The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-22
Five sicElians Were Hanged by
Frenzied Mob in Madison
Parish, Louisiana.
THE SHOOTING OF A GOAT
Which was Trespassing on DIR.
Hodges Premises the Out.
come OF the Tragedy.
BEING FATALLY SHOT BY GANG
The Populuce Took the Law in
Their Own Hands With
FriRhtful Results.

FriRhtful Results.
NEW ORLEANS, July 21.-Five slcil-
Ians were hanged to-day by mob at
Tallula, a town of several hundred I'm
habltants, In Madison parish, seven
teen miles from the river. The dead
are:
JOE DE FATTA.
CHARLES DE FATTA
FRANK DE FATTA
cY DE FERRocH.
JOE CERENo.
The Eve victims were strung up to
trees for supposed connection with
plot to murder DR.. j. Ford Hodges, a
prominent physician of the place, who
Yesterday was shot and fatally wound
ed by one Of the slcllians. In addition
to this several acts Of lawlessness that
have occurred in the neighborhood re-
Gently were attributed to the gang.
Several OF the men are believed to have
families in Europe. Quiet was restored
Immediately after the lynching and the
grand jury began an investigation Of
the affair, but because Of the feeling
against the men It Is doubtful II action
Will be taken against any member of
the mob.
For several weeks, lot Of goats be-
longing to Frank De Fatta have been
tresspassIng on the premises Of DR..
Hodges. and he finally shot one of the
animals. De Fatta went to DR.. Hodges
ofiee last night and protested. but was
ordered away, and departed threaten
ing vengeance.
Tho Crime.
Soon after, DR.. Hodges, in company
with a Mr.. Kaufman. in passing De
Fatta's shop, the latter's brother
Charles struck the doctor. Hodges at
tempted to repel the attack by striking
back With his fist, and then attempted
to draw his pistol. Joe De Fatta, an
other brother, pulled double barrelled
shot gun and fred two shots at the doc
tor, striking him in his hands and ab-
domen. Immediately after Frank De
Fatta and Cy De Ferroch and John Ce-
reno Joined In the melee with shot guns
and long knives.
Court was in session and large
crowd Of country peopla were in town.
with the sheriff and his deputies they
Joined In the chase and succeeded in ar
resting and dIsarmlng Frank De Fatta.
Cy De Ferroch and John Cereno, after
a hard struggle. John cereno made a
lunge at one Of the crowd with one of
his long knives and was promptly
knocked down by bystander.
The sheriff with his posse at once
went to the house where Charles and
Joe De Fatta were barricaded and after
battering down the doors succeeded in
taking Charles De Fatta. Not finding
Joe in there, the crowd began search
Of the premises, going thence to the
large dwelling Immediately behind the
shop which was owned by the De Fat
ta's there they found Joe hidden under
the chimney. He was promptly taken
out and the sheriff started TO the jail
with Charles and Joe. When he got TO
the court house square n crowd OF
about $50 citizens overpowered the sher-
III and after severe struggle took Joe
and Charles down in the field TO the
slaughter pen and hung them to the
Eallows used for slaughtering beeyes.
Joe denied the shooting and accused
Charles. Charles in turn accused his
brother, but said Frank De Fatta and
Cy De Ferroch were the cause Of the
trouble.
"QuIct and Orderly"
The crowd then adjourned to the jail
oyerpowered the jailer and deputies
and brought out Cy De Ferroch. Frank
DeFatta and Joe cereno and hung them
to an oak tree In the jail yard. Not a
shot was fred and the crowd was or
derly and quiet, but very determined.
a good many citizens pleaded for the
lives OF the sicllIans, but without avail.
as the people were much wrought up
this gang being charged with a number
OF outrages that have recently aroused
the neighborhood.
About three years ago Frank De Fat
tn shot and killed negro for picking
up u watermelon which Frank had for
sale. and about year ago Joe De Fat
tn shot and killed Pat Matthews. land
ing keeper at Milikens Bend, La. in
cold blood. MS he was passing his store.
They had frequently boosted that they
would do as they pleased. nud their
money would clear them. The people
believed the i've had planned to XIII Dr.
Hodges. After the shooting Joe De
Fatta's gun was found on the counter
with box Of shells beside It.
Dr. ]. Ford Hodges Is prominent
physician. ana Is parish coroner. He
IS badly wounded and the doctors say
he cannot recover.
The five slcllans were buried to-day
In the potters field near TuIlula. The
grand jury Ia in session and win Invcs-
tigate the affair. Some OF the sicillans.
It is said have families IN Europe,
Tho grand jury tonight reported as
follows:
ut is evident from the factn brought
10 OuF EuntvIadun that the men who |