Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-03-20
ELEVEN MEN LYNCHED.
A Terrible Vengeance Executed at
New Orleans, La.
Chief Hennessey's Death And the Italians
Acquitted Caused the Uprising-Re-
spectacle Citizens Took the Law
Into Their Own Hands.


completely in the ASA sination Of David c.
Hennessey, chief of police, on October 15last
we're one by one either shot to death or hang
ed by crowd Of citizens aroused to desperate
indignation by the failure Of a jury to convict
even one of the accused.
The scene around the Courthouse at the
termination Of the trial was such as to indi-
cate the probability Of tragedy like that of
to-day. The large crowd denounced the
members of the jury as they left for their
homes, and it seemed almost as ii they might
be made the victims OF mob violence. The
evening papers were outspoken aud emphatic
upon the result. and the States declared that
the Jury had been bribed. Recent develop
ments especially the sensational conduct Of
POietz, one of the accused, had convinced the
public generally that the prisoners were
guilty.
With scarce a break the night long the
popular excitement continued. The Com
mittee of Order, known as the Committee of
Fifty, appointed by the Mayor soon alter the
killing Of Chef Hennessey, he d secret
meeting, and another conference OF the intl-
mate friends OF Hennessey was held some
where else.
It is impossible to learn what was done at
these secret meetings, but the excitement was
30 intense that lynch law was openly adyo-
Gated as the sOut N of the matter, Oh the
ground that repeated trials had proved that It
was impossible TO convict Italians OF mur-
der
When day came the light fell upon an ap-
parently calm city, but it was not long before
the agitation that had shown itself at night
reappeared and general movement Of many
men towards the Clay statue began. By 10
A. NJ, q vast multitude WAS already congre-
gated on Canal ST., almost filling up the space
from curb to curb on each side of the bOuleY-
ard. Just on the stroke OF 10 O'clOck a shout
went up from the people stationed at st.
Charles ST.. and number of gentlemen among
whom were Mr.W. >. ParkersOn. Mr. John {.
" icklitfe and others who signed call tor
mass-meetng, came marching along and be-
gan walking round and round the range OF
Clay monument.
Fall inl fall in :" was the the cry, and,
amidst the crowd, formed the procession
which went around the railing several times.
"Hurrah for Parkersonl !" 'Hurrah for Wick
life :" Get inside the railing and give us
speech :" These and other cries made up
confusion of noises, among which the angry
tone was significantly predominant: The
space inside the railing was occupied by a
dense crowd.
Come down from those steps" was the re-
quest, "and let Mr.. ParkersOn and Mr. Wick
life get there"
The crowd obeyed with alacrity and soon
the speakers held their positions of vantage.
A rush was made for the narrow gate, aud In
a minute there stood a packed mass Of hu.
manity around the statue of the immortal
Clay.
Mr.. Parkerson spoke first. He said that
once before he appeared before the people In
grand massmeetlng assembled 10 discuss
matters OF vital interest TO the community,
and again he faced the people OF New Orleans
to denounce the infamous act which was
consequ mt upon the most revolving crime in
the criminal annals of ANY community. That
act was the finding ot the jury in the murder
trial, and that crime was, as everybody knows,
the foul assassination of Chiei Hennessey.
II desire neither fame nor name nor glory,
said Mr. PnrkersOn. 81 am a pain American
citizen, and as a good cit zen am here"
After this speech the indignant crowd, about
20OO strong, started for the parish prison,
which they reached at 1890 o'clock. After
slight resistance the Jail was surrendered and
the citizens rushed in aud killed eleven Of the
men who had been indicted for the murder,
as follows:
Manuel IO4lelL, MOudoNtot 4AuAOuAO
Scahedi, Joseph 2. Macheca, AntoliO
Marchesi, Antonio Bagnetlo, Frank Romero,
Jim Caruso Rocco Gerachi, Charles Trahine
and Comitez.
Alter the men had been put to death Mr.
Parkerson addressed the crown urging them
to return to their homes or respective places
of busines, without further demonstration.
The act OF the committee, though 50 bloody,
was accomplished without unnecessary dis
order, without rioting without pillaging and
without the infictiol OF suffering upon any
innocent man, save one, AMI ne was only
slightly hurt. IL was not an unruly, mid
night mob. 1t was simply sullen, deter
mined body of citizens who took into their
own hands what justice had Iguominiously
failed to do.
On the very night that the chief Of police
was slain the evidence began TO accumulate,
showing that his death had been deliberately
planned by secret tribunal and earried out
boldly aud successfully by the tools OF the
consL rators The trial lasted twenty-five
days.
The crowd had swelled to 5000 or more, and
before any one could realize what had
happened the great throng gaining recruits
at every step, was trainping down the streets
to the neghbOrhoOd OF the prison stopping
only once, aud that was az the arsenal, wnere
dougle barrelled shOl-guns, Winchester rifles
and pistols were handed out to responsible
and respectable citizens in the party.
When the main crowd from Canal street
reached the prison, there had already col
lecIed there dense thrOng, all eager 10 take
a hand in whatever might happen. When the
vanguard OF armed clIizens arrived, the grim
old building was surrounded on all sides.
Sheriff Nilere, when he heard that move
ment was on foot to take the prisoners, armed
his deputies aud then started on hunt Or
Mayor Shakesiere
Capt Davis refused the request TO open the
prison aud the crowd began the work OF
battering in the doors. Around on Orleans
street there WAS heavy wooden door which
had been closely barred in anticipation OF the
coming OF the ayengIng mass. TINS the crowd
selected as their bet chance OF getting IN.
Neighboring houses rapidly supplied axes
and battering rams, ana willing hands went
to work to iUrce an opening. This did not
proye a difiicut task 10 the trembling but
determined thrOng
Soon there Was a crash, the door gave way
aud in an instant armed citizens were pour
ing through the small opening, while mighty
shout went up from lJ,pOO throats in glac
acclaim. There was m re resistance for the
intruders, however, but it, too, was soon over
come with the hugh billet OF wood which
stout man carried. Tnen the turnkey was
oyerpowvred and the Keys taken from him.
BY that time the excitement was intense,
none the less so when a patrol wagon drove
up, with a deiachmentof policcman.wao were
driven away under IRE OF mud aud stones
When the leaders inside the prison got pos
session of the keys the inside gate Wa
promptly unlocked and the deputies in the
lobby rapidly go out OF harms way. Th'
avengers pressed into the yard OF the white
prisoners. The door Of the hrst cell was open
and groupe OF trembling prisoners stood in-
side. They were not the men who were
wanted and the crowd very quickly, though
with remarkable coolness, burst into the yard.
Peering through the bars Of the condemned
cell was terror-stricken face which some one
mistook for Scaffedi. A volley was fired at
the man and he dropped, but none OF the
shots struck him, and II was subsequently
found out that he was not one Of the assas
sins. The inmates Of the Jail were ready to
direct the way TO where the Italians were.
go TO the female department" some one
yelled, and thither the men, with their Win
cheeters, ran. But the door was locked. In
a moment the key was produced. Then the
leader called for $ me one who knew the right
men and volunteer responded and the door
was thrown open. The gallery was deseriz !,
IL lac e. sIIn