Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-15
TO CRUSH THE MAFIA.
New Orleans Citizens Suggest That
Strong Measures Be Taken.
THE LOOSE IMMIGRATION LAWS.
Sicilians If Necessary Should Be Debarred
From Our Shores.
MANY DEFECTS IN THE CRIMINAL CODE

New ORLEANS, May 4.-On the 18th of Octo-
Der last, under resolution of the City COun-
Gil, the Mayor was requested to appoint
committee Of 30 or more citizens to
thoroughly Investigate the matter of the ex-
istence of secret societies or bands of oath
bound assassins, which, it was openly
charged, have taken life in our midst.
The committee to-day submitted the fol-
lowing as synopsis: The first duty OF the
committee was to obtain from the Chief OF
Police report of 81 assassinations by Italians
and Sicilians, and where the accused es-
capped for want of evidence. Then followed
the assassination of the Chief of Police. The
result of the trial which followed demon
strated to the people that no one was safe
from the mysterious band that had allied
itself and was operating outside of and re-
gardless of the law. 1t was only when this
fear grew into absolute conviction that the
people themselves rose in their might, took
the law into their hands, and then followed
the events of the 14th of March.
The Lynchings Were Approved.
With the occurrences of that day in the
parish prison the committee had no connec-
ton, and of the contemplated vengeance Of
an outraged people, they had no knowledge.
The acts of that day were the inevitable out
come of the existing conditions and have
been proved by this community and the en-
tire country. The report then, at considera-
BILE length, goes on to show the existence
here OF the Malta, which for years had terror
at pleasure under penalty of death if re-
fused. A subcommittee called upon the
Italian Consul and assured him that the pur-
pose of that body was to legally rid the COM
mun1ty of criminals and give greater secur-
1ty to life and property to all its citizens Of
whatsoever nationality.
The Consul stated that he was satisfied Of
this, and was ready to cooperate with us to
this end, and he would Immediately prepare
and send us q report containing all the in
formation In his possession. He stated that
he was convinced of the existence of the
Malta in this city, and brought out the regis
the imprint of seal which he informed us
was the seal of the Malta. He stated that
prior to the Hennessey assassination he had
IN some way uncOnsciOusly incurred the dis
pleasure of a coterie composed principally
of the men who met their death at the par
ish prison on the 14th of March); that they
had invited him to supper, and although he
partook sparingly of oyster soup, when he
suffered intensely all night, and his symp-
toms bore all the evidence of poisoning,
and he was satisfied his life had been at
tempted.
Corte Did Not Keep His Word.
The written Information promised your
committee never came. The consul sent
word first that he had telegraphed to Wash
fngton for authority to give it to US and
afterwards notified the committee "that, it
being an extra judicial body" he did not
feel warranted In giving us the promised in
formation. During the interview had with
the consul your committee called his atten-
ton to his published statement in the New
York Tribune to the fact that the Mayor has
appointed an extra judicial body which had
held mass meeting in October last, having
in view the same object as that of last Satur-
day lat Clay statue), but its object was frus-
opportune Intervention of Mr.. Blaine.
We reminded him that he and prominent
Italian citizens had called on the committee
before the mass meeting was held, and when
the object of the meeting was explained, he
approved the pacific course justified in the
sequel, and asked him how he reconciled his
published statements with this. His reply
was that the statements he had made to the
"as an individual" !" not Corte "as consult
and that the reporter had greatly exagger-
ated his statements.
In the resolution of appointment this com
remedies. 1t only remains for us therefore
to point out the remedy, If possible. In our
opinion the remedy is:
First-The regulation of immigration.
Second-Reform in the criminal laws and
of criminal Justice.
Third-A law recognizing the existence Of
q bar association and endowing 1t with full
power to try and disbar any attorney whose
evil practices render him unworthy of being
The only radical remedy which suggests
itself to us is the entire prohibition of immi-
grafton from Sicily and Lower Italy. The
committee in conclusion submits suggestions
the jury system, and advise that
the Legislature be petitioned to amend the
criminal laws to meet the requirements
pointed out.