The Critic and record., 1891-05-06

yer is unheard OF before iii the civilized
world, and when we contemplate its pos
sibilities for evil we stand aghast
'Thc inside view which we are en-
abled to get of the workings of this agency
through City Detective Collins, abund-
antly corroboratcd from many sources,
ConvnCes us that it had at its command
band of periurers, blackmailers, SUI
borners and jury-tamperers, and that has
for some time been an element of discord
in this community. The evidence is be-
yond question that O'Malley went up
town in the Carondelet-street car on Sat.
urday, March / last in company with
party, reaching Fourth street shortly be-
fore ] a. IN. The party was sent twice to
Seligman's house, after which OMalley
in person went to the house, and within
few minutes Scigman was running up
Carondelet street and entered a carriage
in waiting near the corner of ST. Charles
and Washington avenue. OMalley was
next seen walking rapidly up st. Charles
avenue.
"The extended range of our researches
has developed the
EXISTENCE or A SECRET ORGANIZATION
styled Malta The evidence comes from
several sources fully competent in them
selves to attest its truth, while the fact is
supported by the long record Of blood
curdling crimes, it being almost impossible
to discover the perpetrators or secure wit
nesses.
I'VE are so deeply impressed with the
facts of the case, as partially summarized
in the foregoing, that the moral convic-
tion is forced upon us that some of the
jurors empanneled to try the accused on
the charge of assassination of the late
chief OF police were subject TO a money
influence to control their decision. Fur
ther than this, we may say it appears GER
tain that at least three, if not more, of the
jury were so unduly and unlawfully con-
trolled. Some of the jurors themselves
have testified in moro emphatic terms
that if it had not been for the persistent
and well-directed efforts of three of the
jurymen most conspicuous from the time
that body was empanneled that the ver-
dict would have been materially different
from that rendered. We have engaged
ourselves most assiduously with the ex-
animation of large number of witnesses,
embracing those who were present at the
meeting on Canal street, in the vicinity of
the parish prison, as well as several hun
dred of our fellow citizens taken from
every rank and class of society.
1T is shown in the evidence that the
gathering on Saturday morning March
H. embraced several thousand Of the first,
best, and even
THE MOST LAw-ABIDING OF THE CITIZENS
of this city assembled, as is the right of
American citizens, to discuss in public
meeting questions of grave import.
I'VE find general sentiment among
the witnesses, and also in our intercourse
with the people, that the verdict, as rem
dered by the jury, was contrary to the
law, the evidence, and secured mainly
through the designing and INSCRIPTIONS
agents employed for the special purpose
of defeating the ends of justice. At that
meeting the determination was shown
that the people could not submit to the
surrender of their rights into the hands Of
midnight assassins and their powerful
allies. The assassination of the late chief
| OF police shows the elimination of q con-
| spiracy. His death was deemed necessary
! to prevent the exposure and punishment
| OF criminals whose guilt was being fast
| established by his diligent pursuit. The
| condition of affairs in this community as
| to certain class of violators of the law
| had reached such stage that the law
| itself was well-nigh powerless to deal with
| them; so far-reaching was their power and
| influence in the trial of criminal cases
| that good citizens were profoundly inn
| pressed by the repeated and signal failure
| of justice. The arts of the perjurer and
| briber seemed to dominate in the courts,
| paralyzing and rendering powerless the
ends of justice. Certainly this
WAS \ DESPERATE SITUATION.
In the public meeting above referred
| to, general and spontaneous in its char
| acter, as truly indicating an uprising of
| the masses, we doubt if any power at the
| command of the officers would have been
| sufficient to overcome its intentions.
! Evidence is before us from official sources
that all persons were killed in the attack
on the parish prison.
In the careful examination as to citi.
| 2enship of those men, we find that eight
| of them were beyond question American
citizens, and another had declared his in
tention in this court, which act carries
| with ii the remuneration of allegiance to
| his native country. II is noteworthy
fact in connection with the uprising that
| no injury whatever was done to either
person or property beyond this one act,
which seemed to be the object Of the as
semblage at parish prison.
1--WE have referred to the large number
of citizens participating in this demonstra-
ton, estimated by judges at from 5000 to
| 5000, regarded as spontaneous uprising
of the people. The magnitude of this
affair makes it difficult task to fix guilt
upon any number of the participants. In
fact, the act seemed to involve the entire
people of the parish and the city of New
| Orleans, so profuse is their sympathy and
extended their connection with the affair
In view of these considerations the
thorough examination of the subject ha.
failed TO disclose the necessary facts tc
Justify this grand jury in presenting in
dictments.
Respectfully submitted.
w II. Chaffee, Foreman; George II
Vennard, d. II. Graham, 0. Carriere, Davi(
Stuart, G. A. Hogsette, jr., T. w. Castle
man, Il. Gauche, w. j.. Saxon, G. c
Lafaye, A. S. Ranlett, John A. Jackson
ii. Haller, and Paul j. Christian.