Governor Longino to Mr. Hay.
Executive Department,
Jackson, Miss., July 20, 1901.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your favor of the 17th instant inclosing letter from the
Italian chargé d’affaires ad interim on the subject of the reported
lynching of two Italians named Giovanni and Vincenzo Serio, and of
the wounding of Salvatore Liberto, by a mob at Erwin, Miss., and
asking to be advised whether the persons named were Italian subjects
or had been naturalized American citizens. Replying I beg to say
that immediately upon the receipt of advice of the killing a
telegram was sent out from this department to the sheriff of the
county in which it occurred; as follows:
“Jackson, Miss., July 11, 1901.
“Capt. W. E. Hunt,
Sheriff, Greenville, Miss.
“Governor absent. Italian consul, Vicksburg, asks for
protection of Italian subjects at Erwin station from mob.
Please give matter your prompt and effective attention.
“J. J. Coman, Private Secretary."
On the second day after the unfortunate occurrence I went in person
to Washington County, where I learned from the sheriff that promptly
on receipt of said telegram he visited Erwin, the scene of the
homicide, where he made every endeavor to find out the names of the
guilty parties and to obtain such facts as would justify their
arrest, but that he was unable to obtain any reliable proof to
establish the identity of those concerned in the murder.
It appears that the deed was done under the cover of darkness by
unknown men, who quickly and quietly disappeared, leaving no trace
of their identity which the sheriff could obtain. I beg to say
further that immediately after the said interview with the sheriff I
had a conversation with the judge of the criminal court of the
district, who expressed his purpose to exercise the full power of
his court under the law, so far as possible, for the apprehension
and punishment of all concerned in the crime. I feel warranted in
the assertion that both the judge and the court officials will do
their full duty in the premises, and assure you that all concerned
shall receive my unqualified cooperation in the efforts to enforce
the law and to have full justice administered in the premises. My
private advice is that none of the Italians named were naturalized
American citizens, but of this I am not sure and will make
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official inquiry thereof
and report later. I am pleased to say also that the citizens of
Washington County, where the murders occurred, deplore and condemn
in unmeasured zeal the action of the guilty parties, as will appear
by the following official copy of resolutions passed by a citizens’
meeting held in the city of Greenville, the county site of
Washington County:
“Greenville, Miss.,
July 16, 1901.
“resolutions passed at a
meeting of the citizens of greenville, miss., on
july 16, 1901.
“As taxpayers of the State of Mississippi, interested in the
good government thereof; as business men of Greenville,
interested in the commercial advancement of our community;
as citizens of the county of Washington, proud of the good
repute that it has enjoyed, we deplore and denounce the
cowardly midnight assassination of two helpless Italians
that recently occurred on Lake Washington, in this county,
as being subversive of the principles of good government, a
deadly blow to the commercial success of any community which
will condone, acquiesce in, or tolerate such crime, a wanton
insult and stigma to a county noted for its law-abiding and
honorable citizenship; and deeply impressed with the
conviction that not to punish is to condone such crime, and
that the stain can only be effectively wiped out by the
punishment of the criminals, we respectfully request our
governor to order a special session of the circuit court of
this county, so that if possible those perpetrating this
murder may be discovered and brought to justice; and that
the governor be requested to offer a suitable reward for the
arrest and conviction of the guilty parties.
“W. A. Everman, Chairman.
“L. Pink Smith, Secretary.”
I have the honor to further advise that a reward of $100 has been
offered by me officially for the arrest and conviction of each of
those guilty of the said murders, and that there is a general law of
the State which further authorizes the payment by the county,
wherein murders occur, the sum of $100 for making the arrests.
I beg to assure you, and through you the Italian Government, that
every proper effort will be exercised by me in the attempt to obtain
the conviction and punishment of the guilty parties in this
case.
Respectfully,
