Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-13
AFTER CITIZENS NOW
Widow of One of the New Orleans
Riot Victims Brings Action
AGAINST THIRTEEN. RIOTERS.
They We're the Leaders and She Wants
100000 Damages From Them.
no MORE SUITS CAN BE ENTERED

NEW ORLEANS, March 12-This after
noon another suit was fled in the United
States Circuit Court in behalf of the widow
of one of the accused Malta assassins of
Chief of Police Hennessey. This suit is
against the alleged leaders OF the lynchers
who shot the Hennessey assassins to death.
At first it was intended to bring suit against
81 parties but it was subsequently amended
and the number reduced to 13.
The petitioner is Annie Comitiz nee
REBEL, resident of this city and widow of
the late Loreto Comitiz, who was an alien
and subject of the King of Italy. She re-
spectfullv represents that w. s. Parkerson,
Walter D. Denegre, Albert Baldwin, Jr.,
James D. Houston. William NJ. Railey,
James Lea Mclean, Felix Coutrie, Richards
Venable, T. D. Mohler, Charles J. Raulet,
George Denegre. S. P. Walmsley, and the
city of New Orleans are jointly and indi-
viduslly indebted to her in the sum of
$10O, 900 damages.
The Recital of Her Grievances
She AYERS that her husband emigrated to
the United States in 1887; that on or about
the 23d day of October, 1890, said Loreto
Comitiz, while residing in this city, was
arrested charged with the killing of David
c. Hennessey on the night of October IA,
1890, that he was incarcerated in the parish
prison under that charge and subsequently
indicted by the grand jury; that he re-
NAMED in the prison from that date until
March IA, 1891 that some time in the
earlier part of March, 1891, nine of the
accused with whom he was jointly charged
on same offence were placed on trial in the
Criminal District Court; that the trial re-
suited in the acquittal of six of the accused
and mistrial as to the remaining three;
that the following day there appeared in
the columns of the New Orleans Pcdy,1se
and Iimes-Denocrat card signed by the
defendants in this case calling mass meet
ing and urging all persons attending to
come prepared for action; that the call was
in accord with a line OF action previously
mapped out at meeting of the defendants
held on the previous evening; that the de-
PENDANTS and others unknown did assemble
at the hour and place named and urged and
Incitedon by Incendiary Speeches,
proceeded in body to the prison, under
the immediate direction and leadership of
w. S. Parkerson, James D. Houston and
w. D. Denegre; contrary to law and the
protests of the sheriffs and keepers in
charge of said prison. the defendants,
aided and abetted by others whom they had
melted thereto, did, without right justifca-
tion or discrimination, shoot and kill said
Loreto Comitiz and ten other accused; that
said Loreto Comitiz then was awaiting his
trial upon the charges on which he had
been imprisoned, and that he was innocent
of the crime with which he was charged,
etc.
The more particularly set forth the facts
of the case and detail more particularly the
events which transpired on the morning of
the memorable day, the petitioner annexes
copies Of the city papers, which contained
fnll and complete accounts. The petitioner
further represents that the damages consist
OF the following items, viz:
Tho Claims for Damages
First-The terror, distress and fearful anx-
iety af mind under which said Annie Com
itiz labored while the mob were clamoring
for the lives of the accused and immediately
preceding his slaughter, were FULLY worth
Second-The severe mental and bodily
pain, suffering and agony which preceded
and accompanied his death were worth $780,
700.
Third-The ability to realize during the
remainder of his life by his labor and indus |
Try, being a strong, healthy man, had he not |
been permaturely cut OF by cruel and un-
awful act Of these defendants, was worth |
10000
Fourth Exemplary and primitive dam
.ges for violation Of the rights guaranteed |
% deceased. and to which he was entitled |
lnder the Federal and State Constitutions |
Ind general laws OF the country, as we'll as |
lnder the special projections entered into |
between the Kingdom of Italy and the |
United States on February %, 1871, and rati- |
led at Washington on November II, ls7I, are |
ully worth the sum of $4,000.
Monday night all the damage suits against
he city will have been fled. So far each |
plaintiff lays claim for $4,000 damages.
Judge Anthony Sambolla, of the counsel
or the plaintiffs, on being asked why his
lients had allowed nearly year to elapse
'efore filing claims for damages, replied:
''There was no hurry in the matter. The
aw upon which we base our legal proceed
ngs places the Limitation at one wear from
he death. We were therefore compelled
o bring suit before March IA, 1892 The
dacheca family hesitates about filing its
lain in difference to public opinion"