The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-28
LIGHT FROM NEW ORLEANS.

An Italian-born citizen of New Orleans
writes to the New York Sun, under date OF
March 18th, giving information in detail
concerning the Malta and the causes which
led to the summary punishment recently IN
fiicted upon members of that organization.
This correspondent says there are about
10000 Italians in New Orleans, of whom one
quarter are SiciiianS. There are only about
900 desperadoeS, most OF whom were out
laws in their own country. The methods OF
the outlaws were somewhat different from
those they practiced in Italy. A system OF
blackmailing was found to be quite as profit
able as open brigandage. Their principal
victims were their own countrymen. One
wealthy Italian resident was robbed OF
thousands OF dollars. He finally complained
to the Mayor, but under threats he begged
the Mayor not to investigate the matter.
In order to make blackmail effective there
had to be an occasional assassination. The
record for 1856 shows thirty murders. in
most cases the victim being shot down With
out witness. A few were killed in broad
daylight with hundreds of Italians looking
on But these witnesses when brought into
court always failed to recognize the muir
derer. 1t finally became an accepted fact
that no Italian, however bloody his record,
in turn came to regard these events as the
natural results of a vendetta, and took as
little notice as possible of them. But Chief
of Police HenneSsy determined to put stop
TO these proceedings. He was a skilful de-
teetive and a man of courage. He had run
down and tracked the bandit opposite in
New Orleans, and had turned him over to
the Italian Government He instituted in
quiries through the American Consul in
Italy az to the character of certain Siclians
in New Orleans, and in other ways made
himself obnoxious to the Sicilan gang. A
vendetta between tie two leading factions,
known as the ProvenzanOs and the MatrGn-
gas, afforded him an opportunity. Three
days before the case was to come mp for trial
Hennessy was shot down at midnight within
a few steps of his own house by five Sicilans.
The police caught the assassins and brought
them to trial. The Suns correspondent
continues:
The evidence was overwhelming. The assas-
sins had been less careful Than usual and a half
dozen persons them as they Shot down
HennesSy. When the authorities announced
their intention Of Furnishing the murderers an
attempt was made 10 frighten them from This
| work by anonymous threats OF assassination.
The popular Indignation was intense, and the
Mayor appointed Il committee of citizens. en-
bracing people OF all natlonaliies, bankers, mer-
! chants, lawyers and all classes, To watch the
case, so many persons felt convinced hat there
was no chance OF cOnvieting a Slcllian murderer.
There was some talk about lynch law at
the time, but it was finally decided to trust
! the case to the courts. The defense had an
abundance Of money. One lawyer was
! given a fee of $4,000. 1t had money for
| Jury and witnesses. When the ease was
! a ID hot no
had been tempered with. As a result of
this discovery the Grand Jury issued three
indictments for jury-bribing. The State
made out even a stronger case than had
been expected The murderers had been
seen and identified in the very act of muir
| der. The defense attempted to prove an
abb, but the Identification was too positive
| for this mode of defense. But 10 the sur
| prise Of the people the jury rendered YER
| diet Acquiring six of the nine asSassinS and
! a miStral of the other three by vote of
! s to in favor of their acQuittal. The city
! had spent S56,OO0 ON the trial only to turn
| the murdererS loose.
Such is in brief the account of an Italian
! resilient of New Orleans, who closes his re-
| cital in the following impressive words;
Alter suffering from this for thirty years, after
seeing that our entire criminal Judiciary system
! was likely TO be Il mOckery and danger the
| people of New Orleans took the only remedy left
for them and executed the asSasslns. Not
| another person was injured or insulIed and
| Siciians and Italians not connected with the
! assassination OF Hennessy were as safe from the
mob as any other nationality. Not ceat's
/ worth of property was destroyed. The whole
! affair occupied Only forty five minutes; eleven
aSsassus were executed and lesson taught
! juIy-briDers and peijurers that they VIII never
| forget