New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-18
CONSUL CORTE'S REVIEW.
A STATEMENT REGARDING THE HENNESSY
TRIAL AND THE NEW.ORLEANS
LYNCHING.

HE ASSERTS THAT IMPORTANT EVIDENCE Was
WITHHELD AND HOLDS THE LOCAL
AUTHORITIES DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE MASSACRE ITALIANS
LEAVING THE CITY THE
ALLEGED JURY BRIDING.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUyEl
New-Orleans, March IL have secured from
Siguor Pasquale Corte. the Italian Consul at New
Orleans. the subjoned extremely important state
ment, which ne has signed. Of his view OF the
Hennessy trial and the ynching From this it
will be that he holds the local authorities
directly responsible tor the tragedy and asserts
that important evidence withheld. He makes
a strong showing for his countrymen. alleging
that, while the State had good ease. some Of
its proofs were contradictory and deficient. He
adds that to his personal knowledge Sunzeri and
Natalie two OF the prisoners indicted for murder.
were nowhere near Chief fIcnncssy at the time
he was shot. Signor COrte further asserts that
bad not Mayor Sha kespeare issued a proclama-
tion before the trial, attributing the crime to
Italians. there would have been no miscarriage
Of justice. The most active of the regulators
were the members OF the extra judicial commit
tee of fifty appointed by the Mayor last October.
There has been confusion, by the way.
AZ to the number of the victims tried and un.
tried Nineteen Italians altogether were indicted
on two cOunts--one Tor murder and for
shooting Willie lying in wait Two Of the in
dictments were set aside when another Grand
jury returned indictments against all nineteen
TIE two counts. Nine of the accused men
were tried under the last indictment for murder.
OF these, three have been released from custody,
six wrre lynched, together with five of those
6till awaiting trial. This leaves five living and
still untried, who are held under the murder
indictment. 1t is important to remember that
the acquitted men were still in custody at the
time of the lynchng, and should properly have
been tried under the indictment for lying in wait,
which is also a hanging offence. The last legal
resort had, there fore, not been exhausted, what
ever fear there might have been that the Malta
money would again clear the culprits.
The Consuls statement is as follows:
Italian Consulate, New Orleans March 10, 1901.
have been silent until now regaIriing the trial bo-
cause in my official capacity deemed It necessary;
opinion devated in the interest OF the Italian colony
and Of justice. believe il Opp0rune 10 make state
meut to redress the WRONGS perpet.ated on tho
Italians That the assassination Of Chief HenIiessy
can reasonably he attributed 10 several causes which
do not appear in the trial. although they are well
known TO the judicial authoriic>: that the italian
colony in New-OrIeanS and its vicinity l. hari-work.
ins, industrious. frugal and sober * undenied. and
have the proofs by the continual demand made for
them by the planters. TO their arms. in gress
100000 tons Of sugar and that from this port there
poess in ' tbs city about 200 % landed properties
besides 1900 stores and factOres: also ctelmship
and oy,'crs. Of wnc6 they hgve almost monopSly
This does mol exclude Inc fact tat there are among
prisons. most Of them long since .nauralizcd as
@ Amercans mixed @ up in the city and state poltic;s
a By mpGTa
political places. Their especial occupation vas 10
there were many who united in association for
loading and unloading fruit vessels. \ difference
This resulted in the prOvenzano brothers. who at
the. head of the work. losing the tob. They wefe
Sunzer ond Others II was assumed that tho Proven.
zano party attacked and attempted kill the Nar,nca
onmcnt for life. They appeal AID. a, Mr.. Hennessy.
The Chicf Of the Police, was per'onsl friend Of tho
them Not succeeding. it is asserted that the Proven.
tano party offered him $4,000 to be released from
prison.
The Chief Of Police. knowing that several wtncsse,
against the ProvcnzanoS vero the friends of the bgand
they also were criminals. wrote to the Chief Of Police
In Rome wI2 obtained Their photographs and also an
cMcf Of Police in Rome, ". Bert. sent Hcnncssy tho
following letter. tn contents of which must have
been made known 10 The above parties:
Esteemed sir: received your esteemed letter Of
the 12th ultmO, in which Won ask OF me information
IN regard to the noted maeiactor Esposito Guieseppc
alias Rondnzo. from III province oi Palermo. who
now imprisoned. ! hall be pleased to communic1t5
TO YOU the Information you desire in regard to Ran.
who il is believed reside in your city and will sea
4 IL is possible to obtain their photographs Expect.
waited - delay this notification and while thank
!au for your kind offers shall also be pleased al
service. accept the sentiments Of perfect esteem ard
Ncarly ali the naurallzed citizen. belonging To- ths
political faction were opposed 10 the present municipal
government which Appointed Mr.. llcnncssy a. chef
ttf u,1Is ltllft hat. IL
mie~. beside others one oNay. private detective,
who a,pl.ed - be choi If j., true a il appcars
danger Of heinz cxtradcd Thersf3r~ il tSc dsfeoce
would not have denied their participation in the klin,
Il t Chief before the minds 4 the jurymen. the act
that they did 10 protec, thcm--lvc, their rfe and
reputation would have had great weight
l! j. my opinion that ohc', not arrested could be.
r6c above very IMPORTANT lcs :C dd Sof G.upe al
all In the trial When the Chcf was ilIled had not
;he Mayor issued proclamation against the Italian
Italians, and had the authorities acated With greater
calmuc,, and d-cemment AID Eot arrested hundreds
and hundreds Of innocent Italians. who detained in
prison for several DAYS and allowed to be maltreted
c a S' & III iI aoa@G h Tyor dsHsG RT2ySd it, 5' the
Mayor would have the support Of all the oiti.
not appoint d an eXtnjadicsl body. which
made mac "P % anonym9ns ; and secret denunciat9ns
he same object that Of last Satlriay. frustrated
hen owing To energetic protest, and the opportune
italian Legation: and had the Mayor LETT the matter
% thc Only proper ccai authorities he really guilty
)nes would not have escaped punishment and tho
innocent would not have been sacrificed.
While the trial was pending, the press published
tarOus reports which would prove that. even in
emplc of Justice. gold has its effect. In such
cannot place my faith iut must say that prom
nent American citizens advised not to mate any
opposition in cCUu, because II was believed that tie
whole tiial would be farce.
on my part. surprised that important lettee
,hicll brought 10 10y a certain Antonio n
martini. accompanied by cNAlderman Antonio Paien.t,
living the names II five American citizens zone of
hon i pursued by the committee Of fftyl as the
uthors OF The crlmc. did n0t appear In the trial.
thVugh il signed and by Scnt the District
tttcrney. The content, OF this letter. If true. ex-
neraicd all The Italians OF ,he proofs furnished bv
he state, grave. Eut the grciter
art contradictory and deficient II is not
uprising therefore. that If part Of the jury. as Is
pretended Though without prjof-wa- bought. another
art he'd conscientious scruples against oondcmning TO