Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-03-15
AVENGED.
Grim Justice Dealt to Hsnnessy's
Alleged MnrdeFers.
Indignant al ,he Verdict Of sequittsi
4 Moo Storms the jail and
Lynehes Sax OF the Accused.
AZ ExcIrISs SCENE.

and the sieilisa assassins taken cut
and lynched. Some were shot and
others hanged The killed are Manuel
Politzs Pietro Aonastorio, Antonio
seaftedi, Joseph p. Maeheca, Antonio
aarehssl and Antonio Bagnette. In
eardona, Matranga and the Marchesi
boy were not molested.
The verdict OF the jury, rendered Fri
day, sequittlng SIX prisoners and re-
porting disagreement as TO the three
others, was received with general dis
approval and rage and for time il
was apprehended that an attempt woald
be made 10 wreaa vengeance upon the
prisoners at once, but this was
averted for the time. The evening news
paper extras were filed with intima-
tions that the jury had been corrupted.
IL was asserted that not less than SIS, =
600, and probably as much as sl0O, coo,
was contributed by Italians all over
the country for defense fund. Thou
sands OF dollars, it is said, came from
Chicago and New York. and farm Ia
borers IN this vicinity were taxed two
dollars head. These statements only
lace still more, and as conse-
quence call appeared in the
morning papers, signed by 1oe prom
inent citizens, for a mass meeting to
assem- ole at the Clay statue at 10 o'clock
ito take steps to remedy the failure of
justice in the Hennessey case" Come
prepared for action" was tho conclud-
ing injunction in the call.
When the hour for the meeting ar
rived the neighborhood of the statue
was black wit. dense concourse of
excited people all anxious to wreak ven
geance on the accused prisoners
just at the stroke Of 10 shout went
up from the people stationed at
st. Charles street, and a number of
gentlemen, among whom were W. S.
Parkerson, John o. Wickliffe, and
others. who signed the call, came
marching along and began walking
round and round the railing of the
Clay monument.
Fall in!" Fall in" was the deafen-
Ing cry. and amid deafening shouts sew
eral of the crowd formed the pro-
cession, which went around the
railing of the Clay monument.
The view from that altitude was i'm
posing. Not bad word escaped the
lips of the gentlemen who had mounted
the steps. They stood erect, notion
less, surveying the surging null
titude, from whose serried ranks
there cleaned faces full of re-
solve and determination. There
were fully 5000 persons within ear
shot and more could be seen struggling,
pushing and running here and there on
the neutral ground. Street cars were
unable to pass through. Carriages,
carts. wagons, cabs and vehicles
of all descriptions were halted. The
people were about TO exercise their
mighty prerogative of sovereignty and
were in no mood to get out of the way
Theirs was fixed purpose: to hear
what they expected would be said and
10 do what an outraged community felt
should be done.
Mr.. Patterson spoke first. He said
that once before he had appeared be-
fore the people in grand mass meeting
assembled to discuss matters vital To
the interest of the community, and
again he faced the people of New
Orleans to denounce the most infamous
act which was consequent upon the
most revolving crime in the criminal
annals of any community. That act
was the finding OF the jury in the muir
der trial and that crime was, as every
body knew. the foul assassination of
the chief of police. AZ desire neither
fame nor name nor glory" said Mr..
Patterson. Il am q plain American
citizen, and as such and as a good citi-
zen am here"
The crowd was yelling itself hoarse.
Fury ungovernable was evident
throughout that immense nssemblage,
which, by that time, numbered fully
eighty thousand people. shall you
protect yourself?" yes" "Self-
preservation is the first law
of natureP' This is tho time
for action, not talk" Lets
60. let's goP' Come on, wycliffer'
"Come on. Parkersonr ave are
readyr'-were some of the cries which
escaped from the throng
Mr. Wycliffe then spoke, and as he
concluded there was just the slightest
momentary lull in the storm. Then
some one yelled:
''Shall we get our guns?"
Yes, yes, get your guns" said Mr..
Parkerson. Get your guns and meet
us iG Congo square Immediately"
Loud cheers were given as Mr.. Parker
son and the other gentlemen
moved down the steps. Then
an ominous silence reigned. ard
the steady tramp. tramp of men fall
ing into line and marching along was
heard and the crowd followed the lead
ers along Canal street 10 Rampant.
They marched down Rampant 10 place
where weapons were obtained and then
Congo square was i ssht
The parish prison - reached az 1000
o'clock The wooden door on Marais
street was broken in with large
billet Of wood used as a catapult and
heavy rocks were also poured against
H. After the door had been broken
down there was a wild rush for en-
trance Two men. however. stood at the
door and prevented anyone from going
in except those that carried shotguns
and winehesters The prisoners were
then quickly reached and dragged from
their cells. The avengers bounced mp
on the six already mentioned and inside
Of ten minutes they hsa al been either
riddled with bullets or hanged
49, 49,. .ee,Sss~,S hoa b~n- r-,& q,
death Mr.. Patterson addressed the
crowd. urging them to return n their
homes or respective places Of business