Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-05-08
The New Orleans Grand Jury Bring
in a Lengthy Report on the
Hennessy Murder.
They Severely Condemn the Action
of the Jury in Acquitting
the Italians.
They Review the Killing and Fail to
Bring an Indictment Against
Anyone.
The Grand Jury's Report.

The Grand Jury's Report.
New ORLEANS, May 5.-After six
weeks investigation the grand jury COM
pleted it's labors on the Hennessy case
and the killing of the Italians at the
parish prison, by presenting long spe-
cial report at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon.
It first reviews the Hennessy murder
trial and says of the verdict that it was
startling, amazing, bitter disappoint-
ment, shocking to public opinion, pro-
voking repeated accusations that some
of the jury had been unfaithful to their
Office. "We feel that we do not tran
scend the limits of our duty as grand in
quest, to refer to the str( ng presentation
of the case as made by the state through
council associated in the prosecution,
clear. continuous, complete, convincing,
in direct testimony and ma
terial circumstances, it ap-
peared more than sufficient
to convince the most unwilling listener,
with it's truth, and convey full measure
of its power, to those who ventured
doubt" It then speaks of rumors of
improper influences at work as demand
ing investigation, which all jurors well
coined. It says: "Carful observers tes-
tify with special reference to the marked
inattention of the jury as witnesses sub
mitted their evidence, conduct most I'M
becoming and fraught with gravest con-
sequences when momentous import of
issue is considered. We are led to con-
clude that the jury undertook to try the
case when it was submitted by their own
estimate of value of statements made by
parties Onot called as witness.
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 powerful persuasion for giving
the accused the benefit of the doubt and
concluding deliberations in their favor
We must take occasion to say that 1T was
not expected to obtain any evidence of
undue influence from members of the
jury, for those who we're uncorrupted
had nothing tc reveal, while others would
not make themselves particepts criminis,
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. 1t is clearly
brought out by the evidence of the jur-
ors that, as affecting three of the ac-
cused, Politez, Scaffedi and Monasterio,
the jury engaged in deliberation in their
case some four or five hours, attended
with intense excitement, and on repeated
ballots the jury vote stood: guilty, 6
not guilty. This is a clearly defined in
dication of the convictions of the jury as
to three of the accused. It impresses us
deeply, as it must everyone to whom the
fact is conveyed, and forces the conclu-
sion that the evidence was sufficient to
justify the six jurors who stood resolute
and determined for a verdict of guilty,
making it well-nigh impossible to reach
any other conclusion than
/ mistrial. These three accused,
named above, were probably the unwill-
# ing actors designed by the leaders of the
conspiracy to execute the villainous part
Y in which they had neither personal mo-
tive or interest. Following this investi-
ons sources that talesmen had been ap-
/ preached. The grand jury knows that a
list of 500 talesmen in the Hennessy
h case was in the office of O'Malley
Adams at II o'clock Sunday
i morning, February %, 1891, though the
trial judge issued special orders Satur-
day evening that the list was not to be
made public or given to counsel of either
side until Monday morning. It is not
shown by whose hands the list was Sc
cured, hut enough is shown to confirm
the past secret and powerful influence
held by the so-called private detective
agency and Counsel Adams to
1 handle the machinery of the COURT,
After scoring O'Malley for the part he
1 played in the affair, the report takes up
3 the italian immigration question, and
enters a protest against allowing Italian
criminals to come to this country. In
{ speaking Of the killing Of the Italians,
/ the report says: "It is shown in the evil
dence that the gathering on Saturday
morning, March IA, embraced several
thousand of the first, best and even most
law abiding citizens Of this city, as
sembled as is the right Of American cit
izens, to discuss in public meeting,
) questions Of grave import. We find that