The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-03-21
A FEARFUL PROTEST.
The Miscarriage of Justice in the
Hennessy Murder Case
Law I'm New Orleans Eleven
Lives Pay for that of the
Chief of Police.

N-AN AHhN AhheAA
they determined at once to move upon
the monster that had fourished in their
midst. A call to arms was made. Men
in all walks of life rallied. The march
upon the prison where the IIcnnessy
assassins were confined was made. and
in a few moments the dead chief was
avenged. The result was fearful, but
the people We're content. They say
the law had failed, but justice has been
done.
The scenes at and about the Clay
statue this morning brought to mind
very wildly the ponGiar and ominous mp
rising of that September nearly sixteen
years ago. Ten o'clock had not yet
struck, and a vast multitude was already
congregated on Canal street. almost
filling up the large space from curb to
curb on each side of the boulevard.
Just on the stroke of 10 a shout went
up from the people stationed at st.
Charles street, and a number of gentle
men, among whom were Mr.. W. :. Park
erson. Mr.. John o. Wickliffe and 9TH
ers who signed the call, came marching
along and began walking round and
round the railing of the Clay monu
ment.
Fall in, Fall i'm was the cry. and
amidst deafening shouts several of the
crowd formed the procession which
went around the railing of the monu-
ment The view from that altitude was
imposing. Not 4 bad word yet escaped
the lips of the gentlemen who had
mounted the steps. They stood erect,
motionless. surveying the surging null
titudc. from whose scrricd ranks there
CLEANED faces full of resolve and deter
mination. There were fully 5000 per-
sons within ear shot. and more could be
seen struggling, pushing and running
here and there on the neutral ground.
Street cars We're unable to pass
through. Carriages. carts, wagons,
cabs and vehicles of all descriptions
We're halted. The people were about
to exercise their mighty prcrogative of
sovereignty, and were i'll no mood to get
out of the way. Theirs was ii fixed
purpose-tn hear what they expected
would be said. and to do what an out
ragged community felt should he done.
Mr.. Parkcrson spoke first. lie said
that once before he had appeared before
the people in grand mass-meet-
ing assembled TO discuss mat
tiers vital to the interest of the
community, and again he faced
thepeople of New Orleans to dcnounce
the most infamous act which was q N
segment upon the most revolving crime
in the criminal annals of any com
munity. That act was the finding of
the jury in the murder trial yesterday,
and that crime was. "a everybody knew.
the foul assassination of the chief of
police. Il desire neither fame. nor name,
nor glory" said Mr.. Parkcrson, Il am
a plain American citizen. and as such.
and as a good citizen. | am here"
The crowd was yelling itself hoarSe.
Fury. ungovcrnahlr. was evident
throughout that immense asscmblage.
which by hat time numbered fully
5000 people.
Shall you protect yourselves"
YES"
self preservation is the first law of
nature. This is the time for action, not
talk"
Lets 60. Let's go, Come On, Wyck-
life, Come on. Parkcrson. We are
ready"
Mr.. Wicklifrc concluded. There was
Just the slightest momcntary lull in the
storm. Then some II yelled: shall
we get Our guns" Yes, yes, get your
guns" said Mr.. Parkcrson. Get your
guns and meet us in Congo square i'm
mediately." Loud cheers were given as
Mr.. Patterson and the other gentlemen
moved down the steps. Then an ominuus
silence rcigned. and the steady tramp,
tramp. tramp of men falling into line
and marching along was heard, and the
crowd followed the leaders on along
Canal street to Rampant. They
marched down Rampant to a place
where weapons were obtained. and
next Congo square WAS in sight. The
parish prison was reached at 1880
o'clock. The wooden door on Narais
street was broken in by Il large billet
of wood used as a catapult, and heavy
rocks were also poured against it. The
door yielded. After the door had been
broken down there was Il wild rush for
entrance. Two men. however, stood at
the door and prevented anyone from
coming in except those that carried shot
guns and Winchesters. The large bed
in the sheriff private room was torn
down by the crowd in their mad rush to
the lobby. The mob c~ongregated in the
visiting room, and a shout went up for
the key to the inside gate. The crowd
that was packed in front of the outside
gate re-echoed the shout. and a young
man whom the writer recognized
brought forth the keys. The inside
gate was thrown open, and the several
deputies who We're in the lobby gave
way to the crowd. The door leading
into the white peoples yard was open,
and the avengers crowded through. A
cell just at the door was opened.
who were trembling in every limb.
A deputy stood in the door and in
formed the crowd that none of those in
that cell were the prisoners wanted.
Then the mob filed out into the yard.
CHANGING mp at one of the condemned
cells on the second fioor a blanchcd and
CHASTITY face was seen at the bars of the
door. That's Scoffedi." shouted one
excited individual. and Immediately sew
eral shots were fired at the cell. The
individual, whoever he was, quickly dis
appeared. Several more shots were
fired at the door.
They are in the female department."
shouted a thrill voice.
Where is the key? Bring us the
key" yelled another. and IA rush was
made for the door separating the two
divisions. The door was found securely
locked.
Batter it down. said one: Hold
on" a young man with a Winchester
replied, I've got the key" and he held
a long key over his head. This an
nounccment was greeted with wells.
The door was opened and the crowd
made n break to get in.
Hold on, gentlemen" said the young
man who had produced the key. I'VE do
not want to shed innocent blood. Who
knows the assassins?"
Il do" and ~" shouted a dozen men.
Let me in, l know them" said one
determined man, and he was admitted.
About seven men entered. and the