ABSTRACT
On the evening of 15 October 1890, a damp fog descended on the city of New Orleans. Chief of Police David Hennessy walked alone to his home at 274 Girod Street. After attending a meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners at City Hall, Hennessy had enjoyed a late meal at a local oyster bar with his friend and colleague, Captain William O'Connor. Although O'Connor offered to negotiate the fog together, Hennessy declined to trouble the captain further, and the two men parted. As the chief strode toward his house, a teenage boy leapt from the darkness and sprinted down the street. Unruffled, Hennessy reached to turn his key in the front door. As he did so, he was shot repeatedly by unseen assailants. Returning fire, the stricken Hennessy hauled himself to the street corner in search of help. There he was found by Captain O'Connor, who had turned and raced in the direction of the gunshots. The alarm raised, Hennessy was rushed to the Charity Hospital. Despite the best efforts of surgeons, however, he was pronounced dead at 9:06 the following morning. 1
