, 1874-11-06


Tho Now York correspondent Of the Boston
Times credits Il pYouaiuont municipal officer OF
tho former city with having discovered method
Of converting woman into clean cash. Tho dis
coyoror, it is alleged, has been speculating III
wives for some ycarB past, and has como out Of
lis spcculations with handsome fortune His
first speculation was with lis first wife. soIn6
yeaYs ago. Tho physicians havip:r r :pouucod
hor to be iu consumption and info aasu him she
could not live through tIs m,utur. hs went to au
insurance Office, and took out policy OF $1,000
on her life. No examination was mado. tho conn.,
pany tnning hts word for It tl1at sho WAS in ro-
bust health. He then carried tho policy to q
aecout} Office, and on tho strength Of it got
another $4,000, and thus kept on repeating tho
operation until his policies reached the sum Of
100000. Hs wife died iu the following
February, and, ratlor than incur tho
displeasare OF man OF h,R power
anu influence, tho companies paid the
nmount without any protest. He thon aet about
him for another speculation, and, fuding
wealthy woman, mauy yoara hia junior, he hid
siego to her aud married her. Hor rcativos bo-
fore tho marriage lad demanded that he should
settle certain property upon her, which he did,
taking tho procaution, howavor, to mortgage 1t
for ucarly all 1t was worth. When tue trick wns
diacovered she loft him, but meanwhile ho had
made $100 900 out OF her. Ills third speculation
in wives notted him $3.50 900, no that out OF te
t,roo wives he haH olcared s460, 600, and cvon
now ho ia not satisfied. In the light Of auch do
ve1opmouta aa those, womRn becomes moro pre-
cious than over. In addition to her social value,
her financial value becomes greatly enhanced.
Hhe ia o perfect treasure.
----------A-+---
1t appears from tho correspondent Of tho Lou
don TEnes that tho Itatlan Government Ia at lust
taking active measures for the suppression Of
brlgaudage in the Islaud Of Sicily, and that, IN
apito Of thcRo measures. tho socrot society Of the
Matja is dniy growing In numbers aud powor.
Tho principal procaution taken is to put tho isl
and virtually under martial law. Tho Projects
Of tho Provinces are to send daily reports to tho
General commanding in olief at Palermo, who
transmits them to tho Var Office at Romo.
The chief town Of every Province Is under tho
control OF Commission Of Public Security, con-
aisting Of tlo Project, tue local military COM
1naudor, aud tho commander OF carabineors.
The police aro at tho orders Of tho mill
tary oommnudors, aud tho military rule Is
! protty effectively established So far tho
results have not been encouraging. Murders
Aayo Increased and prisoners have bcen captured
aud hold for ranHom with aatonlshing audaoty
ou tlo part OF tho froo.bootora. Collisions bo-
twoon rowing bands Of tho brigands and tue
military aro Of frequent occurrence, aud not
always to tho glory OF tho lattor. 1udood, 30
powerful haH this atsoolous secret organization
become that, whilo tho present vigorous
measures ulay ohecls hrlgapdago Tor time as
Boon as their influences IL felt. it Ia tortau that
sword and police will not eradicate the Mafia.
While both Italian political parties aro agreed
upon tho oxtons OF tho evil. thoy cannot agroo
| upon moasurea for lta effootual e1.irpation. It
is tho old story Of doctors differing while the
| patient Ia dying al! round.