The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-03-18
HENNRSSEY'S CONNECTION
with the Italians and the Crimes of the
Malta.

| With the Italians and the Grimes OF the
NEW ORLEANS, March 17.-This even
ing Mr.. George W. vondevort, Hen.
nesssy's private secretary, made state
ment Of the history Of Hennessey's con.
nection with the Italians. he begins
with the Esposito case. A price was set
on the head of the bandit and Hennessey
Joined the chase. Esposito was captured
on the street. Hennessey kept him con-
cealed until the New York ship was
ready 10 leave, smuggled him on board
and then walked OFF boldly into q crowd
OF Italians who were watching on the
wharf.
Esposito was taken to New York and
Italians went on TO swear that they had
known the man here for twenty years,
and he could not therefore be the bandit.
Among those witnesses were John Carso
and Rocco Gerrai, who were killed last
Saturday, beside several Italians still
prominent here. The identification OF
Esposito was complete, and he was taken
TO Italy. The Italians were bent upon
saving the great bandit, and the Malta
chief offered Hennessey $50, 900 to swear
Esposlto was not the man. The chief
refused and was marked man.
Hennessey did not confound the Malta
and the vendetta. The vendetta was
the subject OF private vengeance. The
Malta was organized for robbery, black.
mail, murder and revenge. Hennesssy
pursued the Malta.
In Hennessey's opinion the heads OF
the local Malta were Tony Matranga,
jim Carusa, Frank Romero and Rocco
Gerricci. Hennessey thought Joe Ma:
checa member. HennesBsy regarded
Macheca as a bad man. Macheca was
once Captain OF the Innocents, q Sicilian
political body, charged with many dark
crimes. Hennessey traced up Macheca's
past, and when there came break be.
tween them the Chief unWisely blurted
out what he knew, and threatened to
put Macheca in the States prison.
That was one Of the motives Tor Hen
nefsey's doom. Hennessey traced out
the fact that the Malta met in the Italian
quarter. Romero was Master.at.Arms
and hung around the courts, kept track
Of green" dagoes and picked out the
man for assassination. GerracCi was
the bull dozer Of the society, and Hen.
nessey attributed two murders to that
bloodthirsty Mafan.
In the Pryenzao-Matringo feud, Hen
nessey was friendly to the Prevenzanos,
considering them Americanized and not
in the Malta. Bad blood arose and
trouble was imminent. Hennessey sent
Tor both sides, told them no Malta would
be allowed while he was chief; that they
must live in peace; made them shake
hands and take a drink, and they all
left seemingly on good terms. One night
the Matrengas were fired upon.
Before morning Hennessey had all
the ProyenZano party in Jail. Then the
Matransos said they did not know who
did the shooting. In the evening, how.
ever, the Matraugos held council
and decided to break the
usual vendetta custom and to
point out the Provepzano as their as
sailants. The Matrangas secured the
conviction Of the Proyenzanos. The
police, however, swore that they had
seen Provepzanos in Royal street con.
cert saloon at the time OF the shooting.
He got q letter warning him that he
would be attacked either at the window
OF his office or on his way home. Mean.
time the Monestro shanty was rented,
the guns provided, and the Malta de-
cided by lot upon the men to do the
firing.
October IS was only few days before
the date set for the second trial. Hen.
Messy always Thought that O'Mal-
ley directed the work. OF the
men mentioned Gerracci, Jim Ca.
russo, Macheca and Romero were
killed. John Caruso escaped by hiding
| l., Kha nriaan