The morning call., 1891-03-15

NEW ORLEANS, March 14.-New Otleans
struck the Malta a death blow to-day. 1t rose
in its might almost at midday and wreaked
horrible vengeance upon the Sicilian assas-
sins who relentlessly slew David q. Hen
messy, aud though there are eleven men
dead tonight who were happy yesterday
over their victory in the greatest criminal
trial the city has ever witnessed. the work
of blood was accomplished without unneces-
sary disorder. without rioting, without pill
laying, and without nflicting suffering upon
any innocent man save one, and he was
only slightly hurt. 1t was not an unruly
midnight mob. 1t was simply sullen. de-
termined body of citizens who took into
their own hands what justice had ignomin-
iously failed to do. The Chief of Police was
slain on October 18th last and that very
night evidences began to accumulate show
Ing that his death had been deliberately
planned by secret tribunal and carried
out boldly and successfully by tools of the
conspirators. The trial lasted twenty-five
days, and though the evidence seemed con-
elusive, the jury, currently charged with
having been tampered with, failed to con-
Wet.
A MEETING CALLED.
Last night body of ccol-headed men
lawyers, doctors, merchants and political
leaders, all persons of influence and social
standing-quietly met and decided that
some action must be taken, and justice,
swift and SURE, visited upon those whom
the jury had neglected to punish. This
morning a call for a mass-neeting at Clay
square, on Canal street, appeared in the pa
pers, which edtOrially deprecated violence.
The significant closing sentence of the call
was: "Come prepared for action" Down
in large room on Bienville and Royal
streets there was an arsenal provided by a
body of citizens. The call was answered by
the pepRlaee, and at 10 e'elsek there was
crowd of several Thousand anxious people
congregated around the statue. They
hardly knew what was going to happen, but
they seemed ready to 60 to any length, and
while there were. Of course. many of the
lower element in the throng large proportion
were leading people of the town. There were
three addresses, short aud pithy and business
like, and the assemblage, not UNIV illingly, was
soon Keyed up TO the highest pitch, and demon
stratI7e iR its dennucialon Of the assasslns
LEADERS OF THE MOVEMENT.
Each OF the speakers said there had been a
great mass-meeting months before, which had
met quietly and dispersed peacefully, so the law
might take is course. The law had failed and
the time 10 act had come. w. 5. Parkerson the
leader, is a prominent lawyer here, President OF
The Southern Athl=tlc Cub and the man vino led
the vigorous reform movement three years ago
Walter d. Deneger, another OF the speakers, is
Que OF Ihe leaders Of the New Orleans Bar; John
&. Wekiif, also prominent attorney aud
James d. Houston, one of the foremost men of
the State. Alter deuOuncing Detective o. Nalley,
who IS alleged to have tampered with the jury,
the speakers announced that they would lead the
way TO the Parish Prison, Mr.. Wicklif cOnclud-
ing with these words: Shall the eXecrabe
hail be allowed 10 flourish 10 this city? Shall
the Malta be allowed TO cut down our citizens on
the public streets by the foul means of assassin a
lion? Shall lie Mata be allowed TO bribe jurors
and let murdeIers go iree?"
MARCH TO THE PRISON.
BY this time the crowd had swelied to 5000 or
more, and before any one could realize what had
happened the great tErong, gaining recruits at
every STEP was tfamiing down the streets to
The nelehborhood of the prison, stopping only
once aud that WAS at the arsenal, where double
barreled sbotguns, Winchester riff 8 and pistols
were handed out to responsible agd respectable
citizens IN the party. Tie starting of the crowd
had an electric eject ON the city. Soon the
streets were alive with people running from all
directions auI joining the main body, which
Congo square. Doors and windows were thrown
open. aud men, women and children crowded on
the galleries to encourage those VINO were tax
Ing part ana 10 witness tile scenes. When the
main crowd from Canal street reached the prison
there had already collected there dense crowd
All eager 10 take hand In whatever might
happen.
HUNT FOR THE MAYOR.
When the vanguard Of armed citizens reached
the prison, which is many squares from Canal
street, that grim old building was surrounded on
all sides. Sheriff Vilier when lie heard that u
movement was on foot TO lake the prisoners,
armed his deputies and then started on a hunt
for mayor Shakespeare. The Italian Consul
ana Attorney General Rogers joined in the pur-
suit but his Honor does not reach his office un-
III noon, and he was not 10 be found at any Of
his regular baunts. The Governor had not
heard Of the uprising and had time to act,
and the police force was TOO small TO offer much
resistance 10 the army OF avengers. Supefin-
tendrnt Caster had ordered au extra detail OF
officers TO be sent TO the Jail, aud the small crowd
keui the sidewalks around The old building clear
until the great multitude, swelling all the time
like mighty, roaring stream, surged around The
door and crowded tie II tie band Of blue-cOats
away. Captain Lew Davis was on guard at the
main enlIsace, with Scant force OF deputies.
TERROR-sTRICKES PRISONERS.
They were swept away like chaf before the
wind ana in ns, ant the little ante-roOm lead
Ing into the prison was iammed with eager. eX-
cited men. Meanwhile The prisoners were
stricken with terror, for they could hear dis
demanding their blood Prisoners who were
charged with crimes other than completely in the
niufdel OF Tue cDitI also shared IN the general
denera iiZaton. Some OF the braveT among the
representatives Of the Malta wanted to die light
ing for their lives and pleaded for weapons with
which TO defend themselves, and when they
could not ti;;d these they sought hiding places.
The deputies, thinking 10 deceive the crowd by
n ruse, transferred nineteen m5n 10 the female
department aud there the miserable Slcians
treuiblec IN terror until the moment when the
doors would Yield to the angry thr0ng on The
outside.
ENTRANCE GAINED.
Captain Davis refused a request to Open the
prison aud the crowd began the work OF batter
ing in The doors. Around Orleans street
there was heavy wooden door which had been
closely barred In anticipation OF The coming Of
tile aYenginS mass. TINS the crowd selected as
their best chance OF getting In. The neghbor-
ing houses readily supplied axes and battering-
rams, and willing hands went 10 work 10 force
an opening. TINS did not prove a difficult task
10 the trembling but determined throng. Soon
there was crash, The door gave way and in an
instant armed citizens were pouring through the
small opening, while rligbty shout went up
from 10000 ihroats III glad acclaim. There
WAS more resistance for the intrnders. however,
but It, TOO, WAS soon overcome wiiE huge billet
Of wood which the men carried. Then the turn
key was oYerpOweIed and The Keys taken from
him. BY that time the excitement was Intense
none less so when patrOl-wagOn drove up WIN
detachment Of policemen. VINO were driven
away under ire OF mud aud stones. when The
leaders Inside the prison got possession oil the
Keys Inc inside gate was promptly unlocked and
the deputies In the lobby rapidly got out OF
harms way and the avengers pressed into lie
yard OF lie White prisoners.
APPEAL FOR MERCY,
The door OF the first cell was open aud 4 group
OF trembling prisoners stood inside. They were
not the men who were wanted and this crowd
very quietly though with remarkable GOODNESS,