The New York herald., 1879-08-22
DEALING IN HUMAN FLESH
LITTLE CHILDREN RESCUED FROM HARSH
TAsKMAsrER-woRK REWARDED WITH

TAsKMAsTER-woRK REWARDED WITH
BLOWS.
Three little girls. mere children in years. but bear
ing marks of long and degrading experience ON the
streets yesterday produced before Justice Muir
ray in the Jefferson Market Police Court. 1t was
Officer Chiardi, OK tho Society for the Prevention Of
Cruelty to Children who took them into custody
and he was able to furnish quite sensational mar
rative about them. For long time he has kept the
children under close surveillance and has been able
to assure himself that they driven by hard
taskmaster to play the part Of mendicants and
walk the streets till near morning in quest of
money. Two Of the girls. Annie and Della Pleban.
the fifteen. the other twelve years of age. have
been the victims of padrone who has led life Of
their earnings. The others name is Minnie
Martin. She is only eight years old. but has been
sent by her mother. who lives at No. 229 West
Twelfth street. to beg upon the streets The fre-
quent appearance of the little waits. who had at
times played the part of flower girls and at others
gone about in rain and shine trying to col
lect few pennies by some of the many
arts of mendicancy. had drawn the attention
Of the society's officers. They were found
to be part Of regular band of children
who infested the city thoroughfares a. night.
dering about almost till daybreak. halr dozen OF
them Officer Chiard has been able to arrest, and
they have all been sent to the House of Refuge The
case OF the PcbRu1S, however, was one or peculiar
interest. Some time since Officer Chardi received
letter addressed Andrea Plebani No. "a Elizabeth
street of which the following is a translation =
MILAN. July IL. 1879
DEAR FRIESD-At last notify you that the 2sth the
in question will leave Milan at FIVE o'eock r NJ,
speet both for personal attraction and ability she is
have Kept my promise it time keep yours and
''''As ''' A'"'' MArrEA sIGUsTA.
IN HOT PURSUIT
The meaning Of this communication it was easy for
investigating Plebanis character. He learned that
he man who lived well and dressed better than
most Italians OF his class that he was keen. sharp
wittcd and pretty well informed. He heard, too,
that the man had sent to Italy for handsome girl.
making the boast that he could make beauty pay
more dollars than any man in the country. Chiardi
notified the Castle Garden authorities and they have
since been watching for the young person on
whose attractions Mattea Sigusta so favorably
commented. She has. however. not yet reached the
city, and 1t was in the course of further inquiry
into Plebani's doings that Officer Chiardi discov-
cred his connection with the little beggars and flower
girls. From the neighbors he learned that the two
had been sent out during the day to beg and at
night had been despatched to the thoroughfa fares
with flower trays with understanding that they
were not to return till they secured in some way
considerable sum. Often the dwellers in the tene-
ments about No. 81 Elizabeth street would be awak-
ened by loud cries and the sound Of blows, and they
to understand that it was Andrea Plebani dis
No. go Elizabeth street officer Chiardi tracked
the padrona. There he found him living
Whom he declared to be his wfs h admitted that
he had couple of children going about the streets.
but said they were his own daughters. The officer
pretended to be satisfied, but kept q watch the
premises and the two girls stink into the house
early in the morning Then he heard threats. blows
and cries.
Evidence was produced in court yesterday show
ing to what extremes the fear of punishment had
driven the children and the Court determined to
take them from the padrone and sond them to the
House of Refuge for reformation and protection.
The same course was determined in the case OF
Minnie Martin, whose position was in many re-
poets similar to that OF the other children.