The Lamar register., 1891-05-09

has developed the existence Of the secret
organization STYLED the "Mafia-r Revenge
was their motto Jealousy and malice
speedily find solace in these methods,
while the burning vengeance OF the ven
delta seeks satisfaction in the life blood
Of an enemy
The officers of the Malta and many OF its
members are now known. Among them
are men born in this city Of Italian origin,
using their power for the basest purposes
BE it said, to their eternal disgrace, the
larger number of the society is composed
of Italians and Sicilians who left their
native land, in most instances under as
sumed names, to avoid conviction and
punishment for crimes there committedi
and others were escaped convicts and
bandits, outlawed In their own land, seek
ing the city OF New Orleans for the con-
gregate companionship of their own class.
The men know the swift retribution Of the
law in Italy, for hundreds have been shot
down at sight by the military in the noun
tains of Sicily without second thought
We doubt not the Italian govern
ment would rather be rid OF them
than to be charged with their custody and
punishment
The time has passed when this country
can be made the dumping ground for the
worthless and depraved of every nation.
The crisis is reached, and on the magni-
tude of the issue it becomes toe duty OF
the next Congress to quietly enact such
vigorous laws that complete protection be
afforded hereafter against these evils.
In the presentation of the main features
given to US as evidence, we have referred
mainly to the evidence bearing upon the
trial of the nine accused in Section B of
this honourable court; but directly con-
nected with all these circumstances are
the terrible events that transplred on
March I4th last, events which in them
selves may be charged as directly trace
able to the miscarriage OF justice, as
developed in the verdict rendered on the
18th of March
1t is shown in the evidence that the
gathering on March IA, embraced several
thousand of the first, best and even the
most law-abiding of the citizens OF the
city, assembled as 1t is the right of Amer
lean citizens TO discuss in public meeting
questions of grave import. We find
general sentiment among these Witnesses
and also in our intercourse with the peo-
ple that the verdict as rendered by the
Jury was contrary to the law aud the evil
dence, and secured mainly through the
designing and unscrupulous agents en-
ployed for the special purpose of defeating
the ends of iustlce-at that meeting the
determination was shown that the people
would not submit to the surrender OF their
rights into the hands Of midnight assassins
and their powerful allies
The assassination of the late chief OF
police shows the elimination Of con-
spiracy. His death was deemed neces-
sary to prevent the exposure and punish
ment of criminals whose guilt was being
fast established by his diligent pursuit
The condition of affairs in this city to-
wards "a certain class of violators OF the
law had reached such a stage that the law
itself was well l-nigh powerless to deal with
them. so far-reaching was their power and
influence in the trial OF criminal cases
Good citizens were profoundly impressed
by the repeated and signal failures of JUS
tice. The boasts of the perjurer and
briber seemed 10 dominate in the courts,
paralyzing and rendering powerless the
ends of justice. Certainly this was a des-
perate situation. In the public meeting
referred to-general and spontaneous in
character as truly indicating uprising
of the masses-we doubt If any power at
the command of the authorities would
have been sufficient TO overcome its in
tensitv.
Evidence is before us from Official
sources that eleven prisoners were killed
in the attack on the parish prison. In the
careful examination as 10 citizenship of
these men, we find that eight OF them were
beyond question American citizens, and
another had declared his intention in
thi. country, which act carries with it the
renunciation of allegiance to his native
country.
Itis noteworthy fact in connection
with the uprising, that no Injury whatever
was done to either person or property be-
yond the one act which seemed TO have
been the object of the assemblage at the
parish prison. We have referred to the
large number of citizens participating in
this demonstration, and estimated by
judges at from 5000 to 5000; we regard 1t
as a spontaneous uprising of the people.
The:magnitude of this affair makes It q
difficult task TO fix the guilt upon any
number of partlcipants-in fact, the act
seemed to involve the entire people of the
parish and city of New Orleans, so pro-
fuse is their sympathy and extended their
connection with the affair. In view of
these considerations, the thorough ex-
animation of the subject has failed to
disclose the necessary facts TO justify this
grand jury in presenting indictments.
The report is signed by each of the six
teen members of the jury.
The Nebraska Governorship.