
mined body of citizens who took into their
own hands what justice had ignominiously
| failed to do.
On the very night that the chief of police
was slain the evidence began to accumulate,
showing that his death had been deliberately
planned by secret tribunal and carried out
boldly and successfully by the tools of the
eousl.r ators. The trial lasted twenty-five
days.
The crowd had swelled to 5000 or more, and
before any ones could realize what had
happened the great throng gaining recruits
at every step, was tramping down the streets
to the neighborhood of the prison stopping
only once, and that was at the arsenal. where
dough- -barreled shot-guns, Winchester rifles
and pistols were handed out to responsible
and respectable citizens in the party.
When the main crowd from Canal street
reached the prison. there had already col
lected there dense throng all eager to take
hand in whatever might happen. When the
vanguard of armed citizens arrived, the grim
old building was surrounded on all sides.
Sheriff Where when he heard that move
ment was on foot TO take the prisoners armed
his deputies and then started on a hunt Tor
Mayor Shakespeare
Capt. Davis refused the request to open the
prison and the crowd began the work Of
battering in the doors. Around on 0rlean,
-. a = II
had been closely barred in anticipation OF the
coming OF the ayengng mass. This the crowd
selected as their best chance of getting in.
Neighboring houses rapidly supplied axes
and batterlng rams, ana willing hands went
to work to force an opening. This did not
prove difficult task 10 the trembling but
determined throng
Soon there was a crash, the door gave way
and in an instant armed citizens were pour
ing through the small opening, W lille mighty
shout went up from 1900 throats in GLAD
acclaim. There was m re resistance for the
intruders, however, but it, too, was soon over
come with the hugh billet of wood which q
stout man carried. Then the turnkey wa.
oyerpowered and the keys taken from him.
By that time the excitement was intense
none the less so when q patrol wagon drove
up, with detachment Of policeman.w who were
driven away under FIRE Of mud and stones.
When the leaders inside the prison got pos
! session of the keys the inside gate was
promptly unlocked and the deputies in the
lobby rapidly gUs out of harms way. The
! avengers pressed into the yard OF the white
prisoners. The door Of the first cell was open
and groupe OF trembling prisoners stood in.
side. They were not tine men who were
wanted and the crowd very quickly, though
with remarkable GOODNESS burst into the yard
Peering through the bars of the eondemaed
cell was rror-strieken face which some one
mistook for Scafedi. A yOlley was fired al
the man and he dropped but none OF the
shots struck him, and it was subsequently,
found out that he was not one OF the sssas.
sins The inmates of the Jail were ready 10
direct the way TO where the Italians were.
Go 10 the female department" some one
yelled, and thither the men, with their Win
chesters, ran. But the door was locked. In
moment the key was produced. Then III.
leader called for some one who knew the righ
men and a volunteer responded and the dool
was thrown open. The gallery was deserted
but an cd woman, speaking as fast ss shs
could, said the men we're upstairs
A party of seven or eight quickly assembled
the staircase, and as they reached the landing
the assassns lied down at the other end. Hal
adezen followed them. Scarcely . word VA
spoken. It was the time for action. When
the pursued ami the pursaers reached the
stone courtyard the former darted towards the
Orleans SIDE of the gallery and crouched down
beside the cells. Their faces blanched. and
being unarmcd, they we're absolutely defense
less. In fear and trembling they screamed
for mercy but the avengers we're hlerciIess.
The following is given as a clear statement
Of the cause which led to the tragedy, ascer-
49,