The Dickinson press., 1891-05-09
The New Orleans Grand Jury Bring
in a Lengthy Report ON the
Hennessy Murder.
They Severely Condemn the Action
of the Jury in Acquitting
the Italians.
They Review the Killing and Fail to
Bring an Indictment Against
Anyone.
The Grand Jury's Report.

pleted its labors on the Hennessy case
and the killing of the Italians at the
parish prison, by presenting long spe-
cial report at 4:30 o'clock this afternoon.
It first reviews the Hennessy murder
trial and says of the verdict that it was
a startling, amazing, bitter disappoint-
ment, shocking to public opinion, pro-
voking repeated accusations that some
of the jury had been unfaithful to their
Office. eve feel that we do not tran
scend the limits of our duty as grand in
quest, to refer to the str, ng presentation
of the case as made by the state through
council associated in the prosecution,
clear. continuous, complete, convincing,
in direct testimony and ma
terial circumstances, it ap-
peared more than sufficient
to convince the most unwilling listener,
with its truth, and convey full measure
of its power, to those who ventured
doubt" 1t then speaks of rumors of
improper influences at work as demand
ing investigation, which all jurors well
coined. Itsays: "Carful observers tes-
tify with special reference to the marked
inattention of the Jury as witnesses sub
mitted their evidence, conduct most un-
becoming and fraught with gravest con-
sequences when momentous import of
issue is considered. We are led to con-
clude that the jury undertook to try the
case when it was submitted by their own
estimate of value of statements made by
parties not called as witness.
With strange unanimity they dwelt upon
what they knew by reading and hearsay
of certain incidents of the assassination
prior to the trial, and made those the
basis of powerful persuasion for giving
the accused the benefit of the doubt and
concluding deliberations in their favor.
We must take occasion to say that 1t was
not expected to obtain any evidence of
undue influence from members of the
jury, for those who were uncorrupted
had nothing ta reveal, while others would
not make themselves particepts criminis,
yet in their numerous statements much
was obtained having direct connection
with, and supported by a great
volume Of testimony elected during
tie course of inquiry. 1t is clearly
brought out by the evidence of the jur-
ors that, as affecting three of the ac-
cused, Politez, Scaffedi and Monasterio.
the jury engaged in deliberation in their
case some four or five hours, attended
with intense excitement, and on repeated
ballots the jury vote stood: 6 guilty, 6
not guilty. This is clearly defined in
dication of the convictions Of the jury as
to three of the accused. 1t impresses us
deeply, as it must everyone to whom the
fact is conveyed, and forces the conclu-
sion that the evidence was sufficient to
justify the six jurors who stood resolute
and determined for verdict of guilty,
making it well-nigh impossible to reach
any other conclusion than a
mistrial. These three accused,
named above, were probably the unwill-
ing actors designed by the leaders of the
conspiracy to execute the villainous part
in which they had neither personal mo-
tive or interest. Following this investi-
cation, it was quickly learned from vari-
GUS sources that talesmen had been ap-
prosched. The grand jury knows that a
list of 500 talesmen in the Hennessy
case was in the office of O'Malley
Adams at IL o'clock Sunday
morning, February %, 1891, though the
trial Judge issued special orders Satur-
day evening that the list was not to be
made public or given to counsel of either
side until Monday morning. It is not
shown by whose hands the list was se-
cured, but enough is shown to confirm
the past secret and powerful influence
held by the so-called private detective
hgelGs hges +hn anu ,,oon, IGunsei Aaams 4aa 70
At.er 1ard scoring e; ing . 0Maliey Ior tne part ne
M R.aygu ftai;aa ~ .nG amair, .le report !akes up
oto.s one leaaia notaat ngaS3 iaestlo1, ana
en.eis pto'es. aganst thi ailio~lng a1alan
eranais 70 +h zone 10 !nls CO.. Gount[y In
sPeah,ng ol ene katlg 4t OF Ine t!allans'
me rep1r1 9l says: W III is shown IN the evl-
uehce Cna' gue gacnering on SATURDAY
Mornlng5 ~ Marce lar - embraced several
1nousanG mo as ol 'ne nrs.. oese ana even most
law apialng cltlzens OF tnls clsy' as
sempiea as Is the rlghc OF american cit
lzens, 10 uiscuss IN p"oMc NC meetlng,
4lesolons Oh grave import. we ma that
one genera sentimeht among these wit
neeses ana also III our intercourse with
people, thac tne Verdlct as rendered by
tne jury was contrary 10 law and
eVlaence ana secured manly through the
designing e ana inscriptions agents en-
ployea tor the special purpose OF defeat
ing 1ustlce; al tnat meetlng detetmlna,
Ilon !1 was enown that M inc people would
not snpmlt 70 the surrender OF their
rignts mo tne hanos OF midnight gl assas-
sins ana tnelf poweriul allies. Inc assa j.
slnation OF the late chief OF police shows
culmlhatlon cur 5, OF conspiracy Ills death
was deemed necessary to prevent ex.
p3sare sure 3t ana @ punishment sni e.. OF criminals
wpose guilt was beng FAST established
by bis dliigent pursuit. The condition
OF affalrs IN this community as to certain
classes OF vlolators OF the law, had
IeaGeea ;tsnif naa snch oi1 q state state that law
llseIa la ell, was was wen nlgh poWerless
TO deal with them, SO far reaching was
their power and influence in the trial OF
CRIMINAL cases. Good cltizlns we're pro;