Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-07
THEGRAND JURY'S REPORT
The New Orleans Affair is
Once More the Topic
of Discussion
Heads of Departments at
Washington Refuse to Dis
cuss the Findings
Minister Porter Has Asked for
Leave of Absence
From His Post

WASHINGTON, May 6--The report the
New Orleans grand jury upon the killing
Of the Italians was fruitful theme for
discussion among people at the depart
ment of state today. 1t may be said the
findings OF the grand jury excited no sur
prise, for some such conclusion in the
case was expected. The attempt to palli-
ate infraction of the law by otTsetting
alleged attempts at jury fixing is depreci-
ated by the department, but there is
well defined opinion on the whole outcome
Of the case will be beneficial in its effects
upon the turbulent foreign elements In
the United States, inasmuch that it will
make clear to them the fact that
they cannot rely upon treaties to es-
cape responsibility to the great republic
for their unlawful acts.
The report of the grand jury will, il is
expected reach Secretary Blaine in the
course Of time and make quite a figure in
the official CORES pondence between the
United States and Italy. There is reason
to believe that I'm some details 10 differs
from the report made to the September of
justice by District Attorney Grant and
notably I'm the matter of the naturaliZa-
tiOn Of the victims. The grand iury's re-
port found that eight of them We're nat
uraliZed American citizens and that one
declared his intention to become natur-
allied.
District Attorney Grant believed he
| found that one OF the victims was Of
Italian nationality, but that he was an
escaped convict, and that anOthcr's
nationality was so undoubtful as to make
it unsafe to hazard an opinion. So that
/ f. 8 Al. IL
government will be narrowed down TO at
| least two persons.
Although the United States has no
| naturalization treaty with Italy, the last
| named nation invariably through com
mlttee recognized our naturaliZed citizens
as free from amendability to their native
| government. When the case OF these two
| victims is considered the questions imme-
| diately arose where treaty stipulatiOns
with Italy were broken. The question Is
| likely to figure in the correspondence be-
! tween the two governments soon. The
| Italian government is ready to fall reaS-
| onaby into the usual diplomatic method
of treating the subject respecting which
they took issue with another nation. I'M
| less IL appears clearly that the treaty has
been violated, the Italian case falls TO the
ground, and leading diplomatic minds OF
the state department maintain that this
fact cannot be made % appear. In Secre-
tary Blaine's absence there has been no
forward move In the correspondence.
1t is learned that Porter, our minister at
Rome had applied to the department Of
state for leave Of absence before the New
Orleans affair happened. He had been
constantly on duty since March, 1889,
more than two years. Moreover, the
sickly season is approaching in Rome, so
IL is entirely probable that his request
will be granted, as indeed would already
have been the case had not the trouble
reached such an acute phase.
Attorney. General Miller said he had
read the report Of the grand jury, but de-
clined absolutely to express any opinion
regarding it or to discuss il in any OF its
features.
Secretary Fostdr, when asked his opin.
yet had time TO read IL, and therefore was
not in a position to express an opinion.