Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-03-19

cape, SHOOK hands with the reporters, ana
talked about the scenes of Saturday.
AL of them claimed they were innocent
of any connection with tie Hennessy
assassination and believed they would
have been spared even if they had been
found by the crowd, which was the case
with Pietzo, Sunzeri, and Natal. How
ever, they were afraid to trust themselves
to the fury of the mob which had gone
beyond the intention of the leaders.
Charles Matrango, the wealthy steve
dore and principal man among the sur
vivors, says he hid under a mattress DUR
ing the shooting, pressed crucifix to his
lips, kissed it three times, and asked God
if he was innocent, to protect him from
the lynchers. He attributes his escape,
therefore, to Divine interposition, and
cites that as the proof of his innocence.
NEW ORLEANS, March 16.-In Father
Manoritta's statement yesterday he said
he was sure the letter be received was
from the Provenzano faction of the Mo6a.
This statement of Joseph Provenz mo,
this morning is most emf hatically denied.
He said his first impulse was to have
Father Manoritta arrested; and ne con-
suited Chief Gaslerin regarding the mat
ter, and was advised to
make public statement con-
corning the matter as he thought
it would do more good. Provenzano says
that he had not been connected with the
Malta in any manner. On the contrary,
he been an object of their enmity about
FIVE years ago, =" says Provenzano, Malta
sent me several letters, threatening to kill
myself and brothers unless we gave
the society one thousand dol
lars. We did not respond, and
Jim Caruso shortly afterward came to me
and SAID he belonged to the society and we
had better pay. | went to some Of my
friends and they said not to pay it.
then dropped the matter and told Caruso
10 have nothing to do With the society,
to give up his fruit stand in the French
market and come On the levee and we
would make him free man He said
he would do %, as he was tired Of the
Malta, having recently been selected on a
committee to kill some one.
PrOvanzeno added that Caruso went to the
Italian church and took an oath to quit
the Malta. He said Charley Matrans l
was chief of the Malta gang, and that its
object was to kill those who were against
it, When the victim was selected he was
invited to dinner, after which he was
done up. ProvanzanO thinks
one DiCarle gave father Man
Oritta the idea that he was connected
with the gang Caruso finally went back
to Matranga because of intimidation by
the gang. It is believed here that bet
ter element Of Italians are glad that sa-
lutary lesson has been administered to the
Malta as they have for years been in dread
of the gang.
1t is stated that when the verdict was
returned Friday, two men belonging to
the Malta went to the levee flag pole,
where one of them put his foot on the
American flag and hoisted an Italian flag
The Amer lean flag was then hoisted un-
der 1t. A number Of Italians standing
about when asked later why they ,rmitted
this. said they were afraid to interfere.
II is reported that Politz's confession to
the state s attorney, while largely dis
connected one. vet gives many important
features regarding the Malta doings. He
told about meeting at which it was de-
cided that Hennessy must die. In order
to settle who should kill him, ten slips of
paper were placed in & hat with lot of
UdhhS. w uOtNSI U1tW Gut Gu
slip was assigned to the Hennessy murder
The Italian consul Corte, being asked today
If it was true that he had expressed
approval of the doings of the citizens Sat
urday, said, that he had stated that he
hoped justice would be melted out to the
murderers of Aennesy. He was positive
that some Of the slain were innocent; as
to the others he would not express him
self. Last December Mr.. Corte received
letter signed by the Malta, threatening
him with dire consequences if he did not
work in their interests and for the release
of the accused. Governor Nichols has
been earnestly considering the matter but
will not make public his reply to Secre-
tary Blaine yet.
Lice d'Italia published telegram
from Palermo, Sicily, today which stated
that indignation was growing over the
New Orleans tragedy. 1t is the only sub
ject talked of, and American residents
have migrated over to Italy and the south
OF France. kilograms expressive of in
dignation from Italian colonists throu gh-
ouG America continue to be received by
M. Barsotti, at tbe office of II Progresso.
A large number were received today from
all parts of the country.
LONDON, March 16.-The newspapers
today generally comment in a favorably
tone, in regard to the wholesale lynching
in New 0. leans Saturday.
The Star is of the opinion that ''the i'm
pressive feature of the New Orleans affair
was the perfect orderliness maintained
throughout the proceedings. Here, the
champions of law and order stand aghast
at such proceedings. The American de-
| mocracy has sounder notions as to what
law and order really mean"
Moreton Frewen, son-in-law of the
| late Leonard Jerome, has written letter
which is published in the Pail Mall Ca
zette today, defending the action of the
citizens of New Orleans as STRENGTHENING
out of the Italian question once for all.
| The Pail Mall Gazette criticizas Frew-
! en- S letter, but holds that the English
people ought not to hold up their hands in
i horror, adding: lone branch of the
| Anglo-Saxon race does not differ from an
other in this matter. The citizens of New
Orleans, finding that the jury did not do
its duty, said we must by one means or an
other put crime down"
The st. James Gazette says: The Incl
! dent shows that the native Americans
| nave not loSI the qudllty OF stern reS0lu'
ton which is sometimes dissolved by a
life comfort and luxury in modern society.
Men who organized this defiance of formal
justice are not ashamed of what they have
done. They have defeated society OF
foreign ruffians who were trying to terror.
ize the whole city. 1t is doubtful if John
Bull has enough gri left in him to protest
In as emphatic manner as the citizens OF
| New Orleans nave protested"
/ CuICAGn M arch LIZ -EYniteman!