Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 9, 1891

Baron Fava to Mr. Blaine.

Legation of Italy,
Washington, March 25, 1891.

My Dear Mr. Blaine: In compliance with your request, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of the report just received from His Majesty’s consul at New Orleans, relating the names, circumstances, and conditions of four among the persons murdered in that city who are undoubtedly Italian subjects, and five others whom Mr. Corte does not think can be considered as American citizens according to the Constitution of the United States.

I am, etc.,

Fava.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Consul Corte to Baron Fava.

New Orleans, March 19, 1891.

Mr. Minister: I have the honor to send you a list of the Italian subjects who were killed on the 14th instant, together with such particulars concerning them as I have been able to obtain.

(1) Pietro Monasterio, who arrived from Italy January 7, 1890. He was not naturalized, and his regular passport must be in the prison. His wife and five children are at Caccamo, Sicily. He was to have a new trial on the ground of “mistrial.”

(2) Vincenzo Traina, son of Joseph, born at Contessa Entellina, and 36 years of age. He was not naturalized, and his passport must be on the plantation at Sarpy, where he lived. He had a father and mother in Italy, and had not yet been brought to trial.

(3) Loreto Comitis, 50 years of age. He was not naturalized and was a native of lnadella (Aquila). I am informed that he had a wife and daughter here, but I have not yet been able to ascertain where they are. He had not been tried.

(4) Rocco Geraci, a native of Monreale or Palermo, 32 years of age. I have been informed that he had a wife and children, which statement I propose to verify, if possible. It does not appear, from the lists of citizens, that he had been naturalized. He had not yet been tried.

(5) Antonino Marchesi, whose real name was Antonio Grimando, as is shown by his passport. He was the son of the late Joseph (Giuseppe) Grimando and was a native of Roccamena. He was 48 years of age and had been in this country 2 years. He was a widower and had one son, whose name is Gaspare, and who is 14 years old. He declared his intention to become naturalized under the name of Antonino Marchesi only 12 days before Hennessy was assassinated, i. e., October 3, 1890.

(6) Emmanuele Polizzi, son of Salvatore Polizzi, deceased. He was 28 years of age and a native of San Cipirello Jato (Palermo). Neither of his parents is now living, but he has two brothers and three sisters in Italy. He declared his intention to become naturalized only 1 day before the assassination of Hennessy, that is to say, on the 13th instant (sic). He was to have been tried again on the ground of mistrial.

(7) Antonio Scaffidi, called Antonino Scaffidi in his passport. He was the son of Diego Scaffidi and Guiseppa Scaglione, who is still living. He was 25 years of age and was born at Brolo, near Patti. He declared his intention of becoming naturalized on the 10th of October, 1887, and, according to the Constitution of the United States, is not yet an American citizen. He was to be tried again on account of mistrial. He had a wife, a son, a mother, and a sister.

(8) Antonio Abbagnato. He was indicted under the name of Antonio Bagnetto and was born at Palermo on the 25th of June, 1846. He was a seaman. He declared his intention to become naturalized December 26, 1887, and was not yet an American citizen according to the Constitution of the United States, inasmuch as the 5 years prescribed by law had not yet elapsed, to say nothing of the change made by him in his name.

(9) Girolamo Caruso, a native of Palermo. He declared his intention to become naturalized September 18, 1886. For the reason above stated he could not yet be considered as an American citizen, although, according to the law of Louisiana, he had been allowed to vote. He was probably a little over 30 years of age. He had not yet been tried.

I am unable at present to furnish any further information concerning the condition and the families of the above named persons. I shall, however, if possible, obtain additional particulars. If I succeed in doing so I will transmit them to the royal legation.

Accept, etc.,

Corte.