Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-05-08
CONSUL CORTE'S CLAIMS
He Says the Grand Jury Gar
bled His Words.
NINE WE'RE SUBJECTS OF ITALY,

He Takes Issue with the Jury Regard
ing the Citizenship of That Number OF
the Lynched Men--Detective o'MaIley
says the Italians Were All Innocent.
NEw ORLEANS, May s.-Signor Pasquale
Corte, the Italian consul, has sent the fol
lowing letter to the grand jury:
To w, H. Chaffe, Foreman Of the Grand
Jury, city:
DEAR SRI am surprised 70 see printed
in the report OF your honorable body q
great alteration Of certain parts Of my
statements, and especially OF those made
to Mr.. I.afaye and another member Of the
grand jury at my residence. II the grand
jury is trying to excuse the actions OF
some Of its members il does not concern
me personally, but | cannot allow my
statements to be altered or partially pub
lished with the object OF drawing infer
ences contrary to my deductions.
Many italian Criminals
II is my opinion that the good elements
should guard against the bad, and for this
reason when asked II there were any Ital-
ian criminals in this city did not hesi-
tate to reply, without giving the number,
that there are not as few as there are of
| other nationalities but | added that IL
would be difficult TO get rid OF them, either
because the most OF them are naturalized
| Americans who have the support Of poll
ticlans and certain authorities or because
| extraditions were too costly in the United
| States ! cited as an instance the extra
dition OF Esposito, TO which most OF the
| American press expressed itself In opposi
tion, and which was successful though
very expensive. Because there are a great
number OF criminals here, was surprised
to see persons sacrificed whose precedents
were good and who were acquitted or not
yet tried.
Easy for Fugitives 70 Land.
As to the incident on the Entella referred
to in the report Of the grand jury, was
asked by Mr.. I.afaye on the list inst il
what was published in The Delta on the
18th ult. was true. After having read the
article, saw that by a mistake II referred
to the steamer Elysia, of the Anchor line
and then said that as to the Entella
was surprised that the parties delegated
expressly by the mayor to examine int
the condition Of the immigrants did mo-
notice that s41 passengers landed, whili
the list called for ss2. This explains plainl.
to me how easily fngitives from justic
could be introduced into this country !
I incompetent authorities were in Office.
II Killed for Political Purposes.
8 II is partly due 70 this undue minglin
with outsiders in the temple OF justic
that ascribe the bloody tragedy. But th
agreeable silence, the studied reticence an
other accompanying irregularities wi
!. never destroy the truth OF the facts il
Cured, and which denounced TO my go
! ernment-viz., that an extra judicial bod.
I appointed by the mayor from the begir
i ming, premeditated, as ii appeared in il
: appeal, the killing Of the prisoners; this
the same body assembled on the night {
March 10 to take in cold blood the nece
sary steps 70 kill for political purposes d
1 fenseless adversaries; that about twent
parties, among them some representa-
law and order, executed said project thI
innocent Italian blood was shed; that n,
only nothing was done by the authoriti'
!, to prevent it, but a few officials contribu
ed directly or indirectly TO accomplish u
work, and, finally, that the names of u
! participants in the killing as well as tho
Z Of the instigators are Of public notoriet
Respectfully, p. CoRTE,
Consul Of Italy.
Nine Were Italy's Subjects.
- IL A.. Al