The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-09

Washington, Aug S.-The state de-
partment has received from the Ital-
ian authorities a copy of the complete
report made by the Marquis Romano,
secretary of the Italian embassy here,
OH his personal investigation of the
recent lynching of five Italians at Tai
lulah, La.
The report presents the affair in a
serious light. AS Il whole the Italian
authorities view the matter of the
lynching as one of unusual atrocity
and without the mitigating circum-
stances which had been urged in pre-
vious affairs of this kind.
In describing the first affray which
led UP to the lynching, Marquis Ro-
manO'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 one
at Charles Difata, who was at that
time PROSTATE on the ground did the
brother, Joe Difata, fire his shot gun
from the store nearby. This last shot.
it is pointed out, was in defense Of
the fallen brother and was not a
wantCn attack upon DIR. Hodges. The
circums tanccs leading up to lie af-
fray are described in detail.
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 Ditata made the irst often
sVC overture. But it is COntended
that this was not accompanied by the
use of firearms or even a movement to
draw them. 1t is said, however, that
Charles Diflta upbraided Or, + dg"s
in ar offensive way for having killed
an animal and accompanied this by
blow Of the fist. Then. it is stated.
L. Hodges shot at Difata. Whether
or not the shot took effect ii was not
pc Cgsible for The Italian authorities To
learn as the bodies of the men after
being lynchcd were disfigu"cl and dis
posed of. But at all events, it is stat
ed that Charles Difata was on the
ground following the shot from
Hodges weapon.
Joe Difata's Part.
At this point Joe Difata made his ap-
pearance, and, seeing his brother down
and a second shot about to be fired,
shot at DR.. Hodges. Then followed
the lynching of those two Italians, Joe
Dlfata and Charles Difata. The mob
took them before they had been ar
rested. 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
out the occurrence the three other ltal-
ians lynched-Frank Difata, Joseph
Feducio and John Cerami-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 know of it un-
t. some time after the local officers
came to arrest them. This arrest was
accomplished and the three Italians
We're actually placed in Jail, The re-
TCrt then brings out that the mob,
having already lynched Charles and
Joe Difata, turned their attention to
the three Italians under arrest. T"O
of these men, Joseph Feducio and
Frank Difata, We're first taken from
the officers and lynched. Subsequent
ly and some little time afterward the
mob returned and took John Cerami
and lynched him. In this circumstan-
tial way the report goes c. that the
mob made three distinct nioveme IT'S
against the Italians and t!at there
was sufficient time for the blood to
cool and for the anger of tn. lynchers
10 abite after they had disposed of the
first two men. Particular importaEc4
is laid upon this feature, for while 1t
is said there may have been eXtenuat-
ing circumstances in visiting suen
summary punishment on those imme-
diately concerned in the affray with
DR., Hodges, yet the time elapsng boz
fore the second and third lynchings is
regarded as an element Of particular
atrocity. The full report has been
forwarded to the Italian f4Ielgn office
and copy of it placed la the hands
OF the state department.