The Globe-republican., 1891-05-13
sCA1HlNG REPORT.

OSA r1tN0 h6HOhj.
The New Orleans Grand Jury Virtually
Sustains the Recent Lynching-The Hen.
messy Jury Bribed by the Malta and the
Course of Justice Perverted.
New ORLEANS. May 6.-After sir
weeks, investigation The grand jury
completed its labor in the Hennessy
case and the killing of the Italians al
the parish prison by presenting vol.
luminous report virtually generating
the !ynchers on the ground that it was
clearly in evidence that the Hennessy
jury had been bribed Speaking of the
-Maf1a the report has this to say:
The extended range OF our researches has
developed the existence of the secret organ.
ization styled "Mafia-'' The evidence comes
from several sources, fully competent in
themselves 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. As il to guard against exposure, the
dagger or stiiettO is selected as the deadly
weapon to plunge into the breast or back Of
the victim and silently 90 its fearful work.
Revenge was their motto. Jealousy and
malice speedily found solace in these
methods, while the burning vengeance of the
vendetta sought satisfaction in the life blood
OF an enemy. The officers OF the Malta and
many of is members are now known.
Among them are men born in this city OF
italian origin using their power for the
Abasest PURPOSES be it said to their eternal
disgrace.
The larger number of the society is com.
posed of Italians and Sicilians, who left their
native land in most instances, under as
sumed names, to avoid conviction and pun
fshment for crimes there committed, and
= others were escaped cOnvicts and bandits,
outlawed in their own land, seeking the city
of New Orleans for the congenal compan-
ionship OF their own class. These men know
the swift retributiOn of the law in Italy, for
hundreds have been shot down al sight by
the military in the mountains of Sicily with
. out second thought To day there is record
= ed In the office of the Italian consul in this
city the names OF some LOO Italians and
SIcilians landed here during several years
past, showing the official record of their
criminality in Italy and Sicily. Hundreds OF
sthem arc among US to-day. We doubt not
ihe Italian government would rather be rid
Of them than be charged with their custody
and punishment.
Such is the we'll known character of part
of the Italian colony. as it is called, who are
-domicIled in this city and vicinity. 1t can
not be questioned that secret organic atoms
whose teachings are hostile to the funda-
mental principles OF the government of the
United states must be a continual menace to
the good ORDER OF society AM the material
welfare Of the people. Whether under the
name of Mufia, Socialist. Nationalist, or
whatever it may be, whether located in New
Orleans, Chicago or New York, the meetings
of their members create and disseminate Sc
dit!ous opinions with a manifest tendency
60 'ard overt acts whose commission par
takes OF ths rankeSt treason.
The necessity for restrictions in inn
migration from Italy especially is point
ed out as follows:
We have stated in our remarks about the
Malta that several hundred Italian criminals
are in this city who should not have left
their native land w.thOut the Endorsement
e. of the American consul as to character and
should not have been permitted to land
here. The time has passed when this cOun-
try can be made the dumping ground for the
worthless and depraved OF every nation.
The crisis is REACHED and on the magnitude
OF the issue il becomes the duty OF the next
congress to quickly enact such vigorous
4 laws that complete protection be afforded
,bcnceforth against these evils.
At the same time we shall plainly say
flom our own experience that a large part
of the Italian colony IN this city is recOg
nIzed as a worthless class. They do not in
duige freely in the use of beer or alcoholic
drinks Fairly Industrious, those who re-
main in the city soon save up few dollars
o. more Dy the StTlCtcSt tLdu Otucr-
wise, and soon are doing something for
their own benefit AS il by common consent
the fruit and oyster business has drifted
into the hands of the Italians, the volume
of which are in wholesale and retail lines
reaching immense proportions. What
moro could they wish? What more
could they ask2 No other coun.
try on this earth would extend to
any newcomers such privileges, and what do
we ask in return? Simply that they. like
Others Of foreign birth, should conform to
existing laws by which their persons and
property are protected; to assimilatc in
thought anu deed with our people in de.
nOuneing the wrong and unfolding the
right; TO rise above the fears and persua.
siOns of secret societies. helping to crush
their power; and above all else showing an
allegiance to the principles of the national
and state governments with no doubtful
fidelity, realizing that the one flag, as the
emblem of freedom. is not less the index OF
a nations power, the stars and stripes,
which must and shall be respected.
Concluding the report says:
The assassination OF the late chief of po-
lice showed the elimination OF a conspiracy.
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 at
fairs in this city toward a certain class of
= .OlatOrs OF the law naJ reacncQ Sucn stage
that the law itself was well nigh powerless
10 deaA with them, so far reaching was their
power and influence. in the trial of criminal
cases. Good citizens were profoundly
oppressed by the repeated and sig.
nal failures OF justice The arts of the per-
Jurer and briber seemed to dominate in the
courts, paralyZ ng and rendering powerless
the ends of Justice. Certainly this was
desperate situation.
In the public meeting above referred to-
general and spontaneous in character as
truly indicating an uprising of the masses
we doubt If any power at the command OF
the authorities would have been sufficient to
overcome its intensity. Evidence is before US
from official sources that eleven persons
were killed in the attack on the parish pris.
on. In the careful examination as to the cit.
il enship of those men We find that eight of
them were beyond question American citi.
gems, and another had declared his inten-
vdon' in this court, which act carries with
1t the remuneration of allegiance to his ma
five country.
1t Is q noteworthy fact in connection with
ahe uprising that no injury whatever was
done to either person or property beyond
sthe one act which seemed to have been the