Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-09
Who Has Investigated the
Recent LynChingS.
VISITS TO JAIL
Were Made by the Mob and Particular
Stress is Laid on This Point as
Showing Particular Atrocity--Start
Of the Whole Trouble,

Washington, Aug. s.-The state depart
ment mas received from the Italian au-
thorltles a copy of the complete report
made by the Marquis Romano, secretary
OF the Italian embassy here, on his per-
sonal investigation of the recent lynch
ing OF five Italians at Talulah, La. The
presents the affair in q serious
light. AS a whole the Italian authorities
view the matter of the lynching as one of
unusual atrocity and without the miti-
eating circumstances which had been
urged in previous affairs of this kind.
In describing the first ARRAY which led
up to the lynching Marquis Romano's re-
port states that DR.. Hodges was the first
to draw his weapon. aud that not until
he had fired one shot and was about to
lire the second one at Charles Difatha,
who was at that time PROSTATE on the
ground, did the brother, Joseph Difatha,
This last shot. it is pointed out, was in
defense OF the fallen brother and was
not a wanton attack upon DR.. Hodges.
The circumstances leading up to the
affair are described in detail. According
to this account Charles Difatha was alone
when DR.. Hodges passed. There is no
effort made in the report to obscure the
fact that Charles Difatha made the first
offensive overture. But it is commended
that this was not accompanied by the
use of firearms or even a movement to
draw them. It is said, however. that
Charles Difatha upbraided DR.. Hodges in
an offensive way for having killed an ami
NAL, n accompanied this by a blow of
the fist. Then, it is stated, DR.. Hodges
shot at Difatha. 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, We're dis
figured and disposed of. But at all events
it is stated that Charles Difatha was on
the ground following the sho from DR..
Hodges weapon. At this point Joe Di-
fatha made his appearance and, seeing
his brother down and a second shot to be
fired, shot at DR.. Hodges. Then followed
the lynching of these two Italians, Joe
Difatha n Charles Difatha. The mob
took them before they had been arrested.
Up to this point, according to the Ital-
~ lCDOll I, III lIlGSC lid q lSu u ~
in the affair. The report goes on to state
that throughout the occurrence the three
other Italians, Frank Difatha, Joseph
Fudicio and John Gerami, were in an
other 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 nov of it until
some time after, when the local officers
came to arrest them. This arrest was ac-
complished and the three Italians were
actually placed in Jail. The report then
brings out the alleged fact that the mob,
having already lynched Charles and Joe
Difatha, turned their attention to the
three Italians under arrest. Two of these
men, Joseph Fudicio and Frank Difatha,
were first taken from the officers and
lynched. Subsequently, and some little
time a%fterward, the mob returned and
took John Gerami and lynched him. In
this circumstantial manner the report
brings out that the mob made three dis
tinct movements against the Italians and
that there IA 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 it is said there may
nave been some e~Xtenuating circum-
stances in visiting such summary punish
ment upon those Immediately concerned
in the ARRAY with DR.. Hodges. yet the
time elapsing before the second and third
l~ynchings is regarded as an element of
particular atrocity. The full report has
been forwarded to the Italian foreign Of
fee and a copy of it placed in the hands
of the state department.