Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-05-07
ENUMERATED.
The Grand Jury's Report on the
Affairs at New Orleans.
THE LYNCHIEG DECLARED NECESSARY
The Hennessy Jury Bribed By the Malta
and the Course of Justice Perverted
Necessity of Restricting Immigra-
tion Especially From Italy.

completed its labor in the Hennessy
case and the killing of the Italians at
the parish prison by presenting a vol
luminous report virtually generating
the lynchers on the ground that it was
clearly in evidence that the Hennessy
jury had been bribed. Speaking of the
Malta the report has this to say:
The extended range OF our researches has
developed the existence of the secret organ
ization styled malta" The evidence comes
from several sources, fully competent in
themselves to attest its truth, while the fact
Is supported by the long record Of blood
curdling crimes, it being almost impossible
to discover the perpetrators or secure wit
nesses. As if to guard against exposure, the
dagger or stilettO is selected as the deadly
weapon to plunge into the breast or back of
the victim and silently do its fearful work.
Revenge was their motto. Jealousy and
malice speedily found solace in these
methods while the burning vengeance of the
vendetta sought satisfaction in the life blood
of an enemy. The officers of the Malta and
many of / s members are now known.
Among them are men born in this city of
Italian origin using their power for the
basest purpos, 5, be it said TO their eternal
disgrace.
Inc larger number of the society is COM
posed of Italians and Sicilians, who left their
native land in most Instances, under as
sumed names, TO avoid conviction and pun
ishment for crimes there committed and
others were escaped convicts and bandits,
outlawed in their own land, seeking the city
of New Orleans for the cOngenial compan-
ionship of their own class. These men know
the swift retribution of the law in Italy, for
hundreds have been shot down at sight by
the military in the mountains of Sicily with
out second thought. To day there is record
ed in the office of the Italian consul in this
city the names OF some LOO Italians and
Sicilians landed here during several years
past, showing the official record of their
criminality in Italy and Sicily. Hundreds of
them are among us to-day. We doubt not
the Italian government would rather be rid
of them than be charged with their custody
and punishment.
Such is the VII known character of part
of the Italian colony, as il is called, who are
domiciled in this city and vicinity. 1t can
not be questioned that secret organizations
whose teachings are hostile to the funda-
mental principles of the government of the
United States must be Il continual menace to
the good ordcr of society and the material
welfare of the people. Whether under the
name of Mafia, Socialist, Nationalist or
whatever it may be, whether located in New
Orleans, Chicago or New York, the meetings
Of their members create and disseminate Sc
Gitious opinions with manifest tendency
toward overt acts whose commission par
takes of the rankest treason.
The necessity for restrictions in i'm
migration from Italy especially is point
ed out as follows:
We have stated in our remarks about the
Malta that several hundred Italian criminals
are in this city waO should not have left
their native land without the Endorsement
of the American consul as to character and
here. The time has passed when this coun-
try can be made the dumping ground for the
worthless and deprdved of every nation.
The crisis is reached and on the magnitude
of the issue it becomes the duty OF the next
congress to quickly enact such vigorous
laws that complete protection be afforded
henceforth against these evils.
At the same time we shall plainly say
from our own cxperieuce that a large part
OF the Itaiian colony IN this city is recog-
Il zed as a worthless class. They do not in
dulge freely in tine use of beer or alcoholic
drinks Fairly Industrious, those who re-
main in the city sooI save up few dollars
more by the strictest frusaliiy than other
wise, and soon are doing something for
their own benefit AS it, by common consent
the fruit and oyster business has drifted
into the handss,of'the Italians, the volume
OF which are in wholesale and retail lines
reaching immense proportions. What
more could they vish? What more
could they ask? No other coun-
try on this earth would extend to
any newcomers suclIprivAeges, and what do
we ask in return? Simply that they, like
others of foreign birth, should conform to
existing laws by which their persons and
property are protected; to assimilate in
thought and deed with our people in de-
nouncing the wrong and upholding the
right; to rise above the fears and persua-
sIons of secret societies. helping to crush
their power; and above all else showing an
allegiance to the principles of the national
and state governments with no doubtful
fidelity, realizing that the one flag, as the
emblem of freedom, is not less the index of
a nations power, IS the stars and stripes,
which must and shall be respected.
Concluding the report says:
The assassination OF the late chief of DO
lice showed the elimination of a conspiracy
His death was deemed necessary to prevent
the exposure and punishment of criminals
whose guilt was being fast established by
his diligent pursuit. The condition of af-
fairs in this city toward a certain class of
V. olatOrs of the law had reached such stage
that the law itself was well nigh poweEless
to deal with them so far reaching was their
power and influence, in the trial of criminal
cases. Good citizens were profoundly
impressed by the repeated and sig
nal failures of justice. The arts of the per
iurer and briber seemed to dominate in the
courts, paralyzing and rendering powerless
the ends of justice. Certainly this was a
desperate situation.
In the public meeting above referred to
general AMI spontaneous in character as
truly indicating an uprising OF the masses
we doubt if any power at the command of
the authorities would have been sufficient to
overcome its intensity. Evidence is before US
from official sources that eleven persons
were killed in the attack on the parish pris-
on. In the careful examination as to the CT
izenship of those men we find that eight of
them were beyond question American eiti-
zens, and another had declared his lnten-
tom in this court, which act carries with
it the remuneration of allegiance to his ma
tive country.
Itisa noteworthy fact in connection with
the uprising that no injury whatever was
done to either person or property beyond
the one act which seemed to have been the
object OF the assemblage at the parish
prison
We have referred to the large number OF
citizens participating in this demonstra-
tion, and estimates of judges at from 5000 to
{. 900 regarded as spontaneous up
rising Of the people. The mag
nitude> of this affair makes
n dfficult task to fix the guilt upon any
number. of participants-in fact the act
seemed tofnviOlve the entire people OF the
parish and city of New Orleans, so profuse
is their sympathy and extended their con-
nection with the affair. In view of these con-
alterations the thorough examination OF the
subisct has failed to disclose the necessary
facts to justify the grand jury in presenting
indictments.
Ex-Gov. Crittenden is quite sick at