Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-06

PRISON A SPONTANEOUS UPRISING.
The report Of the New Orleans grand jury on
the lynching Of the Italians on March IA was
presented Late last evening to Judge Mari. In
brief il iustifes the citizens and presents no
indictments 1t Is as follows;
"GKASD JURY Room, May 8, 1891
To the Hon. Robert II. Mari, judge of the
criminal district court Of the parish of New
Orleans. section A
when this grand jury entered upon its term
Of service there pending in section u of
the tribunal the trial of nine men indicted for
participation in the assassination OF the late
superintendent of police. ID. G. Hennessy. on
The night of October Is, 1880. The enormlty
sf that crime. executed at the midnight hour
treated unusual interest throughout the whole
sountry. while IN oUr own city, VltaIly con-
.erned in the administration of justice as
deeply affecting her social, political ana ma
terlAl welfare, the sentiment Of the POpuiaee
had crystalIlzed into the concrete form OF ex-
preston. that Justice be rendered through the
recognized channels OF criminal Jurisprudence,
that the perpetrators. whoever tLey were. De
tried by an impartial jury of American citizens
anG meet with a righteous eonHcuon-
CRIME HAD BEEN COMMITTED.
zone fact stood out in awful prominence
about and beyond dispute or question by any
man-the fact that crime of unparalleled
atrocitv had been committed. evidenced by the
i've terrible death-deaiIng weapons, the nu-
nsrous sIugs and bullets found lmbeded In the
fences and houses at the scene. besides the mis-
siles that struck down the solitary man. VINO
would never have been marked as the victim
had he not filled the responsible position OF
chief of police of the law. 1t i not 70 be Won
dered that attention should be directed TO the
trial during many days of its progress-in the
selection OF jurors, the evidence of witnesses.
the arguments If counsel. the charge OF the
iudgs-aud finally concentrated on the twelve
men who. By virtue of their solemn oath. sat In
awful judgment on their fellow men. The YER
dict Is now ollcIal record. bearing date March
IL, ISL
TIE VERDICT A DIsAPPoISrNENr.
1--WE cannot be mistaken in the assertion that
the verdict was startling. amazing, bitter dis
appointment, shocking to public opinion, pro-
vOking the repeated accusation that some OF
the jury had been UnfaitbfUl to their high
Office. We feel that We do not transcend the
limits OF our duty the grand inquest to refer
10 the strong presentation If the case as made
by the state through counsel associated IN the
prosecution, clear, continuous. complete and
convincing in the direct testimony and the
material circumstance. 1t appeared more
than sunlcIent to convince the most unwilling
listener with its truth and convey the full meas
OF its power To those who yentured a doubt.
As the trial neared its termination 1t was not
possible for an observer TO fall 10
realize the comments made on every side
touching the action of some members OF the
jury when the case shOuld be submitted.
Charges and speeu.atious abounded, coupled
with the well-knOwn connection OF certain
parties of uHcnyiable notOriety. as shown by
their presence daily in the courtroom and
building. arousing the suspicion that the most
subtle, dangerous, and powerful influences
known 70 the practice of criminal law were
being exercised in behalf of the defense.
Those considerations have led US to investigate
the subject. embracing all its attendant condi-
tions and Incidents
THE JCRYS JUSTIFICATION.
Each one of the twelve jurors of the trial
was summoned and asked to make a statement.
None objected, but all rather welcomed the OPP
portunitv IL was a notable feature of the
sworn statement that they primarily sought to
justify their verdict by attacking the line of
evidence presented by the state and attaching
much weight TO the arguments of counsel for
the defense. IL was freely admitted By the ju-
rors that remarks had been made in the jury
room as early as the first day when testimony
Was offered. and repeated a number of times
afterward, that the state was making poor
case. and this was positively repeated at the
close of the states evidence.
One quarrel at least was reported, arising
from the accusation by one Juror to another
with the expression You talk like you were
fixed before you came here" They formed no
conception of the tension to which the public
mind was strung, though impressed with the
deep interest as shown each day by the crowd
Of spectators in the court room.
The JURY ISATTESTIvE.
1T was clearly indicated that the necessity for
secrecy was urged as the several jurors we're
selected and joined the company of their fell
lows. Ii was impressed upon them at various
tunes and finally before the verdict was
rendered brought forward again with the in
junction To destroy every vestige of evidence
they had and leave every thought and act be-
hind them. Surely the urgency of this was
most cunningly devised to conceal the peculiar
events that transpired in the jury room. Care
ful observers testify with special reference TO
the marked Inattention of the jury as the wit
n,sses submitted their evidenee-a conduct
most unbeeoming and fraught with the
gTayest consequences when the
mentOus import of the issue is
considered We are led to conclude that
the jury undertook TO try the case when it
submitted by their own estimate of the value of
statements made by parties not called as wit
nes-e>- With strange uuaDimity they dwelt
upon what they knew by reading and hearsay
OF certain incidents of the assassination prior
10 the trial and made those the basis of the
powerful persuasion for giving the accused the
benefit of tine doubt and concluding the de-
AbeTations i'll their favor.
We must take occasion to say that il was not
expected TO obtain any evidence of undue in
Lleutt lIOnl Oh the jury, Tor those
who were uncOrrupted had nothing to reveal
while the others would not make themselves par
tieeps crIminls, yetau their numerous state ments
much was obtained having direct connection
with and supported by the great volume of
testimony ELECTED during the course of the in
quiry.
Il; Is clearly brought out by the evidence OF
the jurors that as affecting three of the accused
Politz. Scaffedi and MOnasterio. the Jury en-
gagged in the elaboration in their cases some
four or five hours, attended with intense ex-
element. and on repeated ballots the jury's
vote stood, 8 guilty, 8 not guilty. This is a
clearly-detned indication of the convictions of
the jury 10 the three accused. 1t inpresses
u deeply. as II must every one 10 whom the fact
- conveyed. and forces the conclusion that the
evidence was sufficient to justify the six Jurors
who stood resolute and determined for a YER
diet of guilty. making II well nigh impossible to
reach any other CONCLUSION than a Inistrial
These three accused named above were proba-
bly, the unwilling actors designated by leaders
of the conspiracy To execute a Siliainous part
III which they had neither personal motive nor
interest.
ATTEMPTS AT BRIBERY
Following this investigation il was quickly
learned from various sources that talesrnen had
been approached Every clue offered was taken
up and. as a rule, the taiesman who had heel
previously marked out was seen when alone or
invited away 10 some secluded and unsupported
place. well-Giesigned pretexts guarding the
real meaning OF the talks. but quickly leading