Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-05-14
talesman took special care to deny any
knowledge OF the vile work or show a
deficiency OF memory,

knowledge OF the vile work or snow
remarkable deficiency OF memory
causing us to conclude that they were
silent for fear or had been cautioned
about discriminating any one. A num-
Der of witnesses most emphatically
denied that they had been approached
or spoken to, even after telling it to
friends who informed us. Among the
talesman a number of our citizens
have nobly come forward, relating
their experiences, furnishing some OF
the missing links in the chain of cir
cumstantial evidence which was drawn
around an organized band of jury
bribers. 1t is not to be questioned
that the work was systematically exc
cuted after careful preparation and
had to be done quickly. Necessity
was imperative for complete list OF
the talesman, and the grand jury
knows that the list of talesman was
in the Office of O'Malley and Adams at
IL O'Clock Sunday morning, February
22nd, though the trial Judge had is
sued special orders that a list was not
to be made public or given to the coun-
sci OF either side until Monday. 1t is
not shown by whose hands the list
was secured, but enough is shown to
confirm the secret and the hepowerful in
fiuence OF the so-called private detec-
tive agency and Counsel Adams to
handle the machinery of the court
Evidence shows that the list of names
were tampered with when drawn from
the jury wheel and before they reached
the jury box in the court. O'Malley
was put in possession of the lists al
most Immediately after the names
were drawn and before they reached
the District Attorney Office. Infiuen-
tial friends alonecould accomplish this,
but was secured in person of one of the
jury commissioners lately removed. 1t
is further learned that in the office OF
the detective agency is book OF names
and addresses OF Jurymen. Out OF 300
names drawn for the February panel
thirty-two were on O'Malley' list, and
late as talesmen were drawn many
more names appeared that were on
that list. Truly, business OF this en-
terprising detective agency was facili-
tated when, with an inside view, we
are enabled TO get the workings OF this
detective agency, through Detective
Collins, abundantly corroboratedf from
many sources, convlnces us that it had
at its command a board of periurers,
blackmailers, suborners and Jury
tamperers, and that it has for some
time been an element of discord in the
community and a stumbling block to
the administration of justice, which
should be eradicated. That its career
of crime has not been cut short is a
matter of wonder, and is, no doubt,
due to the fact that O'Malley and his
co-workers banded together for self
preservation. The extended range OF
our researches has developed the ex-
istence of the secret Organization
styled the "Mafia" Evidence comes
from several sources fully competent
in themselves to attest it's truth, while
the fact is supported by long record
of blood-curdling crimes, it being al
most impossible to discover the per-
petrators or secure witnesses. The
officers of the Malta and many of its
members are now known. Among
them are men born in this city, of
Italian origin, using their power for
the basest purposes, be it said to their
sts.a.i1isgrace. A larger number OF
the society is composed of Italians
and Sicilians, who left their native
country in most cases under assumed
names to avoid conviction and pun
ishment for crimes; others were es-
capped convicts and bandits, outlawed
in their own land, seeking the city of
New Orleans for congenial companion
ship of their own class. These men
knew the swift retribution OF the law
in Italy, for hundreds of them have
been shot down at sight by the mill
tary in the mountains of Sicily with
out second thought.
The report goes on to seriously re-
Il 4 L..
men in the trial. "Some of the jurors
testified in most emphatic terms that
had it not been for the persistent and
well-directed efforts OF the jurymen,
conspicuous from the first, the verdict
would have been materially different.
1t is certain that a special effort OF the
counsel for the defense was to select
for service such men as were we'll un-
der O'Mailey's influence. What can
be thought when three jurors were ac-
cepted with only some unimportant
question, or the clerk told to swear
them without question? A certain
class of violators of the law had
reached such a state that the law it.
self was nellnigh powerless to deal with
them, so farreaching was their power
and influence. In the public meeting
taneous i'll character as truly indicat-
ing the uprising OF the masses, we
doubt If any power at command OF the
authorities would have been sufficient
to overcome it's intentions. Evidence
is before us from official sources that
eleven persons were killed in an attack
on the prison. We find that eight oi
them were beyond question American
citizens, and another had ''declared
his Intention" which act carries with
it the remuneration OF allegiance to his
native country. The magnitude OF the
affair at the prison makes it difficult
task to fix guilt upon any number o.
participants, in fact, the act seemed
! to involve the entire people OF the par
ish and city of New Orleans, so pro
fuse was their sympathy and extended
their connection with the affair. Ii
view OF these considerations, Thorough
examination of the subject has failed
to disclose the necessary facts to jus
tify this grand jury in presenting in
dictments."
| A PHENOMENAL MINE.