The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-22
FIVE MIN LYNCHED
MOB AT TALLULA, LOUISIANA,
TAKES JUSTICE INTO ITS
OWN HANDS
VICTIMS Scot A CITIZEN
CHARGED THAT THEY WERE IN A
CONSPIRACY TO MURDER THE
MAN WOUNDED
MOB QUICKLY C0NGREGATED

Swung Them Up With Little Cere-
mOny-Said That the Men Lynched
Were Dangerous Characters, and
Had Committed Many Crimes.
NEW ORLEANS, July n.-Five Sicil-
ians were hanged today by a mob at Tai
lula, q town of several hundred inhab-
itants, in Madison parish, seventeen miles
from the river. The dead are:
JOE DEFATTA.
CHARLES DEFATTA
FRANK DEFATTA.
81 DEFERROCH.
JOE CERENO.
The five victims We're strung up for sup
posed connection with a plot to murder
DR. Hodges, a prominent physician of the
place, who yesterday was shot and fatal
~ wounded by one of the Sicilians. In
addition to this, several acts of lawless-
ness that have occurred in the neighbor-
hood recently were attributed to the
gang.
Quiet was restored Immediately after
the lynching and the grand jury began
an investigation of the affair, but be-
cause of the feeling against the men it
is doubtful if action is taken against any
member of the mob.
For several weeks lot Of goats belong
ing to Frank Defatta have been sleeping
and running on the gallery of DIR. j. Ford
Hedges office and residence. The DOCTOR
on numerous occasions, requested the
owner to keep his goats up but he would
not do it, and on the night of the 18th
DR.. Hodges shot one of the goats on his
gallery. Early on the morning of the
10th Frank Defatta came to Dr. Hodges
office and protested. The doctor promptly
ordered him to leave, as he wanted no
difficulty with him. Defatta left, mum
bling something. During the day the two
shops Of Charles and Joe Defatta were
closed, and so was the shop Of Sy Defer
roch. Charles and Sy spent the day in
Franks store on Front street. About
sundoWn Charles and Joe returned to
Joes store on Cedar street.
DIR. HODGES SHOT.
DR.. Hodges took his meals at Mrs
KaUfman's and had to pass Joe's shop
going and coming. About sundown on the
evening OF the 10th the doctor and Mr..
kaufman started to supper and as they
got to JOes store Ga narrow plank walk
is in front of the store), Mr.. Kaufman in
the lead, Sy and Charles Defatta were
sitting on the steps and Joe standing in
the store door. kaufman spoke to them
but they did not reply. AS DR.. Hodges
Who was Immediately behind Kaufman,
passed, Charles jumped up and said:
''A ou shot my goat" and struck the doc
tor.
Hedges attempted to repel the attack
by striking back with his fist, but finding
the Sicilian too much for him. ATTEMPTED
to draw his pistol. Joe Defatta at the
door, pulled a double barreled shot gun
and fired two shots at the doctor, striking
him in his hands and abdomen.
Immediately at the crack of the gun
Frank Defatta, Sy and john Cereno, who
were in Defatta's store on Front street
started on a run across the store with
shot guns and long knives in their hands
Court was in session and a large crowd
of country people were in town. With
the Sheriff and his deputies they joined
In the chase, and succeeded in arresting
AMI disarming Frank Defatta, Sy Defer
roch and John Cereno, after a hard strug-
gle. John Cereno made a lunge at one
of the crowd with one Of his long knives
and was promptly knocked down by a by
Btander.
MOB GETS PRISONERS.
The sheriff, with his posse, at once
went to the house where Charles and
Joe Defatta were barricaded, surround
ded the house, and after battering down
the doors succeeded in taking Charles
Defatta. Not finding Joe there the crowd
began search of the premises, going
thence to the large dwelling Immediately
behind the shop, which was owned by
the DefattaS. There they found Joe hid
den under the chimney. He was prompt
ly taken out, and the sheriff started for
the Jail with Charles and Joe. When he
got to the court house square crowd
OF about $50 citizens overpowered the
sheriff and, after a severe struggle, took
Joe and Charles Defatta down in the
field to the slaughter pen, and hung them
to the gallows used for slaughtering
Joe denied the shooting and accused
Charles. Charles in turn accused his
brother, but said Frank Defatta and Sy
DeferrOch were innocent of the trouble
The crowd then adjourned to the iaiI
overpowered the jaiIer and deputies. and,
taking the keys, went in and brought out
Sy Deferroch, Frank Defatta and Joe
Cereno, and hung them to an oak tree
in the jail yard.
Not a shot was fired and the crowd
was orderly and quiet but very deter
mined. good many citizens pleaded
for the lives of the Sicilians, but without
avail, as the people were much wrought
up, the gang being charged with num-
Der of Outrages which have recently
aroused the neighborhood
A PREVIOUS CRIME.
About three years ago Frank Defatta
shot and killed a negro for picking IN
a watermelon which Frank had for sale
and about year ago Joe Defatta shot
and killed Pat Matthews, landing keeper
al Milliken's Bend, La, as he was pass
ing his store in cold blood, and about a
trivial quarrel they had had about some
freight, and was cleared by some tech
> ncality of the law.
They had frequently boasted that they
would do as they pleased, and their
money would clear them. The people
learned that the five had planned to kill
DR.. Hodges. After the shooting Joe De-
fatta' gun was found on the counter with
box of shells by it.
DR.. ]. Ford Hodges is a prominent
physician, and is parish coroner He
moved TO this place from Calhoun, about
two years ago. He is badly wounded and
the doctors say he cannot recover.
The five Sicilians were buried today in
the potters field near TuIlala. The grand
jury is in session and will investigate the
affair
Some of the sicilians, it is said, have
families in EuroDe.
GRAND JURY REPORT.
The grand jury tonight reported as fol
lows: