The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-08-11
THE LYNCHlNGS.
The Report Presents the killing of
Italians in Serious Light.
second and Third Lynching i, Regarded
as An .emtns of articuIar Atroc-
1ty-1he Repors Sent to the
Italian Foreign OMce.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-The state de-
partment has received from the Italian
authorities copy o: the com oiete re-
port made by the Marquis Romano,
secretary of the Italian embassy here,
on his personal investigation of the
recent lynching of five Italians at
Tallulah, La.
The report presents the affair in a
serious light. AS 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 affrav which
led to the lynching, Marquis Romano's
report states that DIR. 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. Charles Di-
fata, who was at that time PROSTATE
on the ground, did the broth
'er, 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 wanton attack upon DIR.
Hodges. The circumstances leading
up to the affray are described in detail.
According to this account Charles
Difata was alone when DR.. Hodges
passed.
There is Nd effort made in the report
to obscure the fact that Charles Difata
made the first offensive overtures, but
1T is contended that this was not ac-
acompanied by the use of firearms or
even movement to draw them. 1t is
said. however that Charles Difata up
braided DIR. Hodges in an offensive
way for having killed an animal, and
accompanied this by a blow of the fist.
Then, it is stated, DR.. Hodges shot at
Difata. Whether or not the shot took
effect it was not posi- ole 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 is is stated that Charles Difata
was on the ground following the shot
from DR.. Hodges weapon.
At this point Joe Difata made his
appearance and seeing his brother
down and a second shot about to be
fired, shot at Dr. Hodges.
Then followed the lynching Of these
two Italians, Joe 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 throughout the
occurrence the three other Italians
Frank Difata, Joseph Feducio and 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 DIR. Hodges, and
that they did not even know of it until
some time after, when the local Off
GERS came to arrest them. This arrest
was accomplished and the three Ital.
ians were actually placed in Jail. The
report then brings out, the mob, hav
ing already lynched Charles and Joe
Difata, turned their attention to the
three Italians under arrest. Two OF
these men, Joseph Feducio and Franb
Difata. were first taken from the off
GERS and lynched. subsequently, anC
some little time afterwards, the moi
returned and took John Cerami anC
lynched him. In this circum stantia
way the report brings out that th'
mob made three distinct movement
against the Italians, and that there
was sufficient time for the blood tt
cool and for the anger of the lyncher!
to abate after they had disposed of the
first two men.
Particular Importance is laid upOT
this feature, for, while it is said thert
NAV have been some eXtenuating cir
cumsta noes in visiting such summary
punishment on those Immediately con
cerned in the affray with DIR. Hodges
yet the time elapsing between the sec
ond and third lynchings is regarded a
an element of particular atrOcity.
The full report has been Forwarded
to the Italian foreign office aud a cop.
of it placed in the hands of the stat
department.
A Box of Poisoned Candy
ST. LOUIS. Aug. "a box of rand