New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-22
GREECE.
TRIAL OF SEVEN BRIGANDs-PUksUTT AND CAP
TURE OF OTHERS.


|
ATHENS, june 2.-Seven of the br1gands De-
| longing TO the famous Ouvsnitah band, which lately
captured Lord Muncasters party on the road to Mara
thon and subsequently murdered their capttyes when
pursued by the troops tried at the Assizes mere
last week and condemned to death Only four OF these
however had had any share in the atrocious massacre
OF Oropo the other three having been wounded In an
encounter between the bgand band and the troops ana
taken prisoners months ago. Very great interest
was in the trial. eagerly expected ever since the
murder the unfortunate English and Italian capu'es,
and the seizure of these members OF the band guilty. Oh
their murder The Court-whoh on account OF the
crowds It was anticipated would seek admtance at the
trial sat in the large Vsrkakow College Hall-was In
deed crowded overlooking. Several OF the foreign
Ministers present In part Of the gallery set apart
the Diplomatic Corps, and many ladies OF the best
circles OF Athenian society were seen eagerly watching
for the entrance Of the criminals at the bar The criminals
were all seven badly wounded and had to be caredn on
the arms of the attending gendarmes They all young
intelligent, darngOoking men, their age varying from
"a TO 80 They affected great indifference during the
trial talking among themselves or with the gendarmes
guarding them watching the audience with curiosity
and assumed arrogant, defiant attitude when al
dressed by the Judge They maintained when questioned
by the Court as to their deed Oropo that the death of
their captyes was caused by the troops being sent TO
pursue them that was point OF honor with them
to allow capves taken by them TO escape or be rescued
unransoe and that they had from the veryrs declared
they would kill their prisoners If they were pursued
eve treated our prisoners well," said one of them,
Alexis Rhormovas the most intelligent and boldooking
of them ALL speaking for the rest we did all we could
for their comfort and trusted to the official promises
we received that should not be attacked. You did
not keep your promises, and sent troops to attack u.s.
We kept Ours-we always dO-and when we could not
drag our prisoners away any longer, We killed them"
Another of the prisoners questioned by the Judge who
was endeavoring to elicit when and where each had
fred against the troops replied rather petulanty,
"what is the use of all this questioning and bother
To md out who killed whomi The troops attack us
when balls whistle backward and forward what wonder
themselves Balls do when fred straight SO much the
DO TIE spSS attacks S0 us IT'S
get kiedin consequence! HeneVer attack them unless
These expressions may serve to show in what spirit
| these rufians ply their trade. -
scrbed how he had Of the prisoners at the ar
the same Alexis Rhormoyas with his yataghsn strike
the EDglishmen murdered and hew him TO the ground
described the scene the audience burst out in groans
hoOts and cries of Indignation at the prisoner whom the
face perfectly The prisoner calmly looked up these
cries and gized at the gallery with truly Satanic
amined and all the details of this shocking
Of the a most II snf tran lasted
from p. till 4:I5 next morning II was broad day
light when the jury returned their unanimous verdict OF
guilty and the judge pronounced the verdict of death
against all seven. The prisoners received the announce
emotion The day oftheir execution has not yet been
fixed OF the criminal conniyances and understandings
capital of which the English papers have made so much
and concerning which important startling a. VEL fa
nothing whatever turned up 1t was proved only that
Christie Avoanitad (whO was killed. in which he was
urged to insist upon the condition OF an amnesty beside
the money ransom and assured that he would get
IL he held ont was written by brother Of the Orvan
talks cattle dealer, in the employ of an Engishman,
The other chief of the band Taeos Orysnitak with
six followers is sti free; and all the endeav9rs OF the
report spread here yesterday that he had landed on
troops had been sent after him! Not likely.
The Indignation at home and abroad caused by this
to great activity in its endeavors to destroy this
plague in the country No fewer than $500 troops
or members of bands independent of the Orvanitah
band have been captured or killed The promptitude and
have been tried and condemned, have also produced
good effect in the country Their execution ought to
What deters the Greek peasantry from taking an ac
tive part IN the aPe be a 81 Is tbe ear
OF their terrible vengeance, against which the Govern
They are in constant dread that bgands in whose cap
ture may become known that they IN any way assisted
should In time escape and again become free; and then
wreak their vengeance the unhappy peasants who
aided in their capture But too many examples OF such
escapes exist to keep up this universally held among
the Greek peasantry The brigand chief Maghras and
his band killed not long ago. in Naupactia had all BEEN
demned to DEATH but had escaped Another chief Chris
tOcOpOulo according to the assertion Of the Orion had
been condemned TO death HOe times, and yet free
Whatwould be his treatment OF the uDlucky peasant who
s 70 the Sps gnen NE %s
him because he fears him stil The feeling with
be gathered from the severity with which jures in
yariably give their verdets against all criminals
the PENALTIES awarded in consequence OF
rarely carried out In this respect the present Min;
istry better than its predecessors The official
organ stated lately that the number OF brgands cap
tured since the Zams Ministry came TO power Jan 1869
IN
/ were condemned to death. How many were exc
cuted Five until quite lately when the aspersons of
another batch Of twenty. do not believe in the maprac
AZ the cause Of this But the fact is there mistaken
idea Of humanity political such as those dur
Criminals sent in shoals to Crete to fight for their
rwhence they returned h0wever at the end Of that
ters to sign when they become so numer
causes cSS may be sufficient to account for it.
The English papers, 1t seems TO me, have taken
regard TO the horror Of the tragedy at oropo Itself is
unjust when visited on the Greek people How can the
for the foul act Such an idea could only have arisen in
| the first moment of modification and anger, but
Sn of "f the matter Without the deepest the most
Tsed The this English sSa sr%y has cdsd
its language and threats since The plans also proposed
t ER ia the ey ecu vera az as
| they were mpracticable. The Greek Ministers may
before the amentabe capture Of Lord Mcasers party
but they acted for the best after IT, The sending of troops
was OF course measure involving great risks but they
driven to it when the brgands persstenty and as
| a sine qua demanded amnesty which they
could not legally and rghtfuly grant them
| It no argument that an Unconstitutional
| Illegal thing should be done by Minister
because Of his accused OF be-
ing guilty Of disregarding the Constitution
other occasion II could not be done and the next alter
native as they judged It, Of sending troops adopted
tho I'm gsh and Italian Ministers approving at least
mot opposing this The vigor Of the Govern
ment IA pursuing brgsndage since then cannot be called
IN dou5t The American Minister here is known 70 have
from such these supported the Greek Govern
this severe trial and the people OF oourse sppre
| ctnta any sympathy Of the sort at present more
than over The extrpation Of brgandage however