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The beginning of the Mafia in America...
The beginning of the Mafia in America...
Item # 577732
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March 08, 1891
THE DAILY PICAYUNE, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 8, 1891
* Early Mafia in America
* David C. Hennessy murder trial
This murder was the beginning of the Mafia in the United States, or "The Black Hand" as it was called in America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Mafia and other organized crime families came to the United States from Sicily and Italy creating their first stronghold in New Orleans rather than New York or Chicago, and establishing numerous secret societies specializing in counterfeiting, prostitution, and protection. Numerous murders and assassinations accompanied these operations. These early 'families' led to the organized crime organizations that became so famous during the Prohibition era and beyond.
Featured on the page 3 is a lengthy report on the trial regarding the assassination of David C. Hennessy. Hennessy is credited with being the first lawman to take on the Mafia in America. The Neopolitan Comorra families and the Mafia were engaged in a power struggle in New Orleans in the 1880's and '90's. Detective Hennessy was first fired by (organized crime friendly) politicians, but later re-instated as Chief of Police. In 1890, after Hennessy made a deal with a Mafia rival to testify in court he was shot down in the night by four gunmen.
One column headlines include: "THE HENNESSY CASE" and more with many related illustrations. Lengthy text, too much to photograph here.
Complete in 10 pages, browning with minor margin and fold wear, otherwise in good condition. Should be handled with care.
Historical Background: David C. Hennessey (??-1890) was the police chief of New Orleans, Louisiana from 1888 until his death. His death, supposedly at the hands of Italian immigrants, was the catalyst of a large anti-Italian lynching in New Orleans.
While investigating the barrel murder of an Italian immigrant, he discovered the existence of a secret society operating in New Orleans, the Mafia. After collecting enough evidence to go public, shortly before he could come forward, he was assassinated on October 15, 1890, execution-style. However historians dispute this explanation. Humbert S. Nelli concluded that Hennessey as chief of police was involved in some way regulating organized crime activity. Nelli also concluded that his execution might have been a way to frame Italian Americans.
His dying words to another officer were reported to have been "Dagos did it", dago being an insulting slur for Italians.
This killing became the first widely publicized Mafia incident in the United States, and resulted in hundreds of baseless arrests of newly arrived Italian immigrants and a major trial in 1891 in New Orleans in which nineteen people were indicted. Rumors about the Sicilian "Mafia" trying to take over New Orleans spread throughout the city, adding to the extreme prejudice and fear of the poor Italian immigrants that many native United States citizens had already developed.
A large riot occurred after those indicted were acquitted, with a mob storming the jail house and lynching the accused Italians, along with ten other Italians, none of whom had been involved in the case. The lynch mob brutally mutilated the Italian immigrants, apparently shouting, "Hang the dagos!" According to witnesses, the "cheers were deafening."
It is important to note that the Italians lynched were not involved in any organized crime. The lynching is considered just as much - or more- of a racial and ethnic motivated lynching as it is a criminal lynching.
The death of Hennessey became a rallying cry for law enforcement and nativists to stop the immigration of Italians into America.
For decades after, New Orleans children of other ethnicities would often taunt Italian Americans with the phrase, "Who kill-a the Chief?
* Early Mafia in America
* David C. Hennessy murder trial
This murder was the beginning of the Mafia in the United States, or "The Black Hand" as it was called in America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Mafia and other organized crime families came to the United States from Sicily and Italy creating their first stronghold in New Orleans rather than New York or Chicago, and establishing numerous secret societies specializing in counterfeiting, prostitution, and protection. Numerous murders and assassinations accompanied these operations. These early 'families' led to the organized crime organizations that became so famous during the Prohibition era and beyond.
Featured on the page 3 is a lengthy report on the trial regarding the assassination of David C. Hennessy. Hennessy is credited with being the first lawman to take on the Mafia in America. The Neopolitan Comorra families and the Mafia were engaged in a power struggle in New Orleans in the 1880's and '90's. Detective Hennessy was first fired by (organized crime friendly) politicians, but later re-instated as Chief of Police. In 1890, after Hennessy made a deal with a Mafia rival to testify in court he was shot down in the night by four gunmen.
One column headlines include: "THE HENNESSY CASE" and more with many related illustrations. Lengthy text, too much to photograph here.
Complete in 10 pages, browning with minor margin and fold wear, otherwise in good condition. Should be handled with care.
Historical Background: David C. Hennessey (??-1890) was the police chief of New Orleans, Louisiana from 1888 until his death. His death, supposedly at the hands of Italian immigrants, was the catalyst of a large anti-Italian lynching in New Orleans.
While investigating the barrel murder of an Italian immigrant, he discovered the existence of a secret society operating in New Orleans, the Mafia. After collecting enough evidence to go public, shortly before he could come forward, he was assassinated on October 15, 1890, execution-style. However historians dispute this explanation. Humbert S. Nelli concluded that Hennessey as chief of police was involved in some way regulating organized crime activity. Nelli also concluded that his execution might have been a way to frame Italian Americans.
His dying words to another officer were reported to have been "Dagos did it", dago being an insulting slur for Italians.
This killing became the first widely publicized Mafia incident in the United States, and resulted in hundreds of baseless arrests of newly arrived Italian immigrants and a major trial in 1891 in New Orleans in which nineteen people were indicted. Rumors about the Sicilian "Mafia" trying to take over New Orleans spread throughout the city, adding to the extreme prejudice and fear of the poor Italian immigrants that many native United States citizens had already developed.
A large riot occurred after those indicted were acquitted, with a mob storming the jail house and lynching the accused Italians, along with ten other Italians, none of whom had been involved in the case. The lynch mob brutally mutilated the Italian immigrants, apparently shouting, "Hang the dagos!" According to witnesses, the "cheers were deafening."
It is important to note that the Italians lynched were not involved in any organized crime. The lynching is considered just as much - or more- of a racial and ethnic motivated lynching as it is a criminal lynching.
The death of Hennessey became a rallying cry for law enforcement and nativists to stop the immigration of Italians into America.
For decades after, New Orleans children of other ethnicities would often taunt Italian Americans with the phrase, "Who kill-a the Chief?
Category: Post-Civil War
No Longer Available
