Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-04-03
What Led to Lynch Law.

David G.. HenneSsy, Chief Of the New Or
! leans police was shot dead near his house by
! Italians on the night of last October Is. The
assassination was instigated by members Of
| Italian secret societies. against which Hen
messy had collected evidence Of the blacklist
crimes. The motive was the suppression Of
the information in his possession.
The history of the immediate series Of
events which eliminated in the murder
dates back to last June when a party Of
Italians shot down in the street six members
of an Italian organization unfrlendly to
them. Forty murders OF similar nature
had been committed by Italians in the
city during the preceding few years,
and the authorities with the undivided
support of all English-speaking citizens, de-
termined to make all possible efforts to stop
this incessant slaughter by the Malta Hen
Messy took active charge Of the resulting in
vestigation. He did this with full knowledge
that his lie would be in constant danger from
the moment the Malta societies learned his
intention
He had hardly begun his work when he
was notified by dozens of anonymous letters
that every step in his investigation was
nail in his coffin. At the instance of his
friends he protected himself with small
body guard of detectives VINO accompanied
him all day and took him to his house
at night. Despite this precaution, he,
as we'll as all his friends, real
lied that he was constantly in imminent dan
ger of assassination. The June murderers
were brought into court. Six men were tried
and convicted. Before the case was finished,
however, the principal witness against the
prisoners was killed by the Malta. Then a
new trial was obtained. With renewed energy
Hennessy set about collecting more evidence
against the Stopaliagieri and other Italian
associations Of assassihs in the city. BY taking
advantage of feud among the members, he
secured an Immense amount Of sensational in
formation which, he promised would have
weight enough to crush all the Malta societies
in New Orleans.
His success was his death warrant. Mem
bers of societies against which he had evil
dence decided he must die.
On the evening Of October Is gang of
hired Italian murderers concealed them
selves in q vacant house at the corner of
an alleyway near his home. Hennessy,
pi noa and an the S1pI ts ef.
companied by Police Captain OConnor.
About two blocks from his house Hennessy
bade his companion goodnight, and pro-
ceeded homeward Although in the most
popuious part of the city, Hennessy was
alone in the street tor the night was black and
wet. He turned the corner near his house,
and came into the glare Of an electric
light. A volley flashed from the house
in the alleyway. Hennessy sank wound
ed, but raised himself, drew his revol-
YER aud began firing back. He was answered
with scattering shots from the Italians. AS
HeEnessy went down with a score OF wounds,
O'Connor, who had heard the firing, came
running up the street. The assasslns ran
from the house and scattered. Three of them
in their terror threw away their firearms
As they fed they We're Joined by four other
armed men, who had waited apparently to
kill Hennessy in case he escaped the first
gang.
Hennessv was found riddled with slugs
and buckshot He lay gasping in his blood
at the foot of a doorstep, his revolver
clutched in his right hand. At his home
medical examination showed that his lungs
and stomach had been perforated. and that
two shots had been lodged in his legs. A
bullet was also found close to his
heart Nine other bullets had passed
through his clothing. He was rational
| to the last but was too weah to say more
than that he lad been killed by "Dagos-"
Additional conclusive evidence of this fact
was found in the weapons thrown away by
| the fleeing assassins. All Of them were
sawed muskets, such as are used only By
| Italians The barrels were cut OF short,
| and the butts were on hinges, so that the
guns could be folded and carried IN the
| pocket.