Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-08
Report to State Department Concern
ing Louisiana Lynehings.
MARQUIS RQMApgS INVESTIGATION
His Paper Presents the Matter If
a Grave Aspect.
PA RTICU LARS CIV

the Italian authorities a copy of the COM
pete report made by the Marquis Romano,
secretary of the Italian embassy here, on
his visit to Louisiana, where he made
personal investigation of the lynching OF
five Italians at Talula The report presents
the affair in a very serious Light and gives
a number of the circumstances from a
standpoint quite different from that here
tofore presented.
As whole the Italian authorities view
the matter of the lynching as one of IN
usual atrocity, and without the mitigating
circumstances which had been urged in
| previous affairs of this kind
In describil the first ARRAY which led up
to the lynching. Marquis Romano's report
states that DR.. Hodges was the first to draw
his weapon, and that not until he had fired
one shot and was about to fire the second
shot Charles Difata, who was at that time
PROSTATE on the ground, did the brother,
Frank Difata, fire his shotgun from the
store nearby
! This last shot, it is pointed out, was in
defense of the fallen brother, and was not
wanton attack upon DR.. Hodges. The
circumstances leading up to the ARRAY are
described in detail. According to this &C
count Charles Difata was alone when DR..
Hodges passed by.
There is no effort made in the report to
obscure the fact that Charles Difata made
| the first offensive overture. But 1t is con-
tended that this was not accompanied by
the use of firearms or even the movement
to draw them
II is said, however that Charles Difata
upbrafded DIR. Hodges in an offensive way
for having killed an animal, and accompa-
| MED this by a blow of the fist. Then, it is
stated, Dr. Hodges for the first time
brought a revolver into use and shot at DR..
Difata.
Whether the shot took effect or not 1t
| was not possible for the italian authorities
| to learn positively, as the bodies Of the
men after being lyncted were disfigured
and disposed Of. But at all events, it is
stated that Charles Difata was on the
ground following the shot from DIR.
Hodges weapon.
At This point Joe Difata made his ap-
nearance, either at the window of the near
| by shop. or on veranda in front of it,
and seeing his brother down and a second
shot about to be fired, leveled his gun and
fired ar Dr. Hodges.
Then followed the lynching Of these two
Italians-Jce Difata and Charles Difata.
The mob took them before they had been
arrested - -
| Up to this point, according to the Italian
report, only these two Italians had figured
| in the affair.
| The report goes on to state that through
! cut the occurrence the three other italians
| FRANK Dfata, 9Joserrh Feducio and John
Cerami-were il ) a sFaai shop on another
! street and did not know what was occur
It is stated thai they did not take part in
| the attack on l}r. fiQCgeS, anu IndI lNcy
cid not even Know q it until some time
after. when the focal officers came TO arrest
! them. This arrest was accomplished and
the three Italians We're actually placed In
! Jail.
| The report then brings out that the mob,
| having already flynched Charles and Joe
! Difata, now turned their attention onto
| the three Italians who We're under arrest
| AT first two of these men, Jos. Feducio and
| Frank Difata, were taken from the officials
and lynched. Subsequently and some little
| time afterward the mob returned a third
! time and took the remaining Italian, John
| Cerami. and lynched him.
| In this circumstantial 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 upon this
! feature. for while tits said there may have
/ been some extenuating circumstances in
| visiting such summary punishment on those
| Immediately concerned in the ARRAY with
| DR.. Hodges, yet the time elapsing before
i the second lynchng and then the third
| iyEching is regarded as an element of par
| tlcular atrGcjty.
| The full report has been forwarded to the
/ Italian foreign office and copy of it placed
| In the hands OF the Sta-e Department