The sun., 1903-09-09
THE ITALIANS.
Brief History Of the Uprising In New
Orleans Against tho Mana.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-ST; The
letter OF Prof s. MarchisiO, in The Sun oi
Sunday last, is Of the deepest concern to all
Americans who have the good of their country
at heart. He speaks with much truth and
earnestness, albeit with permissible preju-
dice l can take issue with him. however on
more than one point, though my difference
with the main point in question amounts to
nothing What l refer to is merely correc-
tion. In speaking of the New Orleans lynch
ing in 1901 he does not deal In facts when he
insists that mo crime had been proved against
these men" and that those who were killed
were merely "suspiconed." l will give the
facts az in substance they were.
The Maaa society had been long in ex-
tstence in New Orleans. and there were fac
tions among the Italians. Grievances had
been brought over from Italy and Sicily to
be fought out on this side. The usual custom
of drawing lots among the members OF this
dreaded secret society was carried out in
New Orleans. and several unknown. unsolva-
BILE murders had been committed. At every
attempt to catch the murderers the police
were baffied. until David Hennessy was made
Chief of Police by Mayor Shakespeare in 1883.
Hennessy was the peer Of any man In similar
place in this country. detective by instinct.
he was above reproach and every inch q
man. Perhaps no handsomer specimen.
physically, ever lived in the world He was
simply adorable.
He had not been long in harness as chief
before he ensnared the leading offenders OF
the Malta and had them convicted. His yea
In this direction was his own undoing. for his
name was soon drawn" against and the men
were selected to do the killing. He was shot
down one night near his poor old mothers
home in Girod street. and, as Prof. Marchisio
i,,in wa MT dirQCfpd
the italian quarter. Hennessy had left
record of the conspirators. and these were
So direct was the testimony and so positive
and m testimony it was clearly deyeloped and
proved that IA man named Jose ph Ma
shsca was leading member ,Ss Of sde
Macheca was among those arrested and
tried They were all convicted not OF the
murder as CHARGED. but as particeps i criminis.
and each was given, long or snor' term
" verdict Thc 'f of murder y which @ the testimony 50
readily proved that incensed the public.
der, except upon the basis OF Jury bribery,
and so great did popular indignation rise that
that very night public meeting was held.
1t was addressed by the Lights OF the law.
and upon adjournment IT was decided to
make a great demonstration the next morn
yers Parkinson, Walter D. Denagre and
others addressed the meeting. The excite
ment was intense, but the crowd was orderly
to degree without so much as moments
hesitation the leaders were of to the parish
prison. and in a few short minutes the work
was all over. The prisoners received no
as was poor Dave" Hennessy-shot down
wherever they were found 1t was bloody
hour, but it was the most effective cure for
the Maiia The society was wiped out Of
existence in New Orleans. The work was
nor directed against the Italians as race.
but against that organization:
TO no man in properly valuing the many
virtues of the Italian people They are
badly treated by Americans, to-day, but The
StN most ably points out the remedy. The
Italians can afford to wait. Justice will
come. CHARLES iHoAAs LOGAN.
NEW YORK, Sept 7.