The record-union., 1891-05-06
Special to the RECoRD-UNToN.


New ORLEANS, May 5.-After six
weeks investigation, the Grand Jury
completed its labors in the Italian case,
and this afternoan presented yolumin-
GUS report to Judge Mari.
The report recites the killing of Chief OF
Police Hennessy, the trial of Italians,
etc., and, referring to the verdict rem
dered, says: I'VE cannot be mistaken in
the assertion that the verdict was start
ling, amazing, a bitter disappointment,
shocking to public opinion, provoking
repeated accusation that some of the jury
had been unfaithful to their Office
The report goes on at considerable
length to speak of comments made on
every side before the termination of the
trial touching the action of some mem
bers of the jury; the remarks dropped in
and about the courtroom; the quarrel in
the iury-room, etc.
Careful observers, it says, testify with
special reference to the marked inatten-
ton of the jury as the witnesses submit
ted their evidence, to conduct most unbe-
coming and fraught with the gravest
consequences when the momentous i'm
port of the issue is considered.
1--WE are led,'' continues the report. ''to
conclude that the jury undertook to try
the case when it was submitted by their
own estimate of the value of the state
ments made by parties not called as wit
nesses. With strange unanimity they
dwelt upon what they knew by reading
and hearsay Of certain incidents of the
assassination prior to the trial, and made
those the basis of a powerful persuasion
for giving the accused the benefit of the
doubt, and concluding the deliberations
in their favor. We take occasion to say
that it was not expected to obtain any
evidence of undue influence from the
members Of the jury; for those who were
interrupted had nothing to reveal, while
others would not make themselves pdrti-
cepS c7'imi1liS, yet in their numerous
statements much was obtained having
direct connection with and supported by
great volume of testimony elected
during the course of inquiry.
CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE,
at is clearly brought out by evidence
of the jurors that, as affecting three of the
accused-Politez, ScafIedi and Monas-
terio-the jury engaged in their delibera-
ton four or five hours, and, on repeated
ballots, stood six guilty and SIX not
guilty. This is clearly defined indica-
ton of the conviction of the jury as to
three of the accused. It forces the con
clusion that the evidence was sufficient to
Justify the six jurors who stood resolute
aHd determined for a verdict of guilty,
making it well-nigh impossible to reach
any other conclusion than a mistrial.
The three accused named above were
probably unwilling actors. designated by
the leaders of the conspiracy to execute
the villainous part in which they had
neither personal motives nor interest
Following this investigation, it was
quickly learned that
THE TALESAIEN HAD BEEN APPROACHED
In various manners, the vile work being
carried forward in the courtroom during
the trial. One favored expression was
that big money might be made by going
on the jury. and doing right. There is no
doubt shat such attempts were made by
various parties in the service of the de-
Tense, and entertained by some talesmen
and scornfully rejected by others. In
some instances rebuff was met with an
answer that it was joke, but surely it
was d "eI-ulrecLeu JOKE OF deep sig
nificance when the leading part was en-
acted by counsel of one of the accused
awaiting trial. now under indictment for
attempting to bribe jurors.
Another class of talesmen took spe-
clal care to deny any knowledge of the
vile work, or showed remarkable def
cheney OF memory, causing us to con-
clude that they were silent from fear, or
had been cautioned about discriminating
anyone. y number of witnesses most
emphatically denied having been APP
preached or spoken to, even after telling
their friends, who informed us. Amon9
the talesmen were number of our citi-
zens, who have nobly come forward re-
lating their experiences. furnishing some
of the missing links in the chain of cir
cumstantial evidence drawn around the
ORGANIZED GANG OF JURY-BRfBERs.
II is not TO be questioned that the work
was systematically executed, after care
ful preparation, and had to be done
Quickly, The necessity was imperative.
for the complete list of talesmen, and the
Grand Jury knows that list was in the
office of O'Malley IL Adams at IL
o'clock Sunday morning, February 22d.
though on the trial the Judge had issued
special orders that the list was not to be
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