Creole Sketches/The Indignant Dead
THE INDIGNANT DEAD[1]
If they are not indignant as a certain worthy Administrator declared they were, they ought to be.
During the last ten years three hundred and three persons have been murdered in New Orleans or vicinity.
And yet only five of the murderers have been hung. Only five — although eleven were actually sentenced to death.
Consequently the chance of being hung for committing a murder in this community is as five to three hundred and three.
Almost as little danger of being hung for having committed murder as of being run over by a railroad train or cut in two by a buzz saw or brained by a brick falling from a chimney.
It is really horrible to read the report made to Governor Wiltz.
Of perhaps more than three hundred murderers — for many of these murders were committed by several persons — only three escaped from justice. What became of the rest? Where are the three hundred?
One hundred and sixteen were declared not guilty.
A nolle prosequi was entered in fifty-nine cases.
In nine cases it was "not a true bill."
There were three mistrials.
Twelve cases were transferred to the dead docket.
Without going much further into particulars we need only remark that the rest mostly escaped with light sentences, or were pardoned out of the Penitentiary.
Only five murderers were punished by death.
And that was only because they were strangers, —
Because they had no money to pay lawyers, —
Because they had no political influence.
Two Italians, two negroes and a Malay — probably less guilty than some who are now walking the streets!
There are nearly three hundred unavenged dead, — the blood of nearly three hundred victims crying vainly to heaven for vengeance!
If the dead are not indignant, in the immortal words of our Administrator, they ought to be.
- ↑ Item, September 8, 1880.