Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-30
R-rlganaage In sielIx.

y NopaCo VI tuo hOh
don Times writes, under date OF March
Sd; Anyone on reading the reports from
certain districts in Sicily might readily
imagine they were a the state of war,
Patrols Of military and police traverse
them in all directions. Houses beyond
certain limits are abandoned by their
proprietors, and farm houses or pretty
country villas are alternately the lurking
places of brigands aud the scenes of as
savage skirmishes as have been witnessed
in Spain. a few days only have passed
since reported q conflict Of this kind
not far from San Mauro, in the province
of Palermo, and now the Precursors
gives interesting details of it. 1t was on
one of the tempestuous nights we have
had recently that a patrol of ten rifles
sought shelter in the house of a Signor
Manouso. No suspicious persons were
there. said a man who was in occupation:
so the sergeant advanced with one of
his company, having placed the others
around the place. On approaching a
stable the officer called for lanterns.
These were brought by two men, who, on
arriving within a few PAGES of it, threw
down the light and fed. The door was
then thrown open and a volley Of mus
kerry was fred, killing the sergeant on
the spot and the soldier who accompan-
led him. A general engagement then
ensued in utter darkness and under a
pouring rain. The brigands, with their
arms on the brides of their horses, be-
hind whom they had sheltered them
selves, loaded their muskets and fred,
wounding mortally another of the rife
men. The soldiers on their part sue.
ceeded in killing one of the band and
one of the fellows who betrayed them.
A reinforcement was sent from the
nearest military station, and the Man.
ateRgok" we're arrested; but three valu-
able lives were lost among the troops,
and the rest of the band escaped on
horseback. 1t is not always that we re-
ceive the details of the skirmishes which
occur, but in greater or less proportion
they are not infrequent, and the wonder
is any one can maintain that, | will not
say a country, but districts in so lawless
a condition car be governed by the or
binary law. So much for the North.
let us turn to the South. At the begin
ming of last week, we are told, a rich
proprietor, a SigBor Celauro, was carried
off a few miles only from Girgenti.
There must have been some eommunica.
ton with his friends, for it was known
that 100000 lire, or $4,000, was demand
ed for his ransam-a heavy sum any
where, but, taking into consideration the
higher value and greater scarcity of
money in the South, a sun which there
it would be difficult, if not impossible, to
collect. Troops and Guards Of Public
: Security were sent Immediately in pur-
suit, and hopes we're entertained of cut
ting off the brigands. but no news to
hat effect has arrived. Three days la
ter another gentleman Of property-a
Signor ~palilla-was seized aud carried
off from the neighborhood Of Marc, also
in the province of Girgenti. Nothing is
said Of the amount of ransom demanded,
and no information is given of or from
, the family. The troops, we are assured,
are active; but so they were two years
ago when | sent you an official report of
the state Of the province from a person
| in authority, and, judging from such in
cidents as have narrated, personal se-
curity can not be muchgreater now than
it was at that time5 Girgenti is, as is
well known, one of the great centers of
3 industry in Sicily, or at all events, ma.
= ture intended it should be so; bat it may
readily be imagined that the want Of
good roads, and the presence of brig.
ands, who thrive on their absence, must
be terrible impediments to the develop
ment Of the material wealth of the coun-
try. What the anxiety and agony OF the
friends of those who are 'sequestrated'
, must be can be readily conceived, for |
! have occasionally reported the brutal *
cesses, aud aver death, which have been
inflicted on the captives. Many months,
if not several years, have PASSED since
the famous robbery of the Monte de
Pieta, in Palermo. Those who we're ar.
r rested on suspicion were sent, for secur-
, ity, either 10 Turin or Perugia. Their
trial is to be held shortly, and d demand
= has been made to the Court of Cessation
for the case to be removed to some tri
bunal on the continent"