The Somerset reporter., 1891-03-19
Lynch Law In New Orleans

The ASSASSINATION Of Chief OF Police
Hennessy that occurred in New Orleans
October 10Th, last, has been avenged In a
terrible manner by the murder Of II of
10 Of the alleged assassIns, who were In
the city prison by q mob of 5000 or more,
lead by some OF the principal citizens.
This occurred Friday night. or the 10
men Indicted nine were brought to trial
February 10th, the trial had been in pro-
gress ever since and had attracted large
audience each day. Friday the jury
brought In verdict of not guilty as to
six of the nine and had disagreed as TO
the other three. The jury stood unani-
mously for the acquittal Of six, nine to
three for the conviction of one. and six
to six for the conviction of two.
Its members explain that they did not
believe most of the witnesses for the
State, and that the failure Of the State to
put the two officers on the stand-one of
whom picked up Hennessy when he fell
and the other pursued the murderers aud
was wounded-impressed them very un-
favorably, as they were the first on the
scene of the murder.
The result of the trial produced the
widest excitement, which resulted In the
scenes Of Saturday.
The scene at the prison WAS a terrible
one. The officers made little resistance
to the determined mob. They refused to
give up the keys but were overpowcred
aud the keys taken from them. The outer
doors were battered down. The most OF
the killing was done by shooting but two
were taken outHide and hanged. to sp.
pease the fury of the crowd.
The mayor of the city and the governor
OF the Stare are reported to bave said tn n
they knew nothing of the affair until II
was all over. The newspapers of the
city very generally justify or paliate the
crime.
One of the chief causes of public in
dieDation in connection with the Mata
trial has been the belief that the socieiy
depended on bribery to procure the re-
lease Of the accused. 1t has been assert
ed that 900 or 100000 was contrib
ulei by Italians all over the country tt
be used as a corruption fund. Thousand.
of dollars, it was said, came from Chi
cago, New York and other cities wher,
the Italians are congregated in larg,
| numbers.
The representative of the ltalitn gov
eminent at Washington entered forci
BILE protest against the outrage upoI
citizens of his country, and Secretary
Blaine on Saturday sent the followed
dispatch to Governor Nichols:
1t has been represented to the Presid mt BY
the Minister of Italy accredited to this Govern
ment that among the victims of the deplorabl,
massacre which took place in the city of New
Orleans yesterday were three more subjects
OF the King of Italy. Our treaty with tina
| friendly Government (Which, under the Consti
tion, is the supreme law Of the land) guarantee,
To the Italian subject domiciled in the Unitet
States "the most constant protection and secur
ty for their persons and property" making
them amenable on the same basis our owl
| citizens to the laws Of the United States and .
the several States in their due and orderly ad
ministraton.
The President deeply regrets that the citizen
| of New Orleans should have so disparaged thu
| purity and adequacy OF their own judicial tribu
mails as to transfer to the passionate Judgment o
a mob aquestion that should have been adjudge
| dispassionately and by settled rules OF law
| The Government Of the United States mus
| give to the subjects of friendly Powers tina
| security with it demands for our own citizen
when temporarily under foreign jurisdiction.
| 1t is the hope Of the President that you vii
| cooperate with him in maintaining the obliga
tons of the United States toward Italian sub
lects who may be within the perils Of the pres
ent excitement, that further bloodshed and vic
leDce may be prevented, and that all offender
against the law may be promptly brought II
justice. (SignedD JAMES G. BLAINE.