Huntsville gazette., 1891-03-21
A FEARFUL PROTEST.
The Miscarriage Of Justice in the
Hennessy Murder Case
Leads to Terrible Manifestation of Mob
Law in New Orleans Eleven
Lives Pay for that of the
Chief Of Police.

New ORLEANS, March 14.-The Malta
has been dealt death blow. The
murderous Sicilian society will not
again be enabled to raise its head in
New Orleans People were SO shocked
by the verdict rendered yesterday that
they determined at once to move upon
the monster that had fiourished in their
midst. A call to arms was made Men
in all walks of life rallied. The march
upon the prison where the Hennessy
assassins were confined was made, and
in few moments the dead chief was
avenged. The result was fearful, but
the people were content. They say
the law had failed, but justice has been
done.
The scenes at and about the Clay
statue this morning brought to mind
very wildly the popular and ominous up
rising of that September nearly sixteen
years ago. Ten o'clock had not yet
struck, and vast multitude was already
congregated on Canal street, almost
filling up the large space from curb to
curb on each side of the boulevard.
Just on the stroke of 10 shout went
up from the people stationed at st.
Charles street, and number of gentle
men. among whom were Mr.. W. S Park
erson, Mr.. John 0. Wickliffe and 9TH
ers who signed the call, came marching
along and began walking round and
round the railing of the Clay monu-
ment.
''Fall in! Fall in!'' was the cry, and
amidst deafening shouts several of the
crowd formed the procession which
went around the railing of the monu-
ment. The view from that altitude was
imposing. Not a bad word yet escaped
the lips of the gentlemen who had
mounted the steps. They stood erect,
motionless, surveying the surging null
titude, from whose serried ranks there
cleaned faces full of resolve and deter
mination. There were fully 5000 per-
sons within ear shot, and more could be
seen struggling, pushing and running
here and there ON the neutral ground.
Street cars were unable to pass
through. Carriages, carts, wagons,
cabs and vehicles of all descriptions
! were halted. The people were about
to exercise their mighty prerogative of
sovereignty, and were in no mood to get
out of the way. Theirs was a fixed
purpose-to hear what they expected
would be said, and to do what an out
ragged community felt should be done.
Mr.. Parkerson spoke first. He said
that once before he had appeared before
the people in grand mass-meet-
ing assembled to discuss mat
ters vital to the interest Of the
community, and again he faced
the people of New Orleans to denounce
the most infamous act which was con-
sequent upon the most revolving crime
in the criminal annals of any COM
munity. That act was the finding of
the jury in the murder trial yesterday,
and that crime was, as everybody knew,
the foul assassination of the chief of
police. Il desire neither fame, nor name,
nor glory" said Mr.. Parkerson. 81 am
plain American citizen, and as such,
and as good citize n, l am here"
The crowd was yelling itself hoarse.
Fury, ungovernable, was evident
throughout that immense assemblage,
which by that time numbered fully
5000 people.
"Shall you protect yourselves?"
"Yes.''
''Self preservation is the first law of
nature. This is the time for action, not
talk"
''Let's go! Let's go. Come on, Wych-
life! ONE on, Parkerson! We are
ready"
Mr.. Wickliffe concluded There was
just the slightest momentary lull in the
storm. Then some one yelled: ''Shall
we get our guns?" ''Yes, yes, get your
guns" said Mr.. Parkerson. Get your
guns and meet us in Congo square i'm
mediately." Loud cheers were given as
Mr.. Parkerson and the other gentlemen
moved down the steps. Then an ominous
silence reigned, and the steady tramp.
tramp, tramp of men falling into line
and marching along was heard, and the
crowd followed the leaders on along
Canal street to Rampant. They
marched down Rampant to a place
where weapons were obtained, and
next Congo square was in sight. The
o'clock The wooden door on Marais
street was broken in by a large billet
of wood used as catapult, and heavy
rocks were also poured against it. The
door yielded. After the door had been
broken down there was wild rush for
entrance Two men, however, stood at
the door and prevented anyone from
coming in except those that carried shot
guns and Winchesters. The large bed
in the sheriff's private room was torn
down by the crowd in their mad rush to
the lobby. The mob congregated in the
visiting room, and shout went up for
the key to the inside gate. The crowd
that was packed in front of the outside
gate re-echoed the shout, and young
man whom the writer recognized
brought forth the keys. The inside
gate was thrown open, and the several
deputies who were in the lobby gave
way to the crowd. The door leading
into the white peoples yard was open,