Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-21
nenNEssY's DEATH.
The Confession of IN italian Who was
Lynchsd-How the Plot Of the Mana
Was Executed.


Was Executed.
The Grand jury in New Orleans IN us
forthcoming report upon the Hehhessy
murder, the subsequent miscarriage Oh
Justice. and the wreaking OF popular ven en-
geance upon the Italian suspects IN .ne
Parish prison, will for the first time. prooasr
bly,, give 10 the public the confession VI
Manuel PolitZ.
Politz was one the most interesting
9 udies in the case. OF medium helghI'
slender, but wonderfully strong, s wartny,
with ferocity, passion, and dread marklns
strong lines IN his face, he was calm suu
stormy cool and nervous, reasohaoIe
and raging in such quick and mex
plcable succession that the city Won
dered what manner OF man ne was i
Sometimes he seemed TO llnger on tne
very border of insanity, but. however thht
NAV be. he was quicker than any OF tue
Others 10 see the rising tide of popular 10,
dignation and feeling. aud that its demand
Of blood for blood would prove lrresis,-
bic. Early in the case he evidently maui
up his mind - turn traitor TO his COM
rades and earn some clemency by betray-
inc them. He held Gloof from
them in prison and In court,
brooded much in solitude, ana Soon !
after the trial began clamored WHY
for the privilege Of unbosoming hlmse,,II !, OF
the secret which weighed upon him. Inc
statement he made never reached the Jury
The State held that, while Politz lncrlihl-
mated others he protested his own innO-
cence, aud besides there were contTad,c-
tions in his confession which wOulu ue-
stroy its value. There was strong evidence
against Politz, and il was decided TO hoiu
him prisoner.
ANOTHER TERROR.
Notwithstanding his seeming lack OF rea;
son the SIcllian understood this wei, ana
another terror grew upon HIM, lear
greater than that Of the law IL was the
dread of the strong and hidden murderous
arm OF the Malta. He knew its methods
and its power well, and when the bronze
and crimson-checked little courtry-woInan
whom he called his wife by night OF posses
SION came to him and denounced DIM
for having betrayed his countrymen he
would no longer eat the food she
brought. He drew further away from his
feilow-suspects and did not even feel safe
under the prison roof with them. Inc
dread which haunted him doubtless preyed
upoD his mind until his condition was
close upon insanity. The swift punish
ment meted out to him by an Indignant
populace must have appeared TO hin as
relief and he could hardly nave regretted
that the fever called living was over Ut
last.n
Politz's confession was made to the Dis
trict Attorney. About the same story was
told TO his attorney. and portions OF u
we're told at various times 20 those VINO
came IN contact with him. Said he
81 had Joined certain society or my
countrymen, the president of which was
Charles Matranga. This society, / suppose,
was formed for the benefit of my country
men. Macheca, Matranga, and others
were prominent members. On Saturday
night was at meeting of the society Mt
which Matranpa, Macheca, and others
were present. 1t was there stated that the
purpose of the meeting wac to decide VINO
were 10 "don Chief Hennessy. The
names of the members were placed IN
box bv numbers and ten were drawn there
from. These ten men were notified to
meet and arrange the manner and means
of carrying out the work allotted TO them:
The men met in q room over place owned
by Duifee. The money was then dlstrl-
buted among six men, each one receiving
about $500.
u was asked TO carry 0 sack of guns
from the meeting-room 20 the house of the
shoemaker, Nonasterio. on Girod near Ba-
sin street. | refused to do so, not knowing
at the time why the guns were TO be taken
there. Matranga was there and SAID ne
would carry the sack. Two other meet
ings were held near the Poydras market.
am not sure whether the money was dis
tributed at these meetings or at Duitee's.
The plan agreed upon was that on the
night of October 18th every one was TO
meet at MonasteriOs place. Marchesi's
bow was instructed TO be on the lookout
and watch the approach Of Chief Hennessy.
He was to wait on Rampant street. and
when he made sure that the Chief was
coming he was TO pass Hennessy and run
rapidly out Girod street. and when oppo-
site Monasterios he was to give the pecu-
liar Italian whistle.
when the whistle was given by the boy
on the night of the 18th of October, Mo-
nasterio opened the door and said to the
others: The Chief the Chief!' The rest
then stepped out through the side door OF
Monasterio's shanty, and through the largo
gate into the street, Immediately opening
fire upon the man upon the opposite side
of the street, who was quietly walking
along Scatfedi, Marches, BagnettO, and
Monasterio killed the Chief. | was not
there and did not know anything about
the killing until the following Sunday
morning. heard of HennessV's shooting
for the first time that Sunday morning,
when my landlord, John, was reading the
paper"
In answer TO question how he could
know any Of these things if he was not
present. he replied that MouastenO told
HIM all about it. " | took no part in the
shooting" he SAID. " and did not know
that there was any intention on the part of
anybody to kill Mr.. Hennessy. On Sunday
morning arose and did not 60 to any
place in particular, remaining around the
house all day. | could not work because
had a sore arm. | am innocent and my
conscience is as white as the wall"
THEY LAUGHED AT 1T.
About the time of Mr. Theard's appoint
ment as counsel the great change In Politz
had commenced. hnd he Mas snsplciOus of