Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-19
WHY THEY HATED HENNESsY.
The Late Chiefs Secretary Gives Some
Inside Facts Concerning the Maiia.

WHY THEY HATED HENNESSY.
The Late Chiefs Secretary Gives Some
Inside Facts Concerning the Malta.
NEW ORLEANS, March 19-The late
Chief Hennessy was probably the best
posted man in America with regard to
the Malta society. BESIDES his fearless
ness, an intimate acquaintance with
many Italians gave him opportunities to
learn much of the secret workings Of
the murderous league, Several arrests
he made were upon Italian information,
and if he had succeeded in inspiring
Italian witnesses with enough courage
to come to court he would have secured
several convictions The Malta knew
this. Hennessy himself said that several
Malta assassinations We're ba ea upon
the suspicion that the victims had given
him information, Esposito's capture be-
ing avenged in that way,
MIR George W. NandervoOt, Hennesl
sy private secretary and confidential
friend, has made statement of the his
tory of Hennessys connection with the
Italians which tells an interesting story.
Mr. Nandervoot begins with the Lsposito
case. A price was set upon the head OF
the famous bandit, and Hennessy joined
in the chase. Esposito was captured on
the street. Hennessy kept him con
cealed until the New York ship was
ready to leave, smuggled him on board,
and then walked off boldly into a crowd
of Italians, who were watching on the
wharf. Esposito was taken to New
York, and several Italians went on to
swear that they had known the man
here for twenty years and he could not,
therefure, be the bandit Among these
witnesses were John CarusO, spared by
the people last Saturday, and Rocco Ger
ricci, who was killed iii the attack on
the prison, besides several Italians still
prominent here The Identification Of
Esposito was complete, and he was taken
to italy. Tie Italians were bent on saw
ing the great bandit and Malta chief,
and offered $50 600 to the chief to swear
Esposito was not the man. The chief
refused, and was a marked man.
Hennessy did not confound the Malta
and the vendetta. The vendetta was
The Malta was organized for robbery,
blackmail and murder, as well as re-
yenge. He pursued the Malta. In his
opinion the heads of the local Malta
were Antonio Matranga, James Caruso,
Frank Romero and Rocco Gerricci. Hen
messy also thought Joseph Macheca a
member. Macheca was not the mans
real name. His father was sent to the
penitentiary with two others, it is said,
and wrote to his wife that he was vir-
tually dead, and she should marry again
if she got chance. She married Ma
checa and her son adopted Macheca's
name Some twenty years afterwMd
her husband got free in some way and
called on his wife The shock is sup
posed to have shattered his health and
reason and he was quietly removed a
few DAYS later. The stiletto or poison
did the work.
Motive for killing the Chief.
Hennessy regarded Macheca as Il bad
man He was once the captain of the
Innocents, Sicilian political body
charged with many dark crimes. Hen
messy traced up Machecas past, and
when there came break between them
the chief unwisely blurred out what he
knew, and threatened to land MachuCl
in states prison. That was one of the
motives for Hennessy's doom, Hen
messy traced out that the Malta met IN
the Italian quarter. Romero was master
alarms, hung around the courts, kept
track of green 'dagos, and picked ont
the man for each assassin. Gericci was
the bull-dozer of the society, and Hen
messy attributed two murders to that
blood thirsty Maiian.
Sentence Of death was passed lots
were drawn in the different branches of
the Malta throughout the city, and men
liH.vnrt oh
there being less danger Of Identification
or detection in that plan. The victim
was generally invited to a supper or a
game of cards and slain in the mousse Of
his friends Nitrano. witness for the
Provenzanos. was removed in that way,
his head Icing cleft with an ak, and the
body burnt. Another Italian was nur-
dered, the remains carried to a canal far
in the rear OF the city \md dropped
therein. In both cases Hennessy found
woman who saw the killing. but
neither would identify any of the p2rpe-
traitors But Henne sy was certainly
giving them c'ose calls.
The Provenzano-Ma feud was
the last. The chief was friendly to the
provenzanos, considering Them Amcri-
Cauized and evidently not in the Malta.
The heads of the opposing side were
rival stevedores, bad blood arose and
trouble was imminent. There were
several rows and personal alterations,
and the chief determined upon peace.
He sent for both sides, told them no
Malta would lie allowed while he was
chief. that he knew them, and that they
must live in peace OF go to prison,
where he would send them. Hennessy
made them shake hands and take n
drink, and they all left seemingly on
good terms. Macheca then told
Matranga he had made a mistake; that
the Provenzanos would break cir word.
and that the chief was helping the / ro-
venzanos. So the feud was kept up.
\ MLtraHg, Conspiracy.
One night the Matrangas were fired
upon. and two of the party lost legs ia
the attempted assassination. Before
morning Hennessy hal all the Proven
Zauo party in Jail, but the MatrangSs
said they did not know who did the
shooting. In the evening, however,
the Matrngas held caucus and de-
cidel to break the usual vendetta Gus
tom and to point out the Provenzanos
rs their assailants. The Matrangas
told q marvelously constructed and con
sistent story, and SO secured the convic-
tion of the ProvenZanos. The police,