The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-07
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.

| Grand iury in regard TO the recent lynching
| 81 members Of the Mafa in that city, which
was published in full in The TINES OF yester-
dav leaves no ground for Premier Rudini 10
stand upon in pcrsisting in his demands that
the treaty between the United States and
Italv demands that this country should make
reparation for the killing OF the slaughtered
Italians. The following fects are ofhciaiiy
promulgated in this report:
| First That there existed in New Orleans
secret society composed of Italian residents
| Of that CITY. who were bound together by
oaths and we're invested with grips, signs anu
nasswortls. whose object was to remove Dy
murder any one who fell under the ban OF
| their condemnation.
Second. That for years and years the mem
bers of this society, although protected oy
the constitutions and laws of the United States
and State of Louisiana, carried on their muir
derous work. but s., secretly and skilltuliy as
to prevent the detection and bringing 70
! Justice of the assassins.
Third That so long as these murders were
confined to the Malta itself, or to the lower
class of Sicilians or "Dagos," and society at
large was not affected thereby the people OF
New Orleans and Louisiana did not disturb
themselves greatly about them. They knew
that IN the Malta there was amongst them
| constant menace to society but as 1t seemed
impossible to reach the murderers. and as the
victims had always been of very undesirable
class of residents, no serious alarm was 1eit'
Fourth That at length. however, 1t became
necessary from the frequency Of these mys-
ferrous murders that the Malta be lnvesti-
gated. and, if possible, the perpetrators OF
the crimes be brought to justice. 10 TINS
end. Chief-of-POlice Hennessy exerted MINI
self with zeal and ability in order that ne
might conscentiously fulfil the trust reposed
on him and preserve public peace and the
integrity flaw
Fifth. That in the earnest discharge Of his
duty he aroused the hostility Of the Malta and
was marked for vengeance; and in accordance
with this determination he was condemned
by the society TO die, was waylaid at night and
assassinated almost at his own doors.
Sixth. That several suspected persons were
arrested and brought to trial, but IN the trial,
although circumstantial evidence was so
strong against the accused as to make con-
viction reasonably certain, so great was the
power, wealth and influence Of the Mata that
professional Jury fxers" were able to so CO.
troll the jury as TO prevent such verdict as
justice demanded.
Seventh. That the whole people. seeing they
could no longer hope for protection from the
courts and the laws and that the life of no
man in the city.was safe if, by any means he
should happen to 90 counter to the wishes or
will of the Malta, determined TO appeal to the
first law of nature and protect themselves by
summarily and forcibly stamping out the
oath-bound gang Of assassins.
Eighth. That this they did by passing sem
tence in an or derby mass-meeting and by
determined execution of the same, and the
grand jury not only refused to make any in
dictments of them for so doing, but justified
thor action.
This is the whole story of the New Orleans
Malta lynching in a nutshell, and the people
of all the United States have. either openly or
tacitly, approved the conduct of the people
of that city. Now the question is, What will
Mr.. Blaine and Premier Rudini do about it?
1t seems as if neither can do anything All
Mr. Blaine can do is to transmit TO the Italian
Government the investigation and finding Of
the grand jury, with the information that the
Federal Government can see nothing 10
Justify its interference in what was purely
and simply State matter, and all Marquis
Rudini can do is to submit.
AS to the violation Of treaty obligations by
the United States, such a charge under such
circumstances approaches very nearly to the
absurd. That these Italians or 'Dagos" were
as fully protected as even the most law-abid-
ing citizens of New Orleans is shown by the
fact that they were enabled to live there for
years in peace. accumulate wealth and enjoy
unmolested the inalienable rights of life, lib
erty and the pursuit Of happiness. 1t was
only when they themselves defed the laws,
attempted 10 rule the city by murder and
went so faras TO assassinate the legally elected
chief of police, whose duty it was to maintain
order and see the laws enforced, that the peo-
pie interfered with them for self-protection
and the preservation of society. If this be
violation of treaty obligations it looks very
much as if Premier Rudini will have 10 make
the most of 1t.