The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-05-31 00:00:00

THE MURDERS IN THE NAPLES
BARRACKS.

The Naples correspondent of the Standard writes
"The trial of the Calabrese soldier Misdea, for the
murder of six of his comrades, has been the all-
absorbing topic of the week, and is likely to continue
to be so for a week longer. The daily arrival of the
prison van, strongly guarded, is eagerly watched by
large crowds outside the military court in Pizzo
Falcone, which affords little room for the public, who,
densely packed in a stifling atmosphere, are never'
weary of gazing at the murderer. He is confined in
an iron cage projecting from the wall, in which how-
ever, he appears quite at ease. Misdea is only twenty-
two years old, of low stature, with a round face, almost.
beardless, low forehead, and sparkling dark eyes.
He gave his answers in a clear calm voice, but 12is
Calabrian dialect is only imperfectly understood by
the larger part of the audience. From the statements
of the witnesses, it appears that, soon after the
muster-roll had been called on the fatal night, to
which llfisdea had responded, remarking 'A. year
hence I shall not answer, because I shall be on fur-
lough,' all the soldiers had retired to their respective
quarters. Misdea, in company with another soldier,
his countryman, Calistria, and the corporal,-Trovati,
conversed about their country. A Lombard soldier,
Zanolotti, unfortunately mixed in the conversation,
I observing, What can you do down in that sunburnt
Calabria?' To which the corporal replied, Yes, we
are of sunburnt soil; butyou are Piedmontese polenta-
eaters, or Tuscan chestnut-eaters.' The dispute con-
tinued, when the Corporal Roncoroni appeared on the
scene and ordered the disputants to be silent, with the
remark, 'Here we are all Italians and brothers,' at
the same time sending Trovati away. On this Misdea
shook Roncoroni, exclaiming, You send Trovati
away because he is a Calabrese.' Corporal Codara,
coming to Roncoroni's assistance, was threatened
by Misdea, who said, I have some fancies in my heal
to night; I will give satisfaction to all of you, one by
one, for one Calabrese is worth a hundred of your
lot.' On this Codara boxed the ears of Misdea, who
tried to draw his sword, but being prevented, ex-
claimed, You have given me a box on the ear,
Codara, but to-night I will cut off your head ! '
Misdea was then ordered to prison, but somehow tiv
order was not executed. He ran to his roorn, took
his gun, cleaned it, took forty-eight cartridges from
the pouch, and fired the first shot into a group of
six soldiers, of whom one fell, and the light in the
room was extinguished by the detonation. Then fol-
lowed a scene of utter panic among the soldiers,
whose cowardice in not confronting and securing the
murderer at once made the most painful impression
in court. Most of the soldiers barricaded their dormi-
tories; others escaped by the windows; one group of
eleven was found by Misdea huddled together in the
water closet. He sought for Lombpdese and Piedinon-
tese amongst them, and shot fOur of them sparing
Cundari, one of his countrymen. At last, on the
appearance of an officer of the Bersaglieri, 'efforts
were made to secure the assassin. He was caught by
the legs by a trumpeter and Cundari. The regimental
surgeon, on examining Misdea, found him wearing
his usual expression, although excited, and altogether
without signs of drunkenness, only loudly complain-
in, of his bonds. He was put into a strait waistcoat,.
and taken to the Casteldell'ovo. Misdea, hearing
that a plea of insanity was to be set up on his behalf,
declared that he was neither drunk nor mad, but later
he maintained that he had drunk an unusual quantity
of rum on the day of the crime. His precedents are
bad enough. He has been twice tried for attempted
homicide, but acquitted for want of proof; he has
undergone several punishments for breach of dis-
cipline, and is reputed as being naturally lazy, fond of
drink, and illiterate. Misdea asked as a favour to be
condemned quickly, and shot by a company of twelve
soldiers, picked enemies of the Calabrese."