Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-07
THE LYNCHERS JUSTIFIED
The New Orleans Grand In
quest Wont Indict Them.
BRIBERY OF JURORS is PROVEN
O'Maliey and His Gang
Blamed for the Corruption.


NEW ORLEANS, May 5.-After six weeks
Investigation the grand jury completed its
labors ON the llennessy case and the kill
ing of Italians at the Parish prison by
presenting lengthy special report this
afternoon to Judge Robert Mari of the
criminal district court of the parish of
New Orleans, section A. The report
speaks Of the assassination of Chief of Po-
lice Hennessy on the night of October 9Th
1890, at his own door, as crime that had
been provoked Ivy the victims relentless
enforcement of the law against well-known
criminals
The arraignment, trial and verdict in
the case of the nine Italians accused of the
murder OF Hennessy are briefly referred
to, with comment on the Disappointing
character OF the verdict of acquittal in six
cases and mistrial iii three. Without
hint at the lynching the report then pro-
ceeds to show how the grand jury prose
cuted its work, and says;
Each one Of the II jurors of the trial
was summoned and asked to make a state
ment. None objected, but all rather well
coined the opportunity. This is notable
feature Of the sworn statements that they
primarily sought to Justify their verdict
BY attacking the line of evidence presented
by the state, and attaching much weight
to the arguments of counsel for the de-
jurors that remarks had been made in the
jury room as early as the first day, when
testimony was offered and repeated a NUM-
Der OF times afterward that the state was
making poor case and was positively
repeated at the close of the state's evidence.
One quarrel at least was reported, arising
from the accusation by one juror of an
other with the expression: You talk like
you were fixed before you came here.
They formed no conception of the tension
70 which the public mind was strung
though impressed with the deep interest as
shown each day by the crowd of spectators
/, in the court room.
We are led to conclude that the Jury
undertook to try the case when it was sub
mitted by their own estimate of the value
OF statements made by parties not called as
witnesses. With strange unanimity they
dWelt upon what they knew by reading and
hearsay Of certain incidents Of the assas-
sination prior to the trial, and made those
incidents the basis OF the powerful persua-
sion for giving the accused the benefit Of
the doubt and concluding the deliberations
in their favor.
I'VE must take occasion to say that II
was not expected to obtain any evidence
of undue influence from the members of
the jury, for those who are interrupted
had nothing to reveal, while the others
would not make themselves particeps
crimini, yet in their numerous statements
much was obtained having direct con-
nection with and supported by the great
volume of testimony elected during the
course Of the inquiry.
IT is clearly brought out by evidence Of
the Jurors that, as affecting three of the
accused, Politz, Scaffldi and Monasterio,
the jury engaged in the deliberations in
their case some four or five hours attended
with intense excitement, and on repeated
ballots the iury,,s vote stood six guilty, six
not guilty. This is clearly defined indi-
cation of the con victions of the jury as to
three accused. 1t impresses us deeply, as it
must every one, to whom the fact Is CON
veyed, and forces the conclusion that the
evidence was sufficient to justify the six
jurors who stood resolute and determined
for a verdict of guilty, making it we'll
nigh impossible to reach any other con-
elusion than a mistrial. These three ac-
cused named above were probably the un-
willing actors designated by leaders of the
conspiracy TO execute villainoIls part in
which they had neither personal motive
nor interest.
Following the investigation it was
quickly learned from various sources that
ttalesmen had been approached. One
favorite expression was that big money
might be made by going on the Jury and
doing right There is no possible doubt
that such attempts were made by various
parties in the service Of the defence, en-
tertained by some of the talesmen and
scornflllly rejected by others. These are
facts given on the evidence of talesmen,
who, quickly discerning the true meaning
of the men who addressed them, indig.
nantly repealed any attempt to control
their line Of conduct by these emssaries.
THE grand jury knows that the list of
500 talesmen in the HennesSy case was in
the office Of O'Malley q Adams at o'clock
on Sunday morning February 22d, 1891,
though the trial judge issued special orders
on Saturday evening that the list was not
to be made public or given to counsel Of
either side until Monday morning. Il is
not shown by whose hands the list was
secured, but enough is shown to confirm
the past secret and powerful influence of
the co.called private detective agency and
counsel Adams to handle the machinery Of
the court.
Out Of 800 names drawn for the Feb.
ruary. panel thirty-two we're on the list in
O'Mal1ey and Adams office, and later. as
the talesmen were drawn, many more
names appeared that were on that private
list.
lin the attempts to influence the tales
men of the Hennessy case no visible act
was committed and we fully realize the
difference between crime committed by
words only and what are known as visible |
persons and tell the tale Of crime. In the
attempts to influence talesmen, and the
part Of it, whispered words CON
yeyed the insinuation or directly Offered
the money influence. This reference will |
serve TO show the barriers this inquest has
encountered in securing evidence, but |
sufficient was offered BY voluntary and |
reliable witnesses to justify the indict- |
ment Of six men, as follows !: Thomas
McCrystol and John Cooney, with D. o. |
for attempting to bride tales
man, and Bernard Glaudi, Charles Crager |
and Ferneard Armant for attempt by
each to Bribe three different talesmeri.
These parties are closely shown to have
been intimate with O'Malley, often at his
office, informed Of all doings, and were
active workers IN the jury-fxing business
I'VE are prompted to express ourselves
IN depreciation of the hesitation of many
Of our citizens to be connected with crimi-
nal prosecution by seeking relief from
jury duty"
LONDOy'S FOUL SCANDAL.