The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-18
Vengeance Wreaked on Those
Who Escaped the Law.
ELEVEN MEN SHOT DOWN.
The Juries Didn't Do Thier Duty
SCENES OF BLOODSHED IN THE
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
The Lynchers Performed Only Half
Their Duty They Should nave
Hanged the Jurymen ~ Their

Tne1r Duty..e "Sy Sho"A~ @AssS
Hanged the Jurymen BY Their
Necks.
The News and Cou -ier's Account Of the Mem.
orable Event.
NEW ORLEANS. March l4.-New Orleans
struck the Malta death blow Today. 1t rose
in It's might almost at midday and wreaked a
terrible vengeance upon the Siclilan assls
sins, who relentlessly slew David Z. Hennessy
and though there are eleven men aead now
who were happy yesterday over their victory
in the greatest criminal trial which this city
has ever witnessed, the work OF blood was
accomplished without unnecessary disoroer
without rioting, without pillagling anu WIN
out the infiiction Of suffering ON any limo
cent man save one, and he was only slightly
hurt. It was not an unruly, midnight mop
II was simply sullen, determined body oi
citizens, who took into their own hands what
Justice had ANONYMOUSLY failed to DO.
The chief Of police was slain on October 10
and that nigh, s SeaS Iesaa had 70 beaE
deliberately planned by secret tribunal and
carried out boldly and successfully by tools
of theconspirators. The trial lasted twenty,
fve days. and, though the evidence seemed
conclusive, the jury, concurrently charged
with having Geen tampered with, falled 70
convict Last night body OF cool headed
men-lawSers doctors merenants ana mo pott,i poc,ai
standing-quietly met and decided that some
action must be taken. and the peoples JUS
tice swift and sure visited upon those whom
morning call for a mass meeting at the Clay
monument on Canal Street, appeared In the
papers, which editorially deprecated vio-
ience. The significant ciosipg d fG seaience ii o'
Down in "A large room on Bienville ana
ROYAL streets there was an arsenal, Wnlcn
had been provided by a body OF cltizens:
The cali was answered by the popuace. Al
10 o'clock there was crowd of several thou
sand anxious people congregated around the
Clay statue. They hardly knew what was 60
ing TO happen, but they seemed reaoy 10 go 10
any length, and while there were, OF course,
many Of the lower element in the throng, the
large proportion were leading people OF the
town. o,,., ,, v,,,, :,
and business.like. and the aSsemblage not
nnwillingly was soon keyed up to high
pitch of demonstration in denunciation oi
The aSsaSsinS.
Each of the speakers said there had been a
Great mass meeting months before which met
quietly and dispersed peacefully SO that the
law might take Its course The law hsd psr iai!.
son, the leader. is prominent lawyer here,
president OF the Southern Athletic Club, and
The man who led the vigorous Elty nsenr reform
another Of the speakers, is one OF the leaders
of the New Orleans Bar; John c. Wicklife,
also q prominent attorney, and James ID.
Houston one of the foremost men of the
State, also spoke.
After denouncing Detective O'Malley. who
is issupposed to have tampered with the jury,
the speakers announced that they would lead
e. the way to the parish prison. Wicltlifle con-
cludinC with these words: "Shall the eXecra,
BILE Malta be allowed to flourish in this city
Shall the Malta be allowed to cut down our
citizens on the public streets by the foul
means of assassination? Shall the Malta be
allowed to bribe jurors to let murderers &c
scot free?"
thousand or more, and before any one could
realize what happened the great throng, gain
ing recruits at every step, was tramplne
down the streets to the ne1ghoorhood OF the
prison. stopping only once. and that was the
arsenal where doublebarreled shotguns, Win
chester rifles and pistols were handed out tc
responsible and respectable citizens In the
The starting of the crowd had an electric
effect on the city. Soon the streets were alive
with people running from all directions and
joining the main body, which moved SUDDEN
iy down Rampant street to the Jail, near
Congo square. Doors and windows were
thrown open. and men, women and children
crowded on the galleries to encourage those
who were taking part and to witness The
When the main crowd from Canal street
, reached the prison there had already collect
ed there a dense throng. all eager to take a
hand in whatever might happen. When the
vanguard Of armed citizens reached the pris'
on, which is many squares from Canal street.
that the grim old building was surrounded
amovement was on foot TO take the prison.
ers armed bis deputies and started on hunt
for Mayor Shakespere. The Italian consul
and Attorney Genera! Rogers joined In the
Office till noon, and he was not to be found al
any OF his regular haunts. The Governor
had not heard of the uprising, and he had nc
Time to act, and the police force was too small
to offer much resistance TO the army oi
avengers. Superintendent Caster ordered an
extra detail OF officers TO the jail, and the
small crowd kept the sidewalks around the
jail clear TIL the great multitude, swelling al
L. niUb "
ed around the door and crowded the llttle
band Of buecoats away.
Capt Lem Davis was on guard at the main
entrance with scant force OF deputies
These were swept away like chaf before the
wind, and in an instant the ante room was
jammed With excited men. Meantime the
prisoners were:stricken with terror, ior they
could hear distinctly the shouts Of the peo
ole demanding their blood. The innocent
and guilty alike were frightened out OF their
senses. and prisoners who were charged with
Of the chief also shared in the general demon
alization. Some OF the braver among the
represen tatives of Malta wanted TO die night
ing for their lives, and they pleaded fol
weapons with which to defend themselves
and when they couldn't find these they
sought hiding places.
The deputies, thinking to deceive the crowt
by O ruse, transferred the nineteen men to the
female department and there the miserable
Sicilians trembled in terror till the moment
Lhe doors would yield to the angry throng
Capt. Davis refused tne request 10 open llt
prison and the crowd began the work Of bat
tering in the doors.
Around on Orleans street there was 6
heavy wood door which had been closely bar
red in anticipation oil the coming Of tho
mass. This the crowd selected as the bes
chance of getting in: Tie neiShboring
houses readily supplied axes and batterne
rams, and willing hands went to work Z
force an opening. This didn't prove diff
cult task to the trembling but determined
throng.
and i'm an instant armed citizens were pour
ing through the small opening, whilca mighty
shout went up from 10000 throats IN gla(
aclaim There was more resistance for th'
.htruders, however, but it, too, was soon over
come with q huge billet OF wood which Stou
man rcarried. Then the turnkey was over
powered and thckeys taken. by that tim
the excitement was intense, none the les
when the patrol wagon drove up wltha dc
tachment of police, who were driven away
under fire of mud and stones. When tn
leaders inside the prison.got possession OF TIT
keys the gate was promptly unlocked.
The avengers were pressed into the yard o
the white prisoners. The door of the mrs
cell was open and a group of trembling pris
oners stood inside. They were not the mer