Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-01

THE MURDER OF THE NEW ORLEANS CHIEF OF
POLICE BIZ THE MAFIA-TRIAL AND AcQUrrrAI
OF THE AssAssNs-THEIR LYScHNa-pKnANp
OF ITALY AND THE RESULT.
The recall Of the italian minister from this
country by his government and the conse-
quent straining Of the diplomatic relations OF
the two nations have their origin. as is well
known, from the operations in this country
Of the organization supposed to exist under
the name Of the Malta Whether or not there
is such . body in this country has been doubted.
but the fact remains that the 18th of
last October David G. Hennessey, the chief of
police Of New Orleans, who had been very in
strumental in wedding out a number OF Italian
criminals from the slums of that city. was as
sassinated under circumstances leaving little
doubt that his death had been planned by a
band of Italian citizens OF New Orleans The
popular excitement ran high, and when several
Italians were arrested and charged with the
crime threats Of lynehing we're heard on all
sides The law, however, was allowed to take
its first courses, and after three months OF
preparation and planning on the part OF both
sides the trial came off. jury Of American
citizens was secured, and the trial. lasting three
weeks, took place. There were nine prisoners
under accusation of conspiracy to kill and the
evidence against majority of them was very
strong that there had been a certain amount Of
u11cTotauulDk hluOIk buoui hudt 1cuucoscy Wde
10 be put out the way.
TIE ACQUITTAL AND LYScHING.
The verdict was a shock to the entire COM
munity, being verdict of acquittal for three
of the men who were undoubtedly connec ted
with the death Of the chief, acquittal of three
whose guilt had not been established and mis-
trial for the three others Immediately upon
the announcement of the verdict the cry of
bribery arose and gained such force that
fher6 wa nothing that COuld The
Jurors were regarded by the populace as
being quite bad the Italians and at
once the threats of mob violence were heard.
On the l4ih of March. few days after the de-
livery of the verdict, a mob gathered at one of
the squares of the city, 5000 1000 strong.
including some of the best-knOwn citizens of
New Orleans, and after several speeches
had been made by men of stand
ing in the community. urging the
mob TO be quiet with what they insisted upon
doing, rush was made for the parish prison,
where there was a slight resistance on the part
Of the officials and guards before the mob
burst through the doors and into the cells
When all was over eleven Italians had been
lynched. including all that had been on trial.
The mob then quietly dispersed, and after that
the most peaceful quiet prevailed in the city.
BARON FAvA's DEMAND
Almost Immediately after these tragic events
had occurred the Italian consul at New Orleans
telegrapheo an account of the affair to the
Italian minister in this city, Baron Fava, who
went at once to the Secretary of State and laid
the matter before him, asking for full inves-
tlgatiOn into the case. The question that he
wished to have definitely settled was whether
or not the men lynched were citizens of this
country or Italy, and, in case II should be as
certained that they were Italian subjects, he
demanded reparation from this government
and indemnity for their deaths.
THE SECRETARY OF STATES DISPATCHES
a.,
President. with whom he consulted and the re-
suit was a telegram to the governor of the
state of Louisiana as follows:
IL has been represented to the President by
the minister of Italy accredited to this govern
ment that among the victims of the depIorable
massacre which took place in the city OF New
Orleans yesterday were three or more subjects
of the hing of Italy. Our treaty with that
friendly government (which under the Consti-
tuition Is the supreme law of the land) guar
sntees TO the Italian subjects domiclled in the
United States the most constant protection and
security for their persons and property. making
them aInenable on the same basis as our own
citizens 70 the laws of the United States and of
he several states in their due and orderly ad-
HinlstratiOn.
The President deeply regrets that the citizens
ofNew Orleans should have so disparGged the
purity and adequacy of their own Judicial. tri-
bunal5 10 transfer to the passionate iudg-
ment of mob a question that should have
Dctn Allut-tu ulsbd-slOnaLtlN anu DIV EcEtlGu
rules CT law. The government of the United
States must give to the subjects of friendly
powers that security which it demands for cur
own citizens when temporarily under foreign
jurisdiction.
1t is the hope of the President that you will
Cooperate with him in maintaining The oblii,a-
tlOns of the United States toward the Italian
subjects who may De within the perils OF the
present excitement. that further biOodshed and
violence may be prevented and that all of p
ers against the law may be promptly brOG 1t
to justice
GOV. NICHOLS RESPONSE.
The governor took his time about replyire
He first sent a telegram acknowledging the re-
ceipt Of the Secretary's dispatch and eight DAYS
later his letter was received. 1t was but a bare
statement of facts. which threw no new light
upon the subject whatever. 1t was a follows:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, STATE OF LOUISIANA,
Baron ROUGE, March 81, 1891.
HON. JAS G. BLAINE, Secretary of State,
Washington, ID. C.
ceived dispatch from you. having reference
to the fOrcible breaking on the 18th of this
month Of the jail in this city and the killing of
eleven persons confined therein under indict-
ments found in the criminal district court for
the parish of New Orleans.
You stated to me that il had been represented
to the Presiden. by the minister of Italy ac-
credited to the government of the United
States that among the killed that occasion
were three or four subjects of the King of Italy
The telegram discloses an apprehension ON the
part Of the minister. evidently shared in by the
President, that the disturbance was a con-
tinuous and swelling disturbance which might
involve the Italian subjects in New Orleans.
have reason to believe that the hope ex-
pressed by the President that would cooper
ate with him in maintaining the obligations of
the United States toward Italian subjects who
might be within the perils of the excitement,