The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-22
NEW ORLEANS TRAGEDY.
VERY INTERESTING Account By A
RESIDENT.


gentleman of this city from prominent citi-
zen Of New Orleans who has many warm
friends in Richmond. and who is known here
as conservative man. He was one Of the
signers of the call for the mass-meeting
which resulted in the New Orleans lynching.
The letter is q calm and dspassionate re-
view Of the whole matter, and will be read
with interest by oui people
NV ORLEANS. Mar. 49, 1891,
NV Dear --. | know that you Will be
glad TO hear from me on account OF whai oc'
cured here on Saturday. March lith. rive
days having passed, dispassionats acc"un.
can / believe now be given. on know una |
near midnight on the 18th of October last the
Chief of Police Of this city was shot down IN
front of his home. lie was not instantly
killed and when asked who had shot MN ne
answered "Dagoc-.' From tins, from evidence
which rapidly began 10 come IN. and from the
following facts IL was soon understood mat
he had fallen victim 10 the Malta. an oath
bound society of low Siclians. formed for tho
purpose of secretly numbering any one VINO
stood III "A members way.
FACTS or THE CASE.
The facts which ! referred 70 above are
these. During last summer faction of these
Scihans. known rs the Matrangas. were way
laid and desperately wounded hy another
faction known rs the ProyenZanOs. When
the PrOvenzanos were brought mp for trial,
thp Matrangas contrary 10 the "Dago' Gus
tom, for they have always refused 10
testify against one another. came mo
court and freely testified against the
ProvenZanos. During the course Of the
trial Chief of Police llennessy became con-
WINGED that the Malta society was supplying
periurcd testimony. Mr.. llenncssy beng
perfectly brave man. the best chiet OF ponce
New Orleans has ever had, conceived. be
Heve that by securing damnlng evidence
against the periurcr- he could land great
number of Malta members IN the penlteutihIN
and so break mp an orcanzluon whlch Ilhd
stained our city with catalogue OF uhpun-
ished crimes.
A COMPLETE RECORD.
In pursuance Of this plan he IS supposed to
have collected from Italy and elsewhere
very complete record Of the criminal careers
of these men. The Proyeuzanos, who had
been convicted were granted % new trial. ant
il Is not impossible that the chef elected
from them much information about the Mana
At any rate nc went on weaving ms net about
the leaders and members of the society.
ropu1AR 1SDIGNArIoN AROUSED.
The new trial was set for a date in October.
and shortly before it Mr. IIennes>y was muir
dcrcd horribly shot with small shot and
sing, hv manV men. Popular Indignation was
intense. and our excellent Mayor appointed "a
committee Of fifty representative citizens 10
aid in seeing Justice done. At theverv outset
of their investigation the executive commit
tee of the citizens found that "a So
called private detective. one Dominick
ONlalley convicted felon from Cleve-
land. o.. who had come here some years
before and already gained most nolsome
reputation as q blackmuer, suborner OF per-
Jury and lury-hXer, was diligently plying
his trade in favor Of the accUScd-fOr num-
Der of Dagoes had already been arrested for
the crime.
DAGO WARNING
The executive committee at once wrote TO
OMallev. warning him to dc-lst and intlmat-
no that If he did not they would drive him
from the community. O'Alalley returned "A
most impairment answer, asserting That ne
would do rs he pleased. The executive com
mittec then laid the correspondence before
the full committee. which, after prolonged
discussion decided that It would do nothing,
not even drive out OMallcy IN cOntraventiOn
of law 1t called mass-meetlng of the citl-
Zens, made known ITS policy, and asked FOR
large subscriptions to aid III the prosecution
of the case.
The policy was ratified. a moderate amount
of money was obtained and was expended IN
securing able counsel TO assist the state; the
committee elected "a new chairman, ITS hrst
having been very distastcful 10 one of our
morning papers, the Times Democrat, which
did not hesitate to attack him. then threw
cold water on the committee and even went 50
far as To speak in defense of O'Malley. and
and the first chapter of the celebrated case.
COMPUTING THE JURY.
How unfortunate the adoption Of this con
feryativen policy was appears IN the light Of
our present knowledge all too clearly. II
Gas the Evening states of the 10Th says
O'Malley had been driven out before the trial
began the tragedy of the lith would not have
become inevitable. The story of the trial. too
long for repetition. is doubtless well known to
you During its progress rumors OF the cor
ruptlOn of the jury grew louder anu louder.
believe that some members were tcrrouzed.
The whole truth viii soon be known. The
demeanor of O'Malley, who had publicly
boosted that no one who emplOyed.hm could
be convicted. grew more and more sWa~Ser-
ing. until ON the evening when great com,
munity was outraged 10y the verdict, 1t had
become indecently impudent.
DRIVEN To DESPERATION
There then. was the situation A people
who had long been convinced of the existence
amidst II of a murder society. had srlyen 10
destroy II by legal procedure IN vain. Men
taken red handed with each others blood
swOre that they were brothers in affection.
After great effort. as You know. for You
member the municipal revolution effected by
the G.. VI. ID. A. IN 1855, that people had sue
ceeded IN putting IN place man OF suih-
cient courage, character, and mtelh-
gence 10 threaten the life of the
society when We We're awakened To the
realization that the Malta had grown bold
enough to plot and consummate the deep
damnation Of his taking OF that among the
members We're men OF pseudo responsibility;
of much influence with certain class and of
considerable means. and that these men could
and would exert those means and influence 10
raise large sums Whcrcwith To employ the
wihcst and subtlcst criminal counsel u be had
for money, and the kcenest and most reckless
jury hNers and procurcrs of false evidence 10
turn aside the weapons OF the law.
THE CRISIS CONES.
What was TO be done while their compan-
ions were openly rejoicing at the verdict:
Could any community turn loose upon itself
these victorious thugs. \ cris had come.
That crisis. | can assure YOU. was met neither
with fear nor with Wild excitement. hut each
man felt than neither the officers of the law.
should they attempt l. execute it, non the
private citizen. should hc incur the omuity
If the MaGa. was heucef9rth safe. grca,
detective is peculiar product We had
staked our best with llenae,Sy and lost.
Every good citizen knew that hc
had given his taclt pledge TO uphold and
shield this law officer IN the discharge of MS
duty. That pledge had been tampled upon
10y the asSaSsins and the knowledge stung the
feelings of honorable men like "a blow 4
body of citizens representing our best classes
gathered together and after calm and earn
est debate. determined TO call a mass meet
ing and after laying the matter before the
whole people. held themselves in readiness 70