Rocco Geraci

Rocco Geracci was a stevedore, according to a Britannica entry. He was held at the Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans, where on March 14, 1891, a mob forced its way in, chased the men through the building, and killed him along with others. Britannica says the men were beaten and shot, and the Oskaloosa Herald reported that the sheriff was not at the prison when the crowd arrived. The coroner's verdict was that the men died at the hands of unknown parties, while the Law Library of Louisiana says the police did nothing to stop the mob. According to Britannica, no one was ever prosecuted for the killings.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. A mob broke into the New Orleans parish prison, chased the men through the building, beat them and shot them, and no one was ever prosecuted for the killings.

Reported by: Coroner Lemoniere (medical examiner or coroner); news reports.

Sources (9)

• Mass Lynching of Italian-Americans Law Library of Louisiana
• Evening Journal, March 14, 1891, page 2 Evening Journal, March 14, 1891
• Watertown Republican, March 18, 1891, page 3 Watertown Republican, March 18, 1891
• The Oskaloosa Herald, March 19, 1891, page 4 The Oskaloosa Herald, March 19, 1891
• Oakes Weekly Republican, March 20, 1891, page 2 Oakes Weekly Republican, March 20, 1891
• Ellsworth American, March 26, 1891, page 1 Ellsworth American, March 26, 1891
• The Big Stone Post, April 10, 1891, page 1 The Big Stone Post, April 10, 1891
• Laredo Weekly Times, March 16, 1919, page 2 Laredo Weekly Times, March 16, 1919
• New Orleans lynching of 1891 Britannica, September 5, 2026