Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-03-26
FURY OF A MOB.
Eleven Of the Hennessy Assassins
Lynched at New Orleans.

The Jury Acquits Them, But an Outraged
Community Takes Summary Measures
Tho Crescent City Greatly
Excited.
New ORLEANS, March 14.-Public in
dignatiOn ran mountain high in this city
yesterday afternoon and last night,
when news of the virtual acquittal of
the Malta cutthrcats, charged with the
murder of Chief of Police Hennessy
spread from the court room. Loud and
open threats of summary vengeance
were heard on all sides, but it was not
until one hundred of the leading citi-
zens attached their names to a call for
a mass meeting that the public felt that
the administration of justice might
come from the enraged people. Anger,
already hot, was heated to the white
pitch by the sight of bunting streaming
in the wind from the masts of all the
small Italian craft in the harbor, each
emblem seeming to wave defiance tc
law and decency.
1t became known last night-or was
tacitly understood-that those who at
tended the meeting called by the 100
citizens for this morning at the Clay
statue should come prepared to do that
which the law had failed. This feeling
was heightened in intensity by Chief
Hennessy's countrymen who did all in
their power to stir the people to the
point of desperate action. A feverish
excitement prevailed all night and
wherever men congregated were to be
found those who advocated resort to the
plan by which justice gained foothold
in Cincinnati sevenyears ago this month.
Determined men waited eagerly for the
coming of the hour of meeting. Few
declarations Of intent were heard; the
common purpose was too we'll under
stood.
Early this morning thousands of
reputable men, unused to scenes of
bloodshed, swarmed about the appoint
ed place of meeting. AS the minutes
passed the crowd grew. Computation
as to the size of the throng was i'm
possible. While decency and good or
der prevailed, the hum of voices
drowned whatever of formality there
may have been in the proceedings and
soon after the hour for the meeting the
crowd, yelling with excitement, started
for the parish prison.
What happened there is quickly told.
The murderers of Chief Hennessy were
disposed of. They are: Manuel Po-
lietz, Pietro Mastero, Antonio Scaffedi,
Joseph P. Macheca, Antonio Marchesi,
Antonio Magnetic, Frank Romero. Jim
Cruso, Rocco Gerachi, Charles Trahine,
- Comietz-
The three other prisoners on trial
Matranga and the Marchesi boy-were
not molested.
Ten o'clock had not yet struck and a
vast multitude was already congregated
on Canal street, almost filling up the
large space from curb to curb on each
side of the boulevard. just at the
stroke of 10 o'clock a shout went up
from the people stationed at st. Charles
street and a number of gentlemen,
among whom were Mr.. w. S. Parker
son, Mr.. j. c. Wickliffe and others who
signed the call came marching along
and began walking round and round
the railing of the Clay monument.
There were fully 5000 people within
ear-shot and more could be seen strug-
Cling, pushing and running here and
there on neutral ground. Street cars
were unable to pass through. Car.
| riages, carts, wagons, cabs and vehicles
of all descriptions were halted. Mr..
Patterson spoke first.
| He said that once before he had ap
| peared before the people, in grand mass
| meeting assembled to discuss matters
vital to the interest of the community
And again he faces the people of New
Orleans to denouuce the most infa
nous act which was consequent
upon the most revolving crime in the
criminal annals of any community
That act was the finding of the jury il
the murder trial yesterday, and thai
crime was, as everybody knows, tht
foul assassination Of the chief Of police
81 desire neither fame, nor name, no.
| glory" said Mr.. Parkinson. 81 am
plain American citizen, and as such ant
as good citizen, am here"
After the speeches the indignant citi
Zens, about 1000 in number, started fol
the parish prison, which they reached
at 1880 o'clock. After slight resistanc,
the Jail was surrendered. The citizens
rushed in and killed eleven of the nine
teen men who had been indicted TO
the assassination of Chief of Police Hen
messy.
After the assassins had been put tt
death, Mr.. Parkerson addressed tn
crowd, urging them to return to thei
homes or respective places of business
without further demonstration. 10 Mac
heca had pistol and shot Sergean
Heron in the neck inficting Sigh
| wound.
Polietz is hanging to a lamp post a
IRENE and ST. Ann streets; Bagnetto t,
tree in front of the prison. The other
| were shot in their cells.
When the citizens committee had com
pleted its work at the parish prison the,
disbanded quietly.
The large crowd in front of the cour
building hooted at the jury as it left tn
courthouse, and the jurors seemed yer,
much frightened by the popular mani
festations against them. The excite
ment grew stronger all day, as mucl
against the jury as against the prisoners
Sorrowful yvhitecaps.
LOUISVILLE, Ky, March 15.-Williar
T. Cundiff, of Texas, obtained judg
ment in the federal court here for So
! 900 damages Three wears ago he live