The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-05-09
THAT NEW ORLEANS AFFAIR
The Grand Jury Makes IL Lengthy,
Exhaustive and Interesting
Report.
SIX LONG WEEKS OF INVESTIGATION.
1t Finds the Testimony Against Hen
ncssy's Murderers Clear. Direct
and Convincing.
But Fails to Discover Facts to Justify
Indictments Against the
italians Lynchers.
The Grand Jury's Report.

NEW ORLEANS May >. After sly
weeks investigation the grand jury com
pletcd its labOrs on the HcnnesSy cast
and the killing of the Italians at the
parish prison by presenting Il long spe
cial report at i:aU o'clock this afternoon
1t first reviews the Hcnnessy murder
trial and says of the verdict that it was
~ startling. amazing. bitter disappoint.
mcnt. shocking to- public opinion. pro.
v0king the repeated accusation that
some of the jury had been unfaithful tc
their office. We feel that we DO not
transcend the limits of our duty as a
grand inquest to refer to tn" strong pres
cntation of the casc as made by the state
through counsel associated in the prose
CutiOn. IT was clear. complete. con
vincing in direct testimony and material
circumstances. 1t appeared than
sufficient to convince the most unwilling
listener with its truth and convey the
full measure of its power To those who
entertained doubt
1t then speaks of the rumors of i'm
proper influences at work as demanding
investigation. which all the jurors wei
coined. 1t says: Careful observers ties
tify with special reference" to the
marked inattrntiOn Of thc Jury
as Witnesses submitted their evidence.
Its conduct most uuhccOming and
iraugl!t with thr gravyst Consequences
when ~" ~mUmcutuus import Of the issue
Is considered. We are Icd To- conclude
| that the jury undertook Ia try the ease
when il was submitted. by their own
"stImatc of the value Of the statements
mad" by parties not called as Witnesses.
with strange unanimitl tIcy dwrIl upon
what they knew 10y reading and h|uarsay
Of certain incidents OF the assassination
PRIOR To the triad and made those the
basis OF powerful pursuasIon Tor giving
II" accused the benefit of the doubt amt
concluding its deliberations in their
favor.
We must take occasion to say that it
was not expected TO obtain n evidence
Of undue influence from members Of the
jury, for those who were uncOrruptcd
had nothing to reveal while others would
not make themselves particcps criminis.
yet IN Their numerous statements much
was obtained having direct connection
with. and supported by the great volume
OF testimony elected during the course
OF this inquiry. 1t is clearly brought
out by the evidence of Jurors that
as affecting three Of the accused Pc
iltcz, Scaffcdi, and Monasterio the Jury
engaged in deliberations in their case
some four or five hours. attended with
intense excitement, and on repeated bal
lots the jury vote stood six guilty to
SIN not guilty. This is IA clearly defined
INDICATION OF the conviction Of the Jury
as to the three accused. 1t imprcsscs us
deeply as 1t must every one to whom the
Tact Is conveyed. and forces the conclu-
SION mat the evidence was sufficient to
JUSTIFY the six jurors who stood r,solute
and determined for "A verdict of guilty,
making it well-nigh impossible to reach
any other conclusion than a mistrial.
These three accused, named above, were
probably unwilling actors designated Bv
leaders OF the conspiracy to execute the
INFAMOUS part in which they had neither
personal motive nor interest. Following
thls investigation II was quickly learned
rom various sources that talcsmen had
Deen approached. The grand jury
hIloWs that a list Of 800 talcsmcn in the
iiehilessy case was in the office Of O'Mal-
ite! " Adams at IL o'clock Sun
day morning, Feb. -, 1soi
though at thctrial the Judge issued special
orders Saturday evening that the list was
to be made public or given TO the
counsel OF either side until Monday
morning. 1t is not shown by whose hands
the list was secured. but enough is known
to show h secret and powerful influence
Of a so-called private detective agency
and OF Counse Adams to handle the ma
.hlnery OF the court. The official rela-
tons OF the jury commissioners to the
in the trial Of criminal cases are SO
and far-reaching in their conse. /,
quences, that the maladministration of |
thclr duties has become the fountain
source Of the successful fixing of Jurors
IN important trials. Great or small pieces
evidences show that the lists of names
were tempered with when drawn from
the jury wheel and before they reached
jury box in court. O'Mallcy was mt !
in possession Of the lists Immediately
after the names were drawn and before
they reached the district attorneys Of
flee in due course.
In searching for the true causes of
actions connected with the en-
panclling Of the jury in the Hennessy
case, the sworn statement of Thos. G..
Collins is found Of great value and in
this place we take occasion to declare
that Collins was selected especially for
the duties to be performed and for this