Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-04-03
HEVEN ITALIANS LYNCHED.
Alleged AsSassins of Chief Hen
messy Killed in New Orleans.
Nine Men Shot Crouching in the
Prison and Two Hanged.

E1ary II It's MAKE uD, extraordinary IN It's de-
termination, few days ago in New Orleans,
Ea-, killed eleven of the nineteen Italians
charged with the murder Of Chief Of Police
Hennessy 1t was a mob led by lawyers and
merchants, men Of large wealth and high
standing It was so strong that the authOri-
ties made no show of resistance and sue
eumbed before it. Indeed the officers Of the
Eaw threw up their hats and cheered the
mob in its work
These are the names OF those shot or
hanged: Joseph Macheca, Antonio Mar
<,hesi, Antonio Scaffetii, Rocco Geracc,
James Carnso Saretto Comitez, Pietro Mon
asteTo. Louis Trahina, Frank Romero, Man
sglel POiiZZi, Antonio BagnettO.
When on the day before the jury brought
IN verdict Of not guilty against six Of the
Italians on trial and disagreed as TO the other
three, howl Of INDICATION was heard The
press unanimously denounced the verdict,
and declared that the jury had been bought.
The Grand Jury had already found indict-
kampering with the jury, and other
indictments were expected. The jurors
did not understand the public SEN
&1nent, and were surprised at the public in
s6gnation. Mr. Seligman, the foreman, OK
planned that the jury had found its verdict
because il did not believe the State witnesses,
but his explanation was hailed with derision.
The Jury stood twelve for the acqufttal Of
Macheca, Encarcada, Matrazo the two
Marchesis, and Bagnetto, and nine to three
for the conviction Of the others
Nine Of the jurors regarded with suspicion
the three dissenting jurors, and one of them
expressed the opinion that these jurors were
bought, for throughout the trial they ex-
pressed their intention to bring verdict of
not guilty, The excitement over the verdict
reached fever heat by night, and three Or
four secret meetings were held to consider
the situation.
The trial of the case had cost the city
$50, OCO and lasted for over a month, and yet
none Of the prisoners had been convicted.
Soon after the assassination Of Chief Hen
messy a law and order committee was ap-
pointed by Mayor Shakespeare to take charge
of this case and to investigate the murder, and
S15 900 was appropriated for that purpose by
The City Council. Tho committee showed a
at first to resolve itself into
vigilance committee. but better counsel pre-
vailed, largely through the influence OF the
newspapers, and the committee agreed to let
the law take its course but with an under
standing that in case the law failed they
would resort to lynching.
The committee met after the verdict. A
call was drawn up by +. II. Farrar, law
yer ard President OF the Committee of Law
and Order. 1t was short and read as follows:
+sAll good citizens are invited to attend q
mass meeting at 10 o'clock a. M, at the Clay
statue, to take steps TO remedy the failure of
Justice in the Hennessy case Come prepared
Tor action"
This call was signed by forty men Of high
i'll the community, including law
NgnIrs was E. T. Liche, Commissioner Of
Public " orl1s of the city.
The meeting at the Clay statue on Canal
street was held promptly at ten. just
as the stroke of that hOnr was heard
q shout went up from the people sta
toned at st. Charles street, and num-
Der of men, among whom were w.
s. Parkerson, John O. Wickliffe and others
who signed the call, came marching along
and began walking around and round the
railing of the monument. There were fully
5000 people within earShot, and more could
be seen struggling, pushing and running
toward the spot.
Fall in, fall inw was the cry, and, with
sl1ollts, the procession, which went around
the railing several times, was swollen.
''Hurrah for Parkersonw
<'Hurrah for Wickitfe2"
Get inside the railing and give US a
speechr'
Those and other cries made up the con-
fusion OF noise. The space inside the railing
Was occupied by the dense crowd.
Come down from those steps" was the
order, land let Mr.. Parkerson and Mr..
Wickiffe get there"
The crowd obeyed, and soon the speaker
had the place. A rush was made for the mar
row gate, and in a minute there stood
packed mass under the statue of Clay. Mr..
Patterson was the first speaker. He is a
IL ier, the organizer OF the Young Mems
l. Ocratic movement an independent Or
ganization, which at the late election defeat
ed the regular Democratic party and elected
the entire present city government.
Mr.. Parkerson mounted the pedestal Of the
monument and spoke at some length. He
azraigned the jury which had acquitted the
accused, arraigned Private Detective D. c.
OMalIy, who had assisted in the defense and
denounced him as a periurer, suborner and
a briber of juries. He was repeatedly inter-
Eupted by cries Of
Lets hang the murderers" Let's hang
O'Mally!"
Walter Denegre, a wealthy real estate
man, followed in similar strain, and was
succeeded in turn by John c. Wickiiffe. edi-
tor OF the States. These three speakers are
all lawyers By this time the crowd had
become thoroughly excited.
Lets hang themw Hang them?' and
similar expressions were heard on all sides.
The speeches had not lasted more than fif-
teen minutes The crowd by this time num-
bored about 5000.
The signal to march was then given, and
away the crowd went down Royal street.
The Slaughter at the Prison.
The mob seemed determined on quiet work.
IAC the WOru command started To-
ws.rd the parish prison at dog trot. 1t was
then seen that there were three carts in the
mob in which were a number of ladders to
storm the prison if necessary. There were
also ropes with which to lynch the prisoners.
Some 200 men armed with rifles made their
appearance as men who proposed to take the
PRISON at any cost.
". s. Parkerson was the Commander J.
D. Houston, ex-Criminal Sheriff and the
manager of the Democratic party OF the
State for years, was First Lieutenant, and
j c. Nicklife, formerly District Attorney
and editor of me States Second Tiautaoant