The year was 1890, and New Orleans Police Chief David C. Hennessy had been assassinated. After a series of trials and mistrials, in March 1891, his death lead to the largest known mass lynching in U.S. history.
Derby Gisclair, a local historian and frequent presenter at Jefferson Parish Libraries, will tell the whole story at 7 p.m. July 17 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.
As a young lieutenant in 1881, Hennessy had captured a notorious Italian criminal named Guiseppe Esposito and others involved in his crimes, eventually leading to his promotion to chief of police.
After his assassination, with no legal action happening to suit them, a large crowd of locals forced open the doors of the prison and lynched 11 of the 19 Italian men who had been indicted…