The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-09
BRANDED AN ATROCITY
REPORT OF THE ITALIAN INVES-
TIGATORS INTO TALLULA
LYNCHINGS is MADE
IT'S ALLEGATIONS ARE GRAVE
Claimed That Extenuating Circum
stances Were BIOtted Out by Acts
of the Lynchers After the Real
CuIprit Had Been Hanged-Rc-
port Has Reen Forwarded to
Italian Foreign Office.

WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-The state de-
partment has received from the Italian
authorities a copy of the complete re-
port made by the Marquis Romano. secre-
tary of the Italian embassy here, on his
personal investigation of the recent
lynching of five Italians at TaluIah. La.
The report presents the affair in a Sc
rious light. AS a whole the Italian au-
thorities view the matter of the lynching
as one of unusual atrocity, and without
the mitigating circumstances which had
been urged in previous affairs of this
kind.
In describing the first affray, which led
up to the lynching, Marquis Romano's s
report states that Dr. Hodges was the
first to draw his weapon, and not until
he had fired one shot and was about
TO fire the second one at Charles Difata.
who was at that time PROSTATE on the
ground, did the brother, Joe Difata, fire
his shotgun from the store nearby This
last shot, it is pointed out, was in defense
Of the fallen brother, and not wanton
attack upon DR.. Hodges.
The circumstances leading up to the
Gill cy are Q0SCIIDCQ III O6Cdll. According
to this account Charles Difata was alone
when DR.. Hodges passed There is no
effort made in the report to obscure the
fact that Charles Difata made the first
offensive overture. But it was contended
that this was not accompanied by the
use of firearms or even a movement to
draw them. 1t is said, however. that
Charles Difata upbraided DR.. Hodges in
an offensive way for having killed an ami
NAL and accompanied this by blow of
the fist. Then, it is stated, DR.. Hodges
shot at Difata. Whether or not the shot
took effect, it was not possible for the
Italian authorities to learn, as the bodies
of the men after being lynched were dis
figured and disposed of. But at all
events it is stated that Charles Difata
was on the ground following the shot
from Dr. Hodges weapon At this Doint
Joe DIfata made his appearance and, see
ing his brother down and a second shot
about TO be fired, shot at DR. Hodges.
BRANDED AS TRAITORS.
Then forIowed the lynching of the two
Italians, Joe Difata and Charles Difata.
The mob took them before they had been
arrested
Up to this point, according to the ItaI-
ian report, only these two ItaHans had
figured in the affair. The report goes
on to state that throughout the occur
renee the three other Italians-Frank Di-
fata, Joseph Feducio ard John Cerami-
were in another street and did not know
what was occurring. 1t is stated that
they did not take part in the attack on
DR.. Hodges and that they did not even
know of it until some time after, when
the local officers came to arrest them
This arrest was accomplished and the
three Italians were actually placed in
Jail.
The report then brings out that the
mob, having already lynched Charles and
Joe Difata, turned their attention to the
three Italians under arrest. Two Of
these men, Joseph Feducio and Frank
Difata, were first taken from the officers
and lynchcd. Subsequently, and some
little time afterward, the mob returned
and took John Cerami and lynched him
In this cir Icumstantial way the report
brings out that the mob made three dis
tinct movements against the Italians and
that there was sufficient time for the
blood to cool and for the anger of the
lynchers to abate after they had disposed
of the first two men.
Particular Importance is laid on this
feature, for while It is said there NAV
have been some eXtenuating circum-
stances in visiting such summary punish
ment on those Immediately concerned in
the affray with DR. Hodges, yet the time
elapsing before the second and third
lynchings is regarded as an element of
particular atrOcity.
The full report has been forwarded to
the Italian foreign office and copy of
It placed in the hands of the state de-
partUent.