Middletown transcript., 1891-03-19
THE NEW ORLEANS rRoUBnE.

oueioWS anu COuflCtS WIZ
nave ned to this country for safety.
onier OF Police Hennessy of New
orleans traced several murders to this
pano OF outlaws and worked up the
case SO quickly and thoroughly that he
was almost ready to make his final
move toward the conviction of the
murderers when he was killed at his
door Dy an ambushed band Of Italians
as ne was returning home at night.
quite a number of Italians were arrest
ed and the evidence against them was
strong enough to convict, but the jury
was either bribed or intlmidated and
the murderers were about to escape
punishment, when the citizens of New
Orleans took charge Of the matter
ard breaking into the city Jail shot
nine Of the eleven prisoners. This
action threw the city into turmoil
and the whole Italian colony was in
danger. The Italian government pro-
tested as did many Italian societies in
this country, but the thing has settled
down and will probably lead to no
serious trouble with Italy, as the per-
sons killed were naturalized citizens Of
the United States. Gov. Nicolls OF
Louisiana and the New Orleans
authorities are doing everything possi-
Bile to ferret out the leaders who will
probably suffer for their rash acts.
THE MAFIA STILL AT WORK.
Mayor Shakespeare of New Orleans
has received a letter, purporting to
come from a committee of 5000
Italians, notifying him that w. S.
Parkerson, John G. Wickliffe, leaders
Of the citizens movement of Saturday,
and himself must die at the hands of
the aforesaid committee. In conclu-
sion the letter states that the chief
assassins are not yet caught. Chief of
Police Caster thinks all such letters
are a hoax.
Mr.. w. S. Parkerson has also receiv-
ed Malta warning, but it does not
make him feel uneasy, although there
may be some foundation for it. Mr..
Parkerson treats the letter lightly.
lie knows that if hair of his head is
touched it will result in auterrible
punishment of the Italians and Sicil-
ians.
MIR. PARKERSoN NOT SCARED.
Mr.. Parkers0o says he does not re-
gret the part he took in the affair.
He added: I" The wonderful thing
about it is that it was over so soon. |
did not take the initiative. The neces-
sity arose and the duty was forced
upon me. There is no more loyal and
citizen than am. When
Hennessy was killed we felt there was
no telling which of US would 60 next.
While the Malta confined itself to kill
ing its own members we did not resort
to violence. But Hennessy's> killing
struck at the very root of American
institutions. The intimidation of the
Malta and the corruption of our juries
are to be met only with strong meas
ures. Moreover, I recognize no power
above the people. Under our consti-
tuition the people are the sovereign
authority, and when the courts, their
agents, fail to carry out the law the
authority is relegated back to the peo-
pie who gave it. In this case 1 look
upon it that we represented the people
not the people of the whole United
States, perhaps, s,-but the people of
Louisiana. This is thing with
which the United States has nothing
to do. 1t is question of State gov
ernment entirely, since the State con-
trolls its own municipalities. I don't
think our example will encourage mob
law. The emergency was an extraor-
binary one. We could not wait to
have the laws against jury-packing re-
vised. The Legislature does not meet
for a year, and there are the laws de-
lay and peoples lives in danger. The
Governor might have been asked to
call an extra session, but no one is
sure that he would have consented. I
am not taking any measures to quell
fresh disorder. There will be no dis
order. Everything is quiet. The
good people are behind Us. don't
that l am controlling the
Town. Mayor Shakespeare is in con-
troll, and is well able to administ ter the
law. I don't apprehend any trouble
myself except from the Federal author
tiles. 1t is true, they say, that these
men were the subjects of foreign poten-
tates. But I understand that they
were just dumped here and that their
own governments were glad enough to
get rid of them"
THE GRAND JURY CHARGED.
Judge r. II. Marr, in section A,
Criminal Court, Tueday charged the
grand jury as follows;
"Gentlemen of the Grand Jury:
Since your last adjournment New
0releans has been the scene of
ieplorable tragedy, which terminated
n the death Of eleven persons, prison.
RS in the custody of the law, charged
With completely in the assassination of
David G. Hennessy, late chief of
,olice of this city.
81 say a deplorable tragedy, be-
ause, without reference to the causes,
III good citizens must and do regret
he taking of human life without
of law. The details and in
idents of this alleged homicide
md its cause and antecedents
re matters of public notoriety-they
re discussed in the daily press and
hey largely occupy the public mind
a homa and abroad