, 1891-05-15
NO ONE WAS SAFE.
Report of the New Orleans
Committee of Fifty
Appointed to Investigate the
Malta Murders.
Remedies They Suggest for
Existing Evils.

New ORLEANS, May 1.-THE com
mittee of fifty made its report to the
mayor tonight. 1t says, in part: THE
first work of the committee was to obtain
from the chief of police the report of
ninety four assassinations by Italians and
Sicilians, where the accused had escaped
for want of evidence. Then followed the
assassination OF Chief of Police Hen
messy. The result Of the trial demon
strated to the people that no one was
safe from the mysterious band that was
operating regardless Of the law. 1t was
only when this fear grew into absolute
conviction that the people rose IN their
might. took the law in their hands and
then followed the event of March 18th. "
The report then at length goes on 10
show the existencelof the Malta and tells
of a visit made to the Italian consul to Sc
cure information. He stated that be was
ready to co operate with the committee
and would prepare a report containing In-
formation in his possession. He was con-
WINGED of the existence of the Malta in the
city and had a strong ssupicIon as to who
were the leaders. He furnished the com
mittee with these He stated that
prior to the HennessY assassination
he had in some way incurred the
displeasure OF n cOlerie composed
principally Of the men who met
death at the parish prison. They invited
him to supper, aud although he partook
only OF oyster soup he was taken desper-
ately i'll that night with symptoms of
poisoning, and was satisfied that his life
had been attempted. The written lntor-
nation he promised. however, never
came. After some delay, he notified the
committee that 1t being an extra judicial
body he did not feel warranted in giving
the reformation. During the interview
with him the committee called his atten-
ton TO a published statement in a New
York paper to the effect that the mayor
had appointed an extra judicial
body. but ITS object was frustrated, owing
to his (CoTte'sl earnest protests and the
Intervention of Mr.. Blaine. We re-
minded him that he aud prominent
Italian citizens had called on the com
mittee before the mass meeting last fall
and approved of the pacific course, and
asked him how he recOnclled his published
statement with this. He replied that the
statements he made in the New York
Tribune we're made as an individual, not
as cousul' anl IDat the reporter greatly
exaggerated the statements.
The committee, in pointing out rene
dies for the existing trouble, suggests:
Regulation of immigration, reform in
criminal laws and the administration of
criminal justice; a law recognizing the
existence OF the Bar Association ard en-
dowing it with full power to try and dis
bar any attorney whose evil practices
render him unworthy of being an officer
of the court. The only radical remedy
which suggests itself to US is the entire
prohibition of immigration from
Sicily and Lower Italy. 1t
was found necessary to prohibit
Chinese immigration and congress passed
the necessary law. The danger to Cali
fornia from the Chinese was no greater
than the danger to this state from
Sicilians and southern Italians. They are
undesirable citizens and there is no reason
WHY they should he permitted to
participate in the blessings Of freedom
and civilization which they are not only
unable to appreciate, but which they re-
fuse TO understand and to accept.