New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-15
LED THE LYNCHERS.

NcW-OrleanS, MaGcn l4.---NtN-CiIrdho o'iuOA
the Malta death-blow to-day. 1t rose
in its might almost at midday and wreaked
a terrible vengeance upon the Sicans who
are suspected OF killing David c. Hen
messy, the Chief of Police, and though there
are eleven men dead tonight who were happy
yesterday over their victory In the greatest crnl-
fnal trial the city has ever witnessed. the work
of blood was ACCOMPLISHED without unnecessary
disorder without rlOting. without pIllaeing and
without the infection OF suffering upon any Inno
cent man. save one and he was Ony slightly hurt
II was not an unruly midnight mob. 1t was
simply sullen, determined body OF citizens VINO
took into their own hands what justice had igno
miniously failed TO do.
The Chief of Police was slain on October 10,
and that night the evidence began to accumulate,
showing that his death had been deliberately
planned by secret tribunal, and carried out
boldly and successfully by the tools of the con-
spirators. Tie trial lasted twenty-five days, ana
though the evidence seemed conclusive. the Jury,
charged with having been tempered with. failed
to convict. Last night body OF co0l-hcaded
men, lawyers doctors, merchants and political
leaders-al persons of influence and social stand
ing-ouietly met and decided that some action
must be taken and the peoples justice swift and
sure be visited upon those whom the jury had
neglected TO punish This morning the call for
n mass meeting at Clay Square on Canal-st. APP
peared in the papers. which edtorially deprecated
violence. The significant closing sentence OF the
call was: Come prepared for action
Down in large room on Bienvil!e and Royal
sts thcre was an arsenal which had been provided
for the days work The call was answered by
the populace. At 10 o'clock 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 go to
any length. and while there were of course many
of the lower element in the throng. large pro-
portion were the leading people of the town.
There were three addresses. short and pithy and
business-lke, and the assemblagc, not unwillingly
was soon keyed up to a high pitch demon
strative in its denunciation of the as
sassins. Each of the speakers said
there had been a great mass-meeting
months before which had met quietly and dis
persed peacefully. 50 that the law might take its
course. The law had failed The time TO act
had come. W. S. Parkerson, the leader is
prominent lawyer here, the president Of the South
ern Athletic Club. and the man who led the Wig
orous city reform movement three years ago
Walter d. Dencger. another of the speakers
is of the leaders OF the New-Orlcans bar.
John Wickfe is prominent attorney, and James
D. Houston is one of the foremost men of the
who is supposed to have tempered with the jury.
the speakers announced that they would lead the
way to the Parish Prison, Mr.. Wicxiife conclud.
ing with these words
shall the execrable Malta be allowed to -four
ish in this city? Shall the Malta be allowed 70
cut down our citizens public streets by foul
means of assassination? Shall the Malta be al
lowed to bride jurors to let niurderers go scot
free"
BY this time the crowd had swellcd TO 5000
or more and before any one could realize what
had happened, the great throng. gaining recruits
at every step, trampling Gown the streets
TO the neighborhood of the prison, stopping only
once and that was at the arsenal where double
barrel shotguns. Winchester rifles, and pistols
were handed ont to responsible and respectable
men in the party. The starting of the crowd
had an electric effect on the city Soon
the streets were alive with people. run
ming from all directions, and joining the
main body, which moved sulenly down Rampant
10 the Jail near Congo Square. Doors and windows
were thrown open, and men. women and children
crowded on the galleries to encourage those who
were taking part and to witness the scenes. When
the main crowd from Canal-st. reached the prison
there had already collected there a dense throng,
all eager to take hand in whatver might happen.
When the vanguard of armed men reached the
prison, which is many squares from Canal-st. that
grim old building was surrounded on all
sides. Sheriff Where, when he heard
that a movement was on foot to take
the prisoners, armed his deputies and then
started on a hunt for Mayor Shakespeare. The
Italian Consul and Attorney General Rogers joined
in the pursuit, but the Mayor does not reach his
office until noon, and he not TO be found
at any of his regular haunts. The Governor had
not heard of the uprising and had no time to
act, and the police force was too small to oner
much resistance TO the army of avengers. Super
lntendent Caster had ordered extra detail Of
officers TO be sent to the jail and the small
crowd kept 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 the little band Of
bluecoats away. Captain Lem" Davis was on
guard at the main entrance with scant force Of
deputies. They were swept away like chaf before
the wind and in an instant the little ante-room
leading into the prison was jammed with eager.
excited men. Meanwhile the prisoners were
stricken with terror for they could hear distinctly
the shouts of people without madly demanding
their blood. Innocent and guilty alike
were frightened out of their senses, and
the prisoners who were charged with crimes
other than completely in the murder OF the Chief
also shared in the general decentralization. Some
Of the Drawer among the representatives OF the
Malta wanted TO die fighting for their lives. and
they pleaded for weapons with which to defend
themselves and when they could not find these
they sought hiding places. The deputies,
thinking TO deceive the crowd by rusc,
transferred the nineteen men to the womens
department, and there the Sicilians trembed in
terror until the moment when the doors would
yield TO the angry throng on the outside. Cap
tain Davis refused the request to open the prison
and the crowd began the work OF battcring in
the doors. Around on Orleans-st. there was
heavy wooden door, which had been closely
barred in anticipation Of the coming Of
the avengng mass. This the crowd selected
as their best chance OF getting in. Neghboring
houses readily supplied axes and battcring-ra
and willing hands went 10 work 70 force an
opening This did not prove difficult task to
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