The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-18
PdSQUALE PIsANI'S FATE
Sold Into Slavery In New York FOR Two
Years by his own Brother.

Year. by hi. own brother.
Pasquale Pisani, the Italian cripple who
was brought to this country by n padrone. died
in the Emigrants Hospital on Wards Island
on Tuesday evening.
Pisani presented himself at Castle Garden on
the 7th inst. very i'll, and prayed to be admitted
to the hospital. He was sent to Wards Island
and he was so exhausted that II was necessary
to take him to the hospital In an ambulance.
There II was ascertained that he was suffering
from ncute pneumonia. His body was so
emanated that it had the appearance OF
skeleton.
Before sending him TO the hospital. Supern-
tendent jackson Of Castle Garden obtained
from him the story Of his bondage, which
Pisani gave in fear and trembling Of his master.
one Martino Damiani OF 1853 Elizabeth street.
who brought him here.
DIR. Salvatore Caro- OF 120 West Fifty-third
street. who is noted for his kindly protection to
his fellow countrymen. the Italians. on reading
of Pisani's case. at once set about to investigate
IL. Tho Doctor visited Psani in the hospital on
| Sunday last. and took from him his story in
his native tongue which. on account OF his
having no further fear of his master and
knowing his end to be near at hand. was given
| in full detail Plsari said:
' | am native of Boggiano. Italy. whore |
was swinehcrd As such | received twelve
! lu'NlS anu Un Iolbll. NIOul tlEINtfI bOuUtlS
| weight OF wool. and one hog yearly. My
| brother made known to me tie proposal of
Maruno Damiani who desired full control oi
| me for two yenrs. The price OF this service Of
! two years. sixty ducats. was TO bo paid to my
! brother IN Boggiano. ! was to do whatever
| Damiani demanded. and TO be clothed and fed.
| Another person was obtained at the sumo time
| by Damiani-Pardo Ermo. who Is in New York
we departed with Damiani for Lonzano,
| thence TO Taverna di Janzo. whore we remained
some days. From thence we went to Naples.
sHaHFA NHa ~ PM
there here. On the very FIRST day OF our arrival.
Ermo WIS supplied with an organ. and we were
| sent out together-ho 10 grind the orRnn and |
to beg We lived in tho house with Damiani.
somewhere near the Five Points We were ro-
gIred IT, 20 80 oq' a. deyereHk ana not 10 re-
! WAS sent out alone to beg. Generally. on Fri
days, was sent 70 Brgoklyn. and sometimes to
| the other cities about New York.
| BY the contract. which was made between
Damiani and my brother. was TO have We'd
nesdays free. but was never allowed one day.
| On Sundays ! was stationed near the stone
church. the Roman Catholic CHURCH Of the
| TRANSPORTATION. not far from the Five Points.
TO beg. | got about seventy cents on sundays.
During tho whole year that was with
| Damisni | was compelled to lie on the floor,
near the door used my coat for pillow. and
| had 10 cover myself with a ragged old Quilt.
n IN has s ony % ED sna e SS NSrda Slept S
tho floor also ! brought home meat and bread
and other things given me IN charity every day;
but was never allowed to partake Of them. /
WIS given daily to eat potatoes. piece of bread
and an onion. Sometimes got glass OF very
poor beer. | never was drunk In my life
| Damiani always searched my clothes carefully
when came home from my begging trip. Ny
rsturns would not suit my master sometimes
| Then he would beat me. He beat me three
times over the head and shoulders with a CLUB.
Once he kicked me in the stomach an knocked
three days. Many persons around about whore
we used 10 live saw him beat me. and they
often interceded for me and saved me-
90 was sick eight days before wentto Castle
Garden. went there with my MASTER wife
While there. Damiani came in. and he directed
me to go into 4 closet near 10 us. When / came
out they had gone. and ! WAS alone. i was
always warned against saying anythng to any
ment had received. .Damiani told me repeat
edly that II he found any pennies about m,
psnny from SIi S sixty scud one DAY oun
eight cents. and he informed me IS would b'
charged 80 that account"
SUPERINTENDENT Jackson. hearing that Dami
sni had copy Of MS contract spoken ga OF D.
| DRmianis place in Eli lZab.th street, where n,
sells fruit Damiani reluctantly showed The
copy. which WIS a regularly drawn up lnstru
the crippe's brother for the consideration
named put Pasquale In bondage for two years
Pissni, as he was an unproftable bargain
DR.. Ford. the chief physician Of the Emigran
Hospital. gave certificate OF Pisani's death
setting forth that he died of acute pneumonia
| IL was Dr. Ford's Intention to mike IA post-mor
tenn exam ination. hut through some erro
Plsani was buried Yesterday morning.
DR.. Caro- meanwhile learned OF Pisani's death
and repaired to tho Coroners' office. where h,
gave the story he received from the dead Grip
pie Coroner Woltman at once ordered an in
quest. and in company with Deputy Coroner
Cushman arrived at Ward's Island two hour
after Psan had been buried He at once or
dercd the body 10 be d.sinterred. and the au
topsy was made Immediately. There WAS n'
evidence of external violence. but some of an
cient pleurisy and chronic pleuro- pneumonia o
the right lung and the lower part Of the left
The third rib on the right side was fractured
Tho brain showed a serous effusion into th'
ventricles chronic eningitis and induratior
Of the optic thalami. The immediate causes o
death. DR.. Cushman said. We're acute pneumo
mia and meningitis, which. in the doctori
opinion. could easily result from i'll treatment
exposure. and violence. The Coroner issued
vibrant for the arrest Of Damiani
Pisani wns 4 peculiar cripple. His left elbow
and wris, We're contracted, and his whole lef
side Sc mod paralyzed. giving him Woe -begon
appeatauce and one well calculated to toucl
the pockets Of the charitable. He was As year