Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1891-05-08
JUSTIFIED EYNCHERS.
NO INDICTMENTS AGAINST THE
NEW ORLEANS MOB,

Ine Or0n0 Jury'S REPORT
The substance of the report presented
by the jury to Judge Mari is contained
in the following:
When this grand jury entered upon
it's term Of service there was pending in
section B Z this tribunal, the trial Of
nine men indicted for participation in
the assassination of the late Superin-
tendent of Police D. G. Hennessy on the
night of Oct. Is, 1890. The enormity of
that crime, executed at the midnight
hour, created unusual interest through
out the whole country, while in our own
city, vitally concerned in the admins
tration of justice as deeply affecting her
social, political and material welfare.
the sentiment of the populace had
crystalized into the concrete form of ex-
preston, that justice be rendered
through the recognized channel of Grim
inal jurisprudence, that the perpetrators,
whoever they were, be tried by an i'm
partial jury of American citizens and
meet with a righteous conviction.
The verdict is now officially recorded
bearing date March 13, 1891. We can
not be mistaken in the assertion that
the verdict was startling, amazing,
A Bitter Disappointment,
shocking to public. opinion, provoking
the repeated accusation that some of the
jury had been unfaithful to their high
Office. We feel that we do not transcend
the limit of our duty as the grand in
quest to refer to the strong presentation
of the case as made by the state through
counsel associated in the prosecution,
clear, continuous, complete, convincing,
in the direct testimony and the material
circumstances. It appeared more than
sufficient to convince the most unwilling
listener with its truth and convey the
full measure Of its power to those who
ventured doubt. As the trial neared
its termination, it was not possible for an
observer to fail to realize the comments
made ON every side touching the action
Of some members of the jury when the
case should be submitted. Charges and
speculations abounded, coupled with the
well known connection of certain parties
of unenviable notoriety, shown by their
presence daily in the court room and
arousing> the suspicion that the most
Subtle. Dangerous and Powerful
Influences known to the practice of
criminal law, were being exercised in
behalf Of the defense. These considers
tions have led US to investigate the sub
ject embracing all its attendant con.
ditions and incidents.
The inquiry has been conducted with
the utmost diligence, devoid of fear or
partiality, with the single purpose of
fastening the guilt upon the proper per-
sons and presenting them under indict-
ment of this tribunal. Each one of the
twelve jurors of the trial was summoned
and asked to make statement. None
objected, but all rather welcomed the
1t was notable feature
of this sworn statement that they pri-
marily sought to justify their verdict by
the line Of evidence presented
by the state and attaching much weight
to the arguments of counsel, for the de-
Tense. It was freely admitted by the
Jurors that their remarks had been made
in the jury room as early as the first day
when testimony was offered, and re-
peated number Of times afterwards.
that the
State Was Making Poor Case,
and this was positively repeated at the
close of the states evidence. One quar-
rel at least was reported arising from
accusation by one juror to another with
the expression: "You talk like you
were fixed before you came here.
It was clearly indicated that the neces-
sity for secrecy was urged as the several
jurors were selected and Joined the CON-
pany of their fellows. It was impressed
upon them at various times and finally,
before the verdict was rendered, brought
forward again with the injunction to
destroy every vestige of evidence they
had, and leave every thought and act
behind. Surely the urgency of this was
most cunningly devised
To Conceal the Peculiar Events
that transpired in the jury room. We
are led to conclude that the Jury under
took to try the case by their own esti-
mate of the value of statements made by
parties not called as witnesses; with
strange unanimity they dwelt upon
what they knew by reading and hearsay
of certain incidents of the assassination
prior to the trial and made those the
basis Of the powerful persuasion for
giving the accused the benefit of the
doubt and concluding the deliberations
In their favor. It was not expected to
obtain any evidence of undue influence
from members Of the jury, for those
who were uncorrupted had nothing to
reveal, while the others would but make
themselves particeps criminis; yet in
their numerous statements much was
obtained having a direct connection
with and supported by the great volume
Of testimony elected during the course
Of the inquiry.
Scores the O'Malley Agency.
The report goes on in detail to tell of
attempts to bride talesmen and says that
the list Of talesmen is proven to have
been in the hands of Detective O'Malley,
whose connection with the matter is SO
notorious, at least twenty-four hours be-
fore the list was turned over to the dis
trict attorney The grand jury had
great difficulty in finding any talesmen
who remembered anything, but suf-
fcient evidence was given by outside
parties to warrant the Indictment of six
men, including OMalley, for attempted
bribery. The jury's scoring of the de-
tective agency Of O'Malley is emphatic
in the extreme, the evidence convincing
them that it had at its command per-
lurers, blackmailers, suborners and
Jury tamperers.
Of the men killed at the prison the
jury finds eight were American citizens
md one had declared his intentions."
The meeting 1T the Parish prison, the
report says, was spontaneous In its char
acter, and it is Eoubtful if any force
which the authorities could command
would have been sufficient to in the
least control its intentions. There were
from 5000 to 5000 participants and
%a,s - 14,o,1t1 1>a
exceedingly difficult to fix guilt upon
any number of the participants. In
view of these facts the jury failed to
see anything to justify the presentment
Of any indictment.
CORRECTS An ERROR.
Blaine Notices . Portion Of Rudinl's
Communication to Imperiali.
WASHINGTON, May s. - Secretary
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