Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-28
GIOTANNI PASSANANTE.
Career Of the WOuid.be Regicide of


Here are few particulars, writes a CORE
spondent OF the London Ne,cs from Rome, con-
corning the history and antecedentS of the
would be regicide Passanante, which may De
was born in February, 1SlS, at Saliva. in the
territory Of Naples. where his mother still lives,
is first found as a boy In the house OF one Cap
tain Giovanni Aguglia, OF the Bourbon army,
who lived at Main. one day this Aguglia, who
had served under the First Napoleon, and had
by the Neapolitan authorities because OF the
liberal opinions with which he was credited,
and ordered to fix his residence In Salerno
Thtther PaSSanante, who Is generally believed
by the Salerno people to be the captains iiiegit
innate son, went with him, and was instructed
by his wife in the art of cookery. After few
years he went to Vetri. in the Province OF Po-
tenZa, and engaged himself as COOK In the
RienZi family. Hence he went to POtenza,
where he was hired by certain Emmanuel
whose house he ran away, stealing quantity
Of clothes. In 1868 he again made his appear
ance In the house OF Captain Agugiia, who;
when dying, recommended him to the good
Offices OF his wife in terms that confirmed the
notion that he was his son. The widow Agugua
sent him to school. where he was at once re-
marked for his tete D,ontee notions and fantastic
crOchetS. He maintained that 1t was great
shame that animals should be killed, as they
were, in Gods sight, quite equal to men; that
universal equality was Gods law. One day he
took written paper to the school with him
telling his companions that it contained his
maXilnS and statutes for new form OF govern
ment And 1t is stated that, as matter Of cO,a-
position and writing, the paper was by no means
uiscreditable to the pupil OF an elementary
school. But the master, whom the ideas eX-
pressed in the paper were b. no means likely 30
please, turned him out OF the school and shut
the door upon him. That this master was
duil-eyed blOckbead may be gathered from Il re-
port as TO his former scholar furnished 10y him
on the recent occasion. He writes: '.He was
fCoi, bind instrument, and such one that,
when anybod> had known how TO rouse and
had succeeded in rousing his fanaticism, he
would promise to achieve any undertaking.
on the contrary, think ii Is very evident tnat
the man is not fool by any means.
Turning away from the school. Passanante
served as COOK in several eating houses. and
was in the habit of frequentiGg the post of the
National Guards at his leisure moments con-
SANITY saying that citizens ought to be armed
by tie republic, and that before long all Eu-
ToFe would he republican. lie made himself,
we are tod, very much laughed at. but was as
ISOLATED with by the few noted radicals and re-
pUbl.cahS who were then at SaiernO. Having
elte; ed into the service OF tavern keeper at
>aleIno, he began. we are told somewhat
iatlVtly by one gentleman, to show symp
tCmS OF SOcialistic ideas by giving away
tie food to all and sundry when his
ma ters back was turned. Certainly ii
cannot be denied that giving anOther's sub
stance TO the poor is very orthodox Socialism
indeed. AT Salerno he became intimate WITH
TWO ne n--oGe named Augusta Enger. the other
Matte Maria MelillO-WhO protested the same
prime p eS. and in conjunction with them pre-
pared a manifesto exciting the people OF Sa-
lerno to lnsurfectiOn. In May, 1870, it was de-
term LED among them that PaSSanante should
piacard Ibis manifesto on the walls during the
light. But it so happened that one OF his ac-
cclnplIceS. Just about the same time. got place
as Policeman; and, forthwith changing his
opinions according 10 his change of position.
gave information Of Passanante'S intention
PaSSanante was caught in the act OF piacardilg
his manifesto, was prosecuted convicted and
imprisoned. but was placed at liberty when an
amnesty was granted on the occasion OF the
entry OF the HaliantrO0p5 into Rome. He then
resumed his terms OF intimacy with the above
mentioned heliiiO, and was continually in his
company. He entered successfully several
families at Salerno as cook, and during all this
time, did his utmost TO belong to all the WORK
ingmen's societies that he could. One at Peile-
z0nO, TO which lie was admitted, very shortly
turned him out because he brought them a pro
pOsal in Seyenty-twO articles for the SubTersiOl
and total reconstruction of society. Recently
Passanante has frequented an Evangeiicai
school at Naples, and that, says an Italian iibe-
raj paper. had the effect OF still further exciting
his mind. He continually had a Bible ia his
hands, and went about saying that he was
studying profoundly for the good OF humanity.
and that the sacrifice OF ones life for the good
OF tie people was a worthy commemorative Of
Christ and His maXims He has been heard Oh
more than one occasion to say that he was ca
pablo OF killing the King, for that kin IS ought
not TO exist.