The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-10
ITALIAN SLAVES.

MADE sIGHTLEss ny THE DEaGAR MAKERS OF
SOUTHERN EUROPE AND SOLD INTO BONDAGE
Among the most familiar objects upon tho thor
oughfares calculated to gain public sympathy and
loosen the by-passers purse strings has been an old
blind man who generally selected Fifth avenue for
his resort With o venerable beard. akin wrinkIcd
and drawn tho bones like leather aud sightless
eyebas, which had that strange. CHASTITY look seen
only in those waits OF Southern Europe whom
dreadu nj process has prepared for life of mendican
cy this old beggar has more frequently than most OF
his class won the pity aud the pennies Of those
scroll with the inscription. Ladies' and gents,
please help the blind and he always led along
by little Italian boy. with bright eyes, but pale,
pinched lace. The pair have moro than once been
hustled about by the police. bur recently the Society
for the Prevention OF Cruelty to Children had their
attention called to .hc case. On Wednesday evening
officer Chiard cane upon the blind bcggar and his
protcge Fifth avenue. near Fourteenth street.
Ito tod the boy to take the old man homo or he
would DO arrested. seemingly frightened, they
started on their way. but loitered along.
got out sight, until he lost ali patience with them
10 had taken them just an hour to go three blocks,
when he came up on the corner OF Eleventh street
and had police officer arrest them. AS thoy started
for the station house the old bcggar fumblcd about
ncrvously and called to the boy. The latter was
allowed to go along beside him, and evidently In
ignorance OF Chiardi's knowledge of Italian no fell
to directing his guide how to act. using that Ian
"fcter-peter Veiioni" no muttcrcd. as Officer
Chiardi stated yesterday. SAY nothing. boy. DO
not speak a word. Above all say not who
whore wc live. You hear mc?'
The boy assentcd. but the mondicant had already
furnished the listening officer with his plan of
action. and before producing his prisoners court
yesterday Chiardi was able to inform himself about
them. Tho Developments furnished another revela-
ton OF the horrors OF padronisn. The bcggar name
Is Nico Vianelli lie Is now quite old mar. but
during most OF his life has lcd tho strange, roaming
existence OF the professional bcggar. He last
from the town OF spinola. in tho province Of
Basilicata. Italy. There. IL alleged. contract
had been made with some who held him
a. bondsinan to transfer him to one Giuscppi
Luigi to bog ON the streets of ths city His Italian
bondsinan had received quito q consideration for
his services, as Vianelli was worry valuable mem
bcggar makers had boon exercised with great adj
vantage. The unfortunate old man IL believed to
have been fitted for his Life by those strange pro-
ccsses of which stray runors como from beyond tho
His eyes are believed to have been rendered
sghtlcss when he young not by
nature. but by the passage OF red hot
iron strips across tho ball SO as TO scorch
and scar. but not dishguro II. Thus Il IL said,
many children In Italy prepared for the pur-
poses OF the padronc both hero and In Europe.
Old Vianc would say nothing in court when
brought before Judge Fianmer, and he was sent to
the Island Tho boy. Peter vcllon has been here q
year and understands English fairly. IIe had been
used by the padronc to lead the old beppar about
since the latter canic to this city, about two months
ago. lie said he had father and mother here but
neither of thcm could DO found when a search
after Thorn was made. Giuseppi Luigi had nlso dis
appeared. In tho Jefferson Market Police Court
yesterday tho boy was sent to tho Protcctory.