The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-03-31


murders were committed by these
banded assassins within the five years
preceding last June, when they shot
down six men in cold blood in the
streets of the city. Six of these red
handed criminals we're convicted. But
they obtained a new trial. Before that
trial came off, the principal witness
was fOully murdered. David @. Hen
messy, the bold and fearless Chief of
Police, determined to uprOOt this gang.
He secured evidence sufficient. The
day for the trial was fixed on the 18th
of October. On the 18th Hennessy was
found on the pavement near his home
rlddled with slugs and buCkshot. He
lay gasping In his blood. These oath
bound -assassins and their friends sue
ceeded in fixing" this jury either by
bribery or intimidation or both. The
guilt Of the men on trial for the muir
der of Hennessy was not doubtful, yet
in defiance of evidence they were &C
Quilted. The population of New Or
leans rose in indignant fury and the
tragedy was the result.
We see at once the causes that led to
this calamity.
l.. This devilish secret society, known
as the Malta, with crime as the object
of it's existence. There is no room on
this continent for such gangs. We are
again thus reminded of the fact that
we have in our midst unassimilated
foreign elements that we must either
speedily assimilate or spew out. The
Italians of New York made a grave
mistake, when, in the excitement of
the moment thep raised the cry, I'VE
are ltallans-let all Italians stand to-
gether! Wenever forget! Vendetta!"
Those flaming headlines and wild cries
for vengeance were sad plumbers. There
is no O in this nation for Italians as
Italians. We want Italian American
citizens. But we have no use for ItaI-
9Gns as Italians, especially if they re-
joice in the stiletto and slug. Law
abiding Italian citizens have main
tanned a most painful silence on the
subject of these hellish societies of
murderers. Do they approve them2
secretly believe in the methods, if re
ports be true, and some we know are
afraid to express their opinions.
Pasquel Corite, spokesman for the
committee that went to Washington
on the 10Th, said to a reporter in Pitts
burg:
IF the Italians in other cities will
follow our example, there will be raised
in a few days a fund Of $500, 900 to aid
the work of securing justice or re-
venge.
Il believe the killing at New Orleans
will result in war" he continued. but
fthe Italian Government does not force
to a complete and satisfactory issue
the reparatiOn necessary, I will say
now that an army of Italians will as
semble in New Orleans which will fully
and effectually avenge the murder of
our cOuntrymen."
you believe in the Malta and the
vendetta 2"
Il believe in revenge. Italians are
~revengeful when angered; we are ter
ribly angry"
Not one word of disapproval for the
Malta, but only words of vengeance.
One prominent Italian said to a
Tribune reporter:
81 do not think our people will do
anything. If they do, | shall believe
the action is instigated by the Malta.
[ don't e what the people of New
Orleans could do. These rascals, who
were defying the law and carrying on
wholesale murder, seemed to be able
by money OF other means to defy the
law still further when it attempted to
punish them. 1t seems to me the only
thing to do was what was done. Shall
assassins go UNPUBLISHED, because they
have obtained control of the admins
tration of justice in a city2 The fact
that they r my cOuntrymen does not
make me the less anxious to see them
punished. I am sorry that such a
step was necessary; the men should
have been convicted. | don't believe
the italian Government will ever inter
fere. 1t knows these outlaws that
come here, and, in fact, was in COM
municatiOn with Chief Hennesy about
some of them, as [ well know. But
don't quote my name in anything you
say, / would not have my name pub
lished in this affair for all that | am
worth. Some of these Sicilians are
desperate, and we all fear them"
The time has come in this nation for
the people to rise in might and sweep
from the face of the earth this pesti1-
ent brood who breathe the breath of hell
and yet revel in the liberties of a free
republic. Let all good Italian Ameri-
cans cooperate in the God-given work.
2. Another cause of this tragedy we
see at once to be the contempt Of the
pOpulace for the verdicts of their courts.
The conviction that bribery is not only
possible but is almost an everyday oc-
Currence. The conviction that trials of
criminals are coming more and more
to be a farce. 1t is an awful thing for
the masses of the people to lose conf
dence in the courts of justice. Give us
a few more Pat DIVERS as judges
Flack-divorce proceedings few o
rich scoundrels who wear purple and
fine linen, who ought to be wearing
striped cIothes-let this thing go on a
while longer, and it will be necessary
to turn the cannon at the Battery up
Broadway, plant your hOtchkiss guns
in City Hall Square, and sweep your