Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-05-16
THE LYNCYING UPHELD.
rHE LOUISIANA STATE GRAND JURY
REPORT ON THE NEW ORLEANS
TRAGEDIES AND THE BRIBERY OF
THEPETTIT JURORS.
Tho Lynchers Not Indicted.

Tho Lynchers Not Indicted.
The state grand jury OF Louisiana
after an investigation lasting
over six weeks, at last completed their
labors and fled their report OF the Hen
messy murder, the lynching Of the Malta
prisoners and the charges OF bribery
made against the jury which tried the
case against the murderers Of Chief
Hennesy.
The report refers to the enormity OF
the crime committed by the Malta as
sassins. 1t recounts the various steps
taken in the prosecution OF the indicted
men and relates the progress Of the case
in the court. The verdict, says the re-
port, was startling, amazing, o bitter
disappointment, shocking to the public
opinion and provoking the repeated
accusation that some OF the jury had
been unfaithful to their Office. Each
juror was made to appear and give his
evidence. The report accuses
the jury of marked inatten-
tion to the testimony OF witnesses
and after retiring TO make their verdict
voted six for and six against the convic-
ton OF Polietz, Scaffidi and Monesterio-
This impressed the grand jury that the
evidence against the three prisoners
named was strong enough to have re-
suited In mistrial at least, II not in
conviction. It was quickly learned,
says the report, that talesmen had been
approached, when alone or invited
away to some secluded place, were
visited at their homes, were intercept
ed on their way to the court house,
were stopped in the corridors OF the
court house, and the vile work was de-
liberately carried forward in the court
room during the trial. One expression
was that 'big money might be made by
going on the jury and doing right. /"
There is no possible doubt that such at
tempts were made by various parties in
the service Of the defense. The tales
men who rejected the bribery gave
their evidence to the grand jury will
ingly. while another class denied all
knowledge OF such work, even after
telling their friends that they had been
approached. The report criticises the
deputy sheriffs US unreliable and too
communicative. The report further
says that ono man. Detective
O'Malley, was so powerful in defying
the processes OF justice that it was
almost impossible to establish the fact
Of conspiracy in connection with the
bribery Of jurors. Sufficient testimony.
however, was offered by volunteer and
reliable witnesses to justify the indict-
ment Of six men. rs follows: Thomas
McCrystol, and John Cooney with D. G..
O'Malley, for attempting to bride q
talesman, and Bernard Glands, Charles
Granger and Ferneard Armaut. for at
tempt by each, to bride three different
talesmen.
The grand jury then reviews the
Malta organization but states nothing
not already known by the public.
Uuder the head, "The Jury" the re-
mort says: The moral conviction is
forced upon lis, that some OF the jurors,
at least three, were subject TO money
influence to control their decision.
Some of the jurors themselves have
testified in most emphatic terms that il
1t had not been for the persistent efforts
OF three OF the jurymen, most conspicu-
Gus from the time that they were en-
paneled, the verdict would have been
materially different from that rendered.
The report declares our immigration
laws sadly deficient and not we'll en-
forced.
Treating Of the lynching, the report
states in substance, that the mob was q
general uprising Of the honest citizens
fired with indignation at the defeat of
Justice; that it numbered 5000 to 5000
persons; that it could not have been
dispersed or controlled by the officers
OF the law and that the magnitude OF
this affair makes it difficult task to fix
the guilt upon any number Of the parti-
cipants, in fact, the act seemed to in
volve the entire people Of the parish
and city Of New Orleans, so proftse is
their sympathy and extended their con-
nection with the affair. The report
then closes as follows:
I'm view OF these considerations the
thorough examination Of the subject has
failed to disclose the necessary facts to
justify this grand jury In presenting in
dictments." The report Is signed by
each Of the sixteen members OF the
Jury"