Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-15
THE ITALIAN AFFAIR.
Recent Developments in the
Case.
The Committee of Fifty Sub
mits a Report.
Remedies For Checking Crime in
the Crescent City.
Premier Rudini Says There Is Moth
ing at Stake Except Legal
Question.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
New ORLEANS. May 14.-The commit
tee of fifty made its report to the mayor
tonight. 1t says, in part: "The first
work of the committee was 10 obtain
from the chief of police report of
ninety-four assassinations by Italians
and Sicilians, where the accused es-
capped for want of evidence. Then fol-
lowed the assassination Of Chief OF
Police Hennessy. The result Of the
trial demonstrated to the people that no
one was safe from the mysterious band
that was operating regardless of law.
1t was only when this fear grew into
absolute conviction, that the people rose
in their might, took the law in their
hand, and then followed the event of
March 14th."
CONSUL CoRTE's QUEER CONDUCT.
The report then at length goes on to
show the existence of the Malta, and
tells of visit made to the Italian consul
to secure information. He stated that
he was ready to cooperate with the
committee, and would prepare report
containing the Information in his pos
session. He was convinced of the exist
ence of the Malta in the city, and had a
strong suspicion as to who were the
leaders. He furnished the committee
with the names. He stated that prior
to the Hennessy assassination he had
in sonic way incurred the displeasure of
a coterie. composed principally of the
men who met their death in the parish
prison. They invited him to supper,
and although he partook only of oyster
soup, he was taken desperately i'll that
night with symptoms of poisoning, and
was satisfied his life had been attempted.
The written information he promised,
however, never came. After some delay
he notified the committee that it being
an extra judicial body, he did not feel
warranted in giving information.
During an interview with him, the
committee called his attention to
statement in New York paper, to the
effect that the mayor had appointed an
extra judicial body, but its object was
frustrated owing to his (Corte's) earnest
protests and the intervention OF Mr..
Blaine. "We reminded him. says the
report, "that he and prominent Ital
ian citizen had called on the committee
before the mass meeting last fall, and
approved its pacific course, and asked
him how he reconciied his published
statement with this. He replied that
the statements he made in the New
York Tribune were made as an indi-
viduai, not as consul, and that the re-
port greatly exaggerated his state
ments."
THE COMMITTEES REMEDIES.
The committee, in pointing out reme-
dies in the existing trouble, suggest
the regulation of immigration; reform
in the criminal laws, and the adminis-
tration of criminal Justice law recog-
nizing the existence of the bar associa-
tion, and endowng it with full power to
try and disbar any attorney whose evil
practices render him unworthy of being
an officer of the court.
''The only radical remedy," says the
report, (which suggests itself to us, is
the entire prohibition of immigration
from Sicily and lower Italy. 1t was
found necessary to prohibit Chinese inn
migration, and congress passed the
necessary law. The danger to California
was no greater than it is to this state
from Sicilians and lower Italians. They
are undesirable citizens, and there is no
reason why they should be allowed to
participate in the blessings of freedom
and civilization, which they are not only
unable to appreciate, but which they
refuse to understand and accept.
coRTE BEFORE THE GRAND JURY.
The grand jury was called together to-
day to act ON the published statements
of Italian Consul Corte that he frus-
trated plot of Italians for vengeance
on the mayor and others. Corte was
called before the grand jury, but said he
had been misinterpreted by the news
papers. There was strong feeling
against the Italians here, and he had
simply used his best efforts in the inter-
est OF peace and quiet.