Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-28
those whose resource is the most dangerous
factor in modern civilization-that Of con-
spiraoy

| odckeu Dy the ROVER OIL Inc Nldud.
Esposito had tremendous influence, an
was backed up by the Mafa-that terribl
association of oath-bound assassins. Esposit
had hold on his Sicilian friends here an,
they came to the frontin his behalf withou
delay, but Hennessy out-generaled them ant
got his man off to New York in charge o
the United States marshals. On the 24tl
day of August, 1881, before United State
Commissioner of this city, Salvador Can
nino, tailor; Nicolo Taranbino, Johr
Caruso, Salvador Milano, Angelo Cusi
mano, P. Salamoni and several others en-
gagged in the fruit business. swore that they
knew Antonino Costanzo, known in New
York as Vincenzo Ribello; that they had
done business with him and had known him
here since 1878. This man Costanzo was Es-
posito.
Then, either In person or by deposition,
before United States Commissioner John A.
Osborn, in New York, in the matter of ex-
tradition, John Watson, second steward oi
the steamship City of New Orleans, testified
that he knew the prisoner three or four years
In New Orleans as Dago John; Antonio
Angelo, commission merchant; Antonio
Pallegrina, in the fruit business; Giuseppe
| Provenzano, in the fruit business; Rocco
Gerachi, longshoreman; Messina Salvatore,
seaman on river boats, testified that they saw
| and knew the prisoner in New Orleans as a
1rult vender as early as May or June, 1873,
and that his name was Constanso.
The Prisoner Positively Identified.
As proof of his identity the prosecution
introduced the description given by Nicolas
Nicolosi, photograph certified to by Gus
tavo Randeri, chief of the prison guard at
a Tr,fn nf fhn
| guards in the great prison at Palermo. who
said it was good likeness of Esposito; r.
Deltufo Gaetano, of the prison guard at
Palermo, Rosario Guaruaschelli, Vice Chan
cellor of the Court of Appeals, Varenzo
Lorenzo local police agent, also testified
that it was an excellent likeness. De Pietro
zopito, police guard, and Giuseppe Dora,
carabineer, identified him positively.
Hennessy had proved his case, established
his reputation and brought upon himself
the Unsuitable hatred of the Malta.
After he became Superintendent of Police
the body of Sicilian was discovered JAN
uary "a, 1889, in the Sixteenth street canal
near the lake shore. The mans throat had
been cut. With his usual intrepidity Hen
messy rushed forward the investigation. He
brought to light the fact that it was the
body of Vincenzo Uttomvo, who had lived
at the corner of Liberty and Perdido; that
the victim had been invited to a card party,
and while seated at the table one of the par
ties in the room quietly came behind him,
and, with razor, almost severed his head
from his neck. The blood was stanched by
towel held in readiness for that purpose,
the body thrown into wagon, driven out to
the canal and sunk by means of bricks.
AHorrible Discovery in Store.
Antoni Dunna and Antoni Corso were ar
rested, charged with the crime, but Mary,
the witness of the deed, suddenly disap-
peared as if the ground had swallowed her.
Then on February q, 1889, horrible dis
covery was made in the little store at the
corner of Derbigny and Bienville. Here
lived John Mattaine, mis- wife, Pep1ne, and
his children. The place had been locked
for two days, and Mattaine's little girl,
child of about years. was left in the yard
by herself and told someone that her father
was dead. The police found an entrance,
and on going upstairs into the attic found a
sickening sight. The floor was covered, and
the pillow and mattress of the bed saturated,
with blood.
The child said that Mr.. Charley, Dago
who came to see her father, had killed him
with an ak and then burnt his body. Her
mother looked on at the butchery. Charles
Teresa, alias Carlo, was searched for in
vain, but Hennessy himself arrested Mrs.
Mattaine, on the description furnished,
while she was wandering around the, city
carrying her baby in her arms. The burnt
and mutilated body was found in little
closet next to the fatal room. The woman
told the same yarn as the girl, but whether
it was Mrs. Mattaine or Carlo who COM
mitted the murder was never ascertained.
Tba Lof fol al 81.
ing match between John Caruso and Joe
Provenzano.
Determined to Quen the Vendetta.
As soon as Hennessy heard OF the case he
hurried to the scene in company with Cor
poral Boyard and myself Several arrests
were made. 1t was after this that the cele-
brated meeting at the Red Light Club took
place. Hennessy was man who never de-
layed action. He was police Napoleon.
He foresaw that serious trouble was brewing
between the two local factions of the Malta
the Matrangas, Carusos and Joe Macheca
on one side, the Provenzanos on the other.
He at once called them together and said:
"This must stop. 1 prefer that you make
up; but If you do not shall know no friend
ship; will prosecute you ALL This ven-
delta business must stop. As to the Malta,
leave that to me. am fully able and de-
term1neO 10 Dreak IL up.
They shook hands and promised to behave
themselves. In less than two months, that
is on the night of the 9th of May, 1890, the
Matranga party was waylaid and fired into
at the corner of Claiborne and Esplanade
streets. With his usual alacrity Hennessy
was on hand, and by daylight all the suspects
were in Jail: In the trial that followed,
Hennessy and his men furnished all the
testimony that came into their possession.
He said all he could as far as legitimate
testimony went, but positively refused to
have anything to do with D. c. O'Malley,
who was employed by the Matrangas to as
sist in the prosecution.
Condemned to Death by the Malta.
The accused were convicted on the first |
trial, but were granted new trial by Judge |
Baker 1t was then that Hennessy declared |
his intention of going on the witness stand |
and telling all that he knew. He threat |
eued exposure of the vendetta and the |
Malta. He had penetrated their secrets |
aud dared to perforate them. Then it was
that this dread organization sat in death
council on him. They held their meeting,
distributed the blood money and foully |
slew him. Captain Journee was placed in |
by the Mayor. The Mayor at
once sent men to shadow the Matranga
party, who were at the theater that
night. This was great stroke and
led to important discoveries. Captain
Journee and myself held con-
sultation next day and fully plotted out the
plan to be pursued. D. S. Caster, the
present superintendent, was then detective
and was placed in full charge of the secret
service branch of the work. 1t was stu
pendous undertaking to discover witnesses
who would voluntarily tell what they knew
and then protect them from the vengeance
Of the Malta and the corrupt influence of
The secret agents of the accused assassins.
They were threatened in all manner of ways.
Iournee and Caster lahored daY and night