The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-03-19
DEATH TO THE MAFIA.
A New Orleans Mob Takes Justice Into It's Own
H,ad,

IIaads.
On the 18th day Of October. $780, David Hen
messy Chief OF Police of New Orleans, La. was
assassinated while on an inspecting tour OF Po-
lice Precinct No. /. lie left his office at the
City Hall about $50 r. N. The night was dark
and rainy, and as he was passing M alley on
Girod street near the corner OF Basin he was
fired upon Six reports were heard almost
simultaneously by persons living near or who
were passing. Chief HCnncssy was found ly
ing where he had fallen, riddlod with bullets
and heavy shot His left side, which was next
the alley was one mass Of torn flesh. blood aud
broken bones. lie died the next morning.
There are a largo number of Italians aud
Silicans in New Orleans, aud among them
there arc two secret societies, the Cam0rra and
the Malta and they vino are thus banded to-
gether will stand by each other 10 the death,
and do not hesitate 10 commit perjury and muir
der TO save fellow. member. These societies
may be at deadly lcud with cath other. Priests
have done their best TO suppress these orders
without avail.
During the past two years % assassnations
have been committed in New Orleans which
have been traced directly to the Malta, all the
lied but Henncssy being Italians or Sicilians.
iicuncssy had declared that he would put an
end % this wholesale murder, If every Italian
IN the city bad TO hang. But no ease could be
made 10 hold against any man arrested, for his
lcli0w-membcrs would swear him off, aud Chief
Hcunussy was warned 10 let the matter rest
Nineteen men were arrested, three OF whom
were Italians, As being implicated Ia Hen
uessy's murder, committee Of citizens having
been formed for this purpose. Thc-e men were
recently tried, and were defended hy eminent
counsel, bat TumGs 10 the elect that the
jury was fixed were circulated before a
verdict was reached. What truth there was
in this rumoy can only be coniecturcd, but the
jury brought in verdict Of not guilty as TO six
81 the accused aud falling 10 agree upon a YER
I diet as TO the others. The Jury was after
ward hooted by The people on the street. The
excitement aud indignation Of The citizens rose
1 rapidly, aud on saturday, March Is, a mob OF
1900 people gathered IN the streets aud was
+ addressed and its intended assault on the pris-
4 0Bcrs viudieatea by one II the leading citizens
I OF New Orleans The mob then proceeded 10
\ the jail where the prisoners had been returned
4 10 await trial on another charge aud without
4 further ado broke the doors aud killed the
prisoners. hanging two aud shooting the rest.
Y The matter has caused much excitement
throughout this country, aud was widely
\ noticed in the foreign press. Premier kudini,
/ Of Italy has demanded action in the matter by
/ the United States Government The New
| Orleans press uph0lds the citizens summary
administration OF justice Secretary Blaine
1 sent a dispatch TO GOV. Nichols, in which be
4 - presents l1ab ih'Ic were thTte OF more SUD
ieets Of the King Of Italy among the men killed
aud as our treaty with that Government guar
antces 10 the Italian subjects Ia this country
/ constant protection and security, the Secretary
says that il is the hope Of the President that
/ the Governor will do all he can 10 prevent fur
Their bloolshed, aud 10 bring all offenders against
/ the law 10 justice.
Eleven Of the Italians or Sicilians were
/ killed by the mob, the others either b5inl
overlooked or the vengeance Of the mob bsinl
/ satisfied