New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-26
ITALIAN VICTIMS.
GRIMES OF THE PADRONI.

The anti against the Italian padrone, Vim
cenzo Motto accused maltreating boy and keeping
him m involuntary servltudo has brought the question
Of the traffic in Italian children into prominence Ihis
trna,c was adyered TO and condemned In THE TRIBUNE
nearly two years ago. but effective steps were taken
ut the time 70 end It,
Col Pratt interpreter in the Mayors Office WIS aShou
BY TRIBUNE reporter 70 give his views reiauNo " o
Italian slave question. He stated that the Amer'o"
public did not understand question 81 ISSUE vi '
means that should he adopted to prevent the orlnE ~
Italian children here 90 serve brutal fIo
MS obseryaOns he believed the number OF itaan Gnu
dren in this city had been oyeresums.ou' Ans"u ~
10000, he believed there were not more '"' OVO u
of them. Tho majority OF these were " ~
found with the padroni who practically o"neu
chen, an the tenements in Mott, Mulberry,
Baxter and the adjoining streets Ihe ma
,ortv ~ these came from the southern provinces OF
Italv more especially Naples These children were
bired Of their parents for term Of years, five In the
majority of cases. the padrone or employer agreeing TO
nav comparatively lsmall sam, 800 or 600 francs to
,h narents or guardians each child. In addition they
hind themselves TO the child to play on musical
instrument and feed and clohe him during the term
NJ his apprenticeship The employer gathers eight OF
Zen children and brings them to this country, generally
10 this city although there are now padron and chill
rea belonging 10 them found in nearly every city
I'm the Union These children treated In the harshest
manner. Unless they bring home certain amount OF
money at the close OF each day they beaten orutay
aud often sent supporess to bed. The great difculy
now is that there is clause in the extrsdition
treaty the United States and Italy covering TINS
white slave trade Il be reached by the author-
ties. The only for action against the padron Is
their brutal treatment Of the children under their care
Ana even this Is difficult 20 prove. The ehudren VINO
have been beaten refuse In nearly every instance 10
testify because they not wish TO be called spies
or nformers by their fellows. The Chamber OF
IDENTITIES Of the Italian Parliament recently passed
an act making II ofense punishable by long
term OF imprisonment 20 take children from the
Kingdom Of Italy for the objects 10 which they are now
devoted There IL doubt that this will become law
Is is understood that the House OF Peers and the King
favor H. What is then needed Is that Congress shall add
tuis crime 70 those mentioned in the extradton
treaty Then and not TIL then, Whi
the traffic In Italian children be prevented mass
meeting will be held for the purpose OF giving ex'
preston 20 the feeling of the better class OF Italians on
thesubect and devlsing means to bring the matter be-
fore Congress at the next session. Many persons had
blamed the Italian Consul at this port for not endeayor
ing 70 prevent the bringing OF Italian children TO TINS
port Practically he unable 10 do anything TO pre-
vent the traffic. man comes here with SIX
or more children His passport represents
them "a his or as his wards,
and unless the children complain, who is to interfere
Another difficulty encountered. 1t was almost Inn
possible 10 identity persons the ones mentioned in
passport complaint This arose from the fact that
nearly all the padroni were known by their hrst OF
on trial before Commissioner Osborn. 1t had not yet
been proved that the prisoners name was Yncenzo
p,1l Bstnotd me Italian Vice-Consul i'm this city,
stated that traffic in Italian children in this country
great proportions only within the past stx or seven
years when the increased facilities OF travel Afforded
the padron greater opportunities for bringing over
children. Lists OF names or Wei-knOWn DadfOm nave
been nrnished 10 the Consulate, and they refused
passports 20 Italy. At present there are from co TO so
names the lists. The traffic had extended TO America
Europe Egypt Assyrs, Palestine, Agers and even TO
India nut al present 10 Is almost wholly cOnnned 10
England and the Uuited States The attention OF the
Italian Government was called TO the matter when II
became OF magnitude, and all possible measures were
taken TO prevent IT, orders were gwen 70 the IRE
Gle In the OF padroni. Lately however, che GOV
eminent has taken the matter more carefully under
exigences OF the The bill winch has passed the
probaby receive the sanction of the Italian senate by
unanimous vote as the legislators are iuy awe 70 tne
~ b5s yssr w Most If he italian children held
some are 20 De found Boston, San Francisco Chicago
from the southern Of Italy. The Consulate has
frequently referred the matter to the home government
dr0nl: aud blitse which has passed the Chamber
OF Deputies has embodied the suggestions Oh TINS once,
Other steps could not be Iakon 10y he Oonsuae
81 Has jurisdiction. The bill referred TO forDids the
hiring OF children and their expectation from the
country under any pSste1P uhut DC Penslg
ernnient IS such that the law when enacted win be
strictly enforced and padroni who attempt TO cross
the frontier children viii be arrested, tried, and
sentenced. The padroni make trips nearly every year
q Italy 70 obtain children Between the various pa
dfoui there exists sort OF taet agreement to help
another. They make quite large amounts OF money |
having i've boys under him can make $500 year
easily, OF which $500 IS expended on the boys.
Philippe DOnnarumma, President of the Donnarumma |
Association stated that the first steps on the part OF his
countrymen toward putting stop to this traffic had |
been taken BY his Association at meeting held on June
when resolutions were adopted fayorng an appea-
ton 20 Congress 20 add clause 70 the eXtFadluon
treaty, and TO empower the Italian Consul 10 send the
Children back To Italy. These resolutions were sent 10
seven other Italian societies in the city. meeting OF
the delegatosrO all the societies will be held at the
Germania Assembly Rooms next Thursday evening, |
when the eXpediency OF holding mass meeting IN the
Cooper Union at an early day viii be considered
A STRANGE CONFLICT OF TESTIMONY.
At the resumption yesterday of the exam
ination, before Commissioner Osborn, OF Vincenzo
Matto charged with deprving Joseph Pascencello OF
MS liberty and with cruelty treating him, Margaret
MCQuadc testified that Pascencielo and Matto lived
Tor about two years in the same house with
her in Merccr-st., aud that Joseph called
hiu "fatherD The witness also testified that
enc Irishwoman, but her appearance and
accent indicated that she Italian. Joseph swore
positively, Saturday, that he had lived with
Matte; that he had called him "father,"
and that he had never him but before Upon
being again put upon the stand Joseph testified that he
had lived IN Mercerst; that he had never lived in
house with Mrs. McQuade, but that he had seen her
when she lived No as CrosOyst. AT this point Joseph
asked the Interpreter to stand between him aud Mrs
MQuade that he could not see her making faces and
shaking hof head at him.
Commissioner OsbOrn-This Is strange case and II Is
very evident that some Is committing perjury.
Mrs. McCuade testified that she had never lived In
Cr0sbyst that she had never seen Joseph there and
hiai she testified at the request OF Matt0, VINO
said that his "bOy had denied him." Mrs. McQuade
that she had three children, aud the Commits
sioner adjourned Court for short time 70 enable the
officers 10 mud them aud bring them before him. They
we're produced, and they corroborated their
mothers testimony in every particular. Assistant