The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-05-14
UNSUITABLE LYNCHING:
REPORT OFTHE NEW ORLEANS
GRAND JURY.

O'NIaliey and Five Others Indicted for
Corrupting the Jury-The Mob Leaders
Escape OMaIIey's Unsavory Record
He Was Prison Bird.
After six weeks investigation the New
Orleans Grand Jury completed its labors
in the Hcnnessy case and the killing of
Italians at the parish prison by present
ing their sp cal report.
The rcpo t first recalls tho murder Of
Chief Henncs>y and the trial of the ac
cused Italians. 1t says:
1t is not to be wondered that attention
should be dire, ted To the trial during the
many days of its rrrgre>s. in the selection
OF jurors, the evidence of witnesses. tho
arguments of counsel the charge OF the
Judge, ard finally concentrated on tho
twelve men who. by virtue of their solemn
oath, sat in awful Judgment on their fellow
men The verdict is now of official record,
bearing date March 49, 1891. We cam
not be mistaken in tue assertion
that the verdict was startling. amaz-
ing. n bitter disappointment. shocking
to public opinion, provoking the repeated
accusation that some of the jury had been
unfaithful to their office. We feel that we
do not transcend the limits of our duty at
the grand inquest to refer u the strong
presentation of the case made by tho
State through counsel ciated In the
prosecution-cicar. ntinuous. complete,
convincing in tie direct te >timony and
the material circumstances it appeared
more than sufficient to convince the most
unwilling listener with its truth and con-
vey the full measure of its power to those
who ventured doubt.
After review ng the evidence concern
ing the corrupting OF part of the jurors,
the report continues:
Taking into acc cunt the volume of testf-
mony admitted by the numerous witnesses
before this Grani Jury. and considering
that evidence not only in the abstract re-
lation to each party but in its aggregate
and collective bearing. we are force TO the
conclusion that hominirk O'Maley IS
charcoal Bile with Il knowledge of and parti-
patton in most. il not ali, of the unlawful
acts i'll connection with that celebrated
case. With his Skill, a acquired by years
of experience. the Iiio>t runningly devised
schemes were pianned and executed for de-
feating the legitimate course IF justice.
the chief ain. and object being 10 place un-
worthy men upon the jury in the trial OF
the nine accused. Without his aSSiduOus
and cnrrupting influence believe the
verdict would lave been faiically differ
ent, and as Il natural consequence the
tragic occurrences OF the l4th nf March last
never would have teen recorded.
Indictments Of O'Mal,ey and five others
follow, aud the report says:
The indictment OF ID e. D'Malley for per-
jury was based upon most undouhied evil
dence that he came originally from Cleve-
land O.. where Jan 80. is.5 he was con-
victed of petty larceny and rniniited to the
workhou>c of the city of Cleveland. where
he served Il term expiring lame - 1873. He
next appears under indictment for perjury
In the United States Circuit Court at New
Orleans. VIII rc al indictment was based
upon the affidavit against one Ed Scheider.
which pMailcy afterward r,ntradirtcd
under oath. but he managed 20 secure an
1tGlllttui, ewing To The timely
| anre of the affidavit. which he alone was
Interested In having suppressed. Later he
WIS committed to the par 81 prison for at
| tempting to levy bla"l,ruai! upon one George
| W. Randolph ia The proceedings against
Randolph for interdiriiun.
The following record is verified by Off
| Gals, showing his numerous ofcn>es before
the Criminal Court of this parish
Nc l",4s>. July ,, 1854. Indicted for
attempting to prevent witnesses from APP
| pearing and te>tifyns. Nole prosecuted.
2-No. 4,s;s>. May .. 1854. Indicted for
| threatening and intimidating witnesses.
| Acquitted May %. i>>4.
| 3-No. y. 2G2. June 3. 1879. Pleaded guilty
| to carrying concealed weapons and SEN
| fenced.
! mo. 3.6.o, Nov. }. l>>a. Convicted of
| assault and sentenced.
| 5No. go. April II, ISL. Pleaded guilty
| to carrying concealed weapon and SEN
| fenced.
6-No. a,s7s, Jan. ,. 1883 Pleaded guilty
| to carrying a concealed weapon and sem
| fenced.
| No 5ls6. Pleadel guilty 50 carrying
| a concealed weapon and sentenced.
| S-NO 1,2+2, Dec, /, 1ss5 Convicted Of
carrying concealed weapon and sentenced.
9No ..e4i. May 81 1855. Indicted for
| assault and battery.
| So pernicious to the administration of JUS
| tice were his doin-s and methods found that
| while Judge Roman presided in the Crimi-
| al Conn ha nr,1.lr hat a Nal 5nU ha
| cluded from the cour; -roOm. This was
| during the time his e-ent associate Lionel
| Adams WAS District Attorney. and it il a
| significant fac: that the two indictments
| againt O'Mailcy for tamp' ring with wit
| neSscS were not brought to trial but were
| nolle pressed by the District Attorney just
| prior TO the expiration of his term
| I hen comes an exhaustive account of
| the secret society known as the Malta, :"
| exposing its iniquities and detailing its
crimes 1t is charged that part, if not
| all, of the slain Italians were in this
country in violation of the immigration
| laws. Referring to the wholesale lynch
Ing the Grand Jury says:
The assassination of the late Chief OF Po-
lice shows 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 community as to certain
| class of violators of the law had reached
such a state that the law itself was well
| nigh powereSs to deal W tn them. SO far
| reaching was their power and influence in
| the trial OF criminal cases. Good citizens
were profoundly impressed hy the repeated
and signal failures of justice. The arts OF
| the lerjurer seemed To dominate in the
| courts, paralyzng and rendering powcrless
! the ends of justice. Certainly this WAS a
| desperate situation.
In the public meeting above referred to
| general and spontaneous in character rs
| truly indicating an uprising OF the masses
we doubt il any power ut the command OF
. the authorities would have been sufficient
| to overcome its intentions. Evidence Is
before us from Off ,ial sources that eleven
persons were killed in the attack on the
| parish prison. In the careful examination
| as to citizenship OF those men we find that
eight of them were beyond question Ameri-
| can citizens. and another had "declared his
| intention" in this court. which act carries
| with it the remuneration of Allegiance tn his
| native country.
1t is a noteworthy fact In connection with
the uprising that no injury whatever was
| done TO either person or property beyond
| the act which seemed to have been the OBJ
ject of the assemblage at the parish prison.
| We have referred to the large number OF
citizens participating in the demonstration,
estimated by judges at from 5000 to 5000,
and regarded as Il spontanc us uprising OF
the people. The magnitude of this affair
makes II a difficult task to fix the guilt up
on any number of the participants-in fact
the act seemed to involve the entire people
of the parish and city of New Orleans, SC
profuse their sympathy and extended
their connection with the affair.
In view of these considerations, the
thorough examination of the subject has
failed to disclose the necessary facts to
Justify this Grand Jury in presenting in
dictments Respectfully submitted.
George III. Nennard. :. X. Graham. W. l..
Saxon, Z. J. Christian. W. H. Chaffee, Fore
man; 0. Carriere q. A. Hoos TT. Jr.; Il. &.
La Faye. Emile F. Hairy, II. Halter. David
Stuart. f. Gauche. T. W. Castleman. John
Jacks III. A. 5. Ranlett. W. b. Leonard
| Josh Billings Philo sophy.
Excentricitys are mo alwus artyfisll-