Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1891 — THE NEW ORLEANS MASSACRE. [ARTICLE]

THE NEW ORLEANS MASSACRE.

Louisiana's Governor Writes a Letter on the Execution. Secretary Blaine received a letter from Governor Nicholls, of Louisiana, on the 24th, in regard to the killing of eleven Italians in the jail at New Orleans, of which this is a copy: Sir—At a late hour on tho 15th inst. I received a dispatch from you having reference to the forcible breaking on the 14th of the jail in this city and the killing of eleven persons confined therein under indictment found in the criminal district courts for the parish of New Orleans. You stated to me that it had been represented to the President by the minister of Italy, accredited to the Government of the United States that among the kill .. on , that occasion were three or four subjects of the King of Italy. The teleg ntn disclosed an apprehension on the part of the minister, evidently shared ,by he President, that the disturbance was a 'emtinuous and swelling disturbance which might involve the Italian in New Orleans. „ - I have reason to believe that the hope expressed by tho President that I would co-operate with him tn mufntaliig'the Obligations of the United States toward Italian subjects who might be within the perils of excitement, and that further violence and bloodshed might be prevented was based upon that belief. The President further expressed the hope that all offenders might be promptly brought to justice. On the 10th instant, I telegraphed you that there was no excitement in the city at that time, and that I saw no reason to anticipate further trouble. I also stated that the action taken was directed against particular Individuals and that the race or nationality of the parties did not enter as a factor into the disturbance. A week has passed since the date of my dispatch and the opinion then entertained as to the termination of the trouble has proved to have been well-founded. The men killo as I have stated, were confined In pr smi under indictments found in the crin al district court for parish of New Or ns; tho Sheriff has made his return of the facts to that court; the Judge there' has charged the grand jury, now in sa s on in regard to the matter, and the who subject is, I assure you, now under inv» igation.s by that body. I am satisfied that the most of tho persons killed were American citizens, ut it is probable that two or three were Italian subjects, I have the honor to be, very resp’tly. Francis T. Nicholls, Governor. Governor Nicholls’ letter Is written on official paper, and is dated at the Capital of the State. It is evident, however, that it was written in New Orleans, as itspeaks of the killing having ocqured at the jail in this (that) city. Secretary Blaine has sent a copy of the letter to Baron Fava, the Italian Minister.