Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-31
MR. MASSEY ON "LYNcH-LAW.n
What He Thinks Regarding the Recent
New Orleans Affair.


New Orleans Affair.
Hon. John E. Massey. State Superintend-
ent Of Public Instruction, and one OF
the best posted men in Virginia. was re-
Gently approached by q DISPATCH reporter
with a view of ascertaining his opinion re-
pardine lynch-law and the action OF the clti-
zen of New Orleans in dealing with the muir
derers of Chief-of-Police Hennessey. MIR.
Massey has decided convictions on these
subjects, as will be seen from what Is gwen
below:
us lynch-law ever justifable? II so,
under what circumstances ?" asked the
reporter.
rarely excusable, and never justifdble, ex-
cept as the dernier resort But when men
organize themselyesinto secret oath-bound
societies for the purpose Of committing
crimes, and by their combination become
able to defy the law and prevent its ex-
ecution, and do defy and defeat 1t by
taking the lives of those charged with its
administration, intimidating and bribing
iuries, and terrorizing whole communities
of good citizens, self-preservation, the
peace and well being of society, justice, and
mercy, all demand that the peaceable, law
abiding, and order-loving citizens
should unite to protect themselves, and to
maintain law and order by Kidding them
selves of such monsters, and extln-
| gushing organizations and societies
whose chlet objects are the commission
of crime and protection OF criminals.
Such an assembly Of citizens for such
purpose cannot be properly called mob
nor their acts STYLED mobocratic, their aim
| being to maintain law and preserce the peace
and order of society rather than disturb
| them or allow them to be disturbed"
CITIZENS OF NEW ORLEANS yusTIfIABLR.
"Were the citizens of New Orleans justi-
| fable in taking the lives OF the eleven
| Italians recently shot and hung by them
| II so upon what grounds?"
| 1T seems that there IS secret organiza-
| ton in New Orleans COMPOSED of the worst
classes of criminals-counterfei black
| mailers, robbers, thieves, and murderers,
and the very dregs of the lowest cast of
| Italians and Sicilians who have been
spewed out Of their native land and dump
| cd upon American soil. Each member of
| binds himself by oath to execute the de
| crees of La Malta, no matter how cruel and
| villainous they may be. They assess large
| sums upon good and orderly citizens and
| inform them that their failure to pay them
| will be forfeiture OF their lives. II On off,
Ger of the law interposes to protect tho in
nocent and bring the guilty. to punish
ment they shoot him down at his own door
and then defy the law, bride and intimi-
date iuries, and terrorze the whole COM
| munity.
| From all tho information have seen
| this was Just what these victims had done.
| 1.-The people of New Orleans seem TO
| have exercised wonderful patience and for
| bearance toward them so long as there was
any hope that they would be justly dealt
with by legal process, but when II became
| apparent that they had either bribed or
| intimidated the jury who had TO decide
| their fate and that they were to be turned
loose unwhipped of Justice to steal, rob,
blackmail, and murder. with impunity
| there was but one course left for the pro-
| lection Of life or property.
THAT course was adopted and pursued
| with wonderful order. system, and quiet.
WONDERFUL ORDER AND SYSTEM.
Unless the information upon which
this opinion is based is unreliable the
action of the citizens OF New Orleans was
commendable.
Malta back to their native land they would
deserve still higher commentator.
Zone Of the worst features in this af-
fair is that while there was no reasonable
doubt of the completely Of these Italians
in the ASSASSINATION of Chief-ot Police
Hennessey, not one word of condemnation
or disapprobation was heard from one OF
their countrymen; but when they re-
ceived justly -merited punishment. the
profoundest sympathy for them and the
bitterest denunclations OF those who
melted out TO them their Just deserts is
heard from their counsrymen all over the
land.
This is a bad omen."