The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-15
Mob Law In Nav Orleans

That was q terrible tragedy in New
Orleans yesterday. 1t was a tragedy in
which thousands Of people participated.
Eleven Sicilians were taken from the parish
prison in broad daylight and killed. Olly
the day before a jury had failed to convict
nine OF them Of the crime for which the
| excited citizens took their lives. They were
charged WIKI having assassinated Mike
Hennessy, who was chief of po-
lice Of the city. Hennessy was
a yo ing man much respected. He be-
came an object Of hatred to the Malta, the
SIcilian murder society, by persist ng, after
repeated anonymous wa ngs, in hunting
for number Of murderers supposed to be
members Of the Mefia. Nine murders had
been committed within a very short time.
They were mysterious murders, and all the
indications were that the Malta was respon-
sible for them. The people were anxious
and uneasy. No man felt safe. The
vengeance Of the Malta became a source Of
constant dread. Hennessy found clews and
he followed them. The Malta became
alarmed and determined to get rid Of the
courageous chief. One night, a few months
ago. just as he was about entering the door
Of his residence, he was shot dead. He was
victim Of the Sicilian assassination
society.
Nineteen Sicilians, one of whom was a
boy, were arrested for the murder
The trial of nine of them, which
was a long one, ended Friday in a
mistrisl as to three of them, and a verdict
OF not guilty as to six of them. They were
all sent back to prison, as there was another
charge against them in connection with the
same case.
The result of the trial caused great dis
satisfaction. The jurors were hooted at in
the streets. 1t was generally believed that
the accused men were guilty, but that the
jury was afraid to find verdict of guilty.
During the trial and before it, many of
those engaged in the prosecution, and even
the mayor of the city, received warnings
in one way and another that they would be
assassinated if the accused Sicilians were
convicted.
The murmurs Of discomfort swelled into
demand for vengeance. There was a gen
eral determination to rid the city of the
accused men, and desire to strike terror
into the hearts of the other members of the
Malta. Thousands of citizens yesterday
assembled in Canal street. around the statue
of Henry Clay. That Is the favorite place
of holding public meetings in New Orleans
when the people are greatly disturbed by
any matter which seems to call for action.
The assembled citizens did not dispense
after the meeting. They adjourned to the
Parish prison, which is situated on Congo
square, in the lowest part of the city.
What they did there is told in our dis
patches this morning.
Mob violence is always to be condemned,
particularly in community where there are
courts to enforce the law. But the people of
New Orleans. believed, doubtless, that it
would be impossible to convict Hennessy's
murderers, however strong the evidence
against them might be. The fear of
the vengeance of the Malta would cause
jurors to hesitate to find verdict Of guilty.
80 they becamejudge. jury and executioner.
And they did the work they undertook
thoroughly. The Malta will not attempt to
assassinate the thousands of men who admin
istered lynch law. But, after all, the men
who were lynched may not have been the
guilty ones. Perhaps it may never be
known beyond doubt whether they were
or not.