The Washington times., 1906-12-26
CHASTITY Crime in New
Orleans Italian Tene-
ment House Dis
covered.
HACKED TO PIECES,
BURNED AFTERWARD
Alien Population of City,
FrenZied, Fear More
Murders viii
Follow.

NEW ORLEANS. Dec. 26-Six Ital-
fans were found murdered in a tenement
house ia Dumaine street early today.
Some OF them had been burned to death
and there is no doubt that the men were
victims OF the Malta. which has been
working secretly IN Sew Orleans, and
has broken out at intervals, when re-
voting crimes have been committed
Not since the lynehing Of Italians %
the wholesale several years ago has
New Orleans foreign population been in
such a high state OF excitement. Fol-
/ lowing the discovery Of the murders
the excitement grew 10 such bounds
;hat the entire police department was
hurried 10 the tenement house. The no.
lice could not cope with the situation
and a call was sent for every able
bodied fireman in the department 10
hurry 10 the scene.
Bodies Chopped Up.
The murders are believed to have been
committed during the early part OF last
night and had undoubtedly been planned
ahead. That no screams were heard
from the murdered men leads TO the
theory that many men were engaged ia
the slaughter and that the victims were
set upon at a given signal and struck
down before any OF them could make an
cutlery.
The bodies OF the dead men were liter
ally hacked TO pieces, and those that
were burned had evidently been set on
IRE after being put 10 death
Ihe murdeTeFs are said 10 have left
nor clue 10 their Identity. II they
are known, The Italians are the only
ones who can enlghgeu the police. and
they refuse TO talk.
The police are OF the opinion that the
murders were committed by one OF the
many secret societies. and that the six
men VINO were slain were marked for
death by their own countrymen.
Many Secret Societies.
At the time of the New Orleans Malta
lynchings, following the murder OF the
chief Of police. Hennessey. and other
prominent New Orleans men, il was
brought out that there were many dan
gerous secret societies among Italians
in the city, and that men who offended
one OF these societies We're marked for
death, and men were selected TO carry
out the murder. such is the excitement
Of the Italians thar Il would not surprise
the police Il other crimes were com
mitted-
Dumaine street where is located the
ttle-LenL where JIIs seEtet OF murders
occurred, Is ore Of the many streets in
the cid quarter Of New Orleans which
to a great extent have gone 70 make
up the Little Italy OF the old city.
% |N-t- f1Tll. % ,- NtH ans ne
Jackson Square neighbOrhOod where
in Olden days. the great social events
took place there are numerous old
structures-fallen mansions-Jhat have
UeeI transformed into Ital4an te-.ement
houses. The buildings are as sdualid
today as they were elegant generations
GEOne.
Many families live in these tumble
/ down buildings; live in various degrees
Of filth and disease Minor crimes are
frequent within the houses. but il has
been many years since so many Italians
have been put 10 death at ore time
These crimes. in q great majority of
cases, go Unpuuished owing to The diffi-
Guilty 70 obtain evidence; COR the Ital-
ians. in their fear of Malta venEeance,
are as secretive about q crime as the
most stolid Chinaman