by ledblimp » Sun Sep 10, 2017 11:11 am
New Orleans was a destination for Italians, mainly Sicilians, long before any other port in the country. The beginnings of Mafia activity in NOLA date back to just after the Civil War with the Agnello brothers. Esposito had been busted by Carabinieri in Sicily while he was a top man for a leader of Sicilian bandits called Monteleone. He managed to escape while being transferred to a prison in Palermo. He did go to NY prior to New Orleans. He was only here for a short time, roughly 1878/79 until captured by the Hennessey cousins in July 1881. A couple of weeks later a man named Antonio Labousse (sometimes seen as Labruzzo) was shot down at the corner of Exchange Alley and Bienville St. He had been accused of tipping off authorities to Esposito's presence in NOLA. Hennessey placed Esposito on a steamer bound for NY with detectives (one a Pinkerton I think) and after a deportation trial he was deported to Sicily on Sept. 21. Reportedly he died there in prison years later.
One of the theories behind Hennessey's assassination in 1890 was that it was long awaited revenge for Esposito by Mafia elements. Another theory was that it was by friends of Thomas Devereaux. The Hennessey boys, Michael and David, were involved in a shootout with him in October of 1881. The dispute stemmed from the capture of Esposito. Devereaux was the supervisor of the Hennessey's and they were ordered to leave off any pursuit of Esposito. The Hennessey's ignored him which infuriated Devereaux. There had already been bad blood between them from years prior due to the fact that he had arrested Michael Hennessey years before for theft but he was acquitted. Devereaux brought them up on charges and they went before a police board. Initially things didn't look good for Devereaux's side. He didn't have many friends with the Police Commission, but the Hennessey's did, especially after the Esposito capture. One day while inside a business Devereaux spots Michael walking by. Accounts vary on what happened and who fired first but Michael is badly wounded. As Devereaux starts to aim for a killing shot David Hennessey manages to come in behind him from the side and shoot Devereaux in the head. He dies before an ambulance can get to him. Michael recovers and the Hennessey boys are put on trial for murder but are acquitted due to the known threats Devereaux had publicly made against them. Devereaux's friends are not happy. One of those being Domonick O'Malley who would play a role as an investigator for the defense of the Italians accused of David Hennessey's murder in 1890. Michael Hennessey would be assassinated in Houston in September of 1886. Though there was a suspect that was put on trial the charges would be dismissed for lack of evidence. His death was officially unsolved.
New Orleans was a destination for Italians, mainly Sicilians, long before any other port in the country. The beginnings of Mafia activity in NOLA date back to just after the Civil War with the Agnello brothers. Esposito had been busted by Carabinieri in Sicily while he was a top man for a leader of Sicilian bandits called Monteleone. He managed to escape while being transferred to a prison in Palermo. He did go to NY prior to New Orleans. He was only here for a short time, roughly 1878/79 until captured by the Hennessey cousins in July 1881. A couple of weeks later a man named Antonio Labousse (sometimes seen as Labruzzo) was shot down at the corner of Exchange Alley and Bienville St. He had been accused of tipping off authorities to Esposito's presence in NOLA. Hennessey placed Esposito on a steamer bound for NY with detectives (one a Pinkerton I think) and after a deportation trial he was deported to Sicily on Sept. 21. Reportedly he died there in prison years later.
One of the theories behind Hennessey's assassination in 1890 was that it was long awaited revenge for Esposito by Mafia elements. Another theory was that it was by friends of Thomas Devereaux. The Hennessey boys, Michael and David, were involved in a shootout with him in October of 1881. The dispute stemmed from the capture of Esposito. Devereaux was the supervisor of the Hennessey's and they were ordered to leave off any pursuit of Esposito. The Hennessey's ignored him which infuriated Devereaux. There had already been bad blood between them from years prior due to the fact that he had arrested Michael Hennessey years before for theft but he was acquitted. Devereaux brought them up on charges and they went before a police board. Initially things didn't look good for Devereaux's side. He didn't have many friends with the Police Commission, but the Hennessey's did, especially after the Esposito capture. One day while inside a business Devereaux spots Michael walking by. Accounts vary on what happened and who fired first but Michael is badly wounded. As Devereaux starts to aim for a killing shot David Hennessey manages to come in behind him from the side and shoot Devereaux in the head. He dies before an ambulance can get to him. Michael recovers and the Hennessey boys are put on trial for murder but are acquitted due to the known threats Devereaux had publicly made against them. Devereaux's friends are not happy. One of those being Domonick O'Malley who would play a role as an investigator for the defense of the Italians accused of David Hennessey's murder in 1890. Michael Hennessey would be assassinated in Houston in September of 1886. Though there was a suspect that was put on trial the charges would be dismissed for lack of evidence. His death was officially unsolved.