The New York herald., 1879-02-27
ROMAGNANPS SERFS.

ARREST OF AN ITALIAN PADRoNE AND THE
FORCED RELEASE OF HIS YOUTHFUL SLAVES
ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE HUMANITARIANs.
In the carly part of the present year the Society
for the Prevention Of Cruelty to Children made
aware OF the unlawful acts of Giovanni Romagnani
an Italian padrone who has been travelling through
the country with number of young children whom
no had bought from their unnatural parents in
Calabria or thereabouts By their performance on
harp and violin he WAS said to have accumulated
large sum of money. but he repaid the efforts Of his
serfs only by cruelty and neglect.
The society made several attempts to track Romag-
mani; but SO quickly did he pass from town to town
and cleverly did he cover his traces that they
might have failed in their search had not very
timely communication reached the Italian Consul.
1t dated Syracuse. and signed by the four boys
who we're then compulsorily following the padrone's
fortunes In this peculiar missive the children de-
scrlbed their unhappy plight, told how they had
been purchased from their parents by the promise
an annual Payment of $2O and went to describe
how their hard taskmsstcr starved them, abused
them and subjected them constant drudgery and i'll
treatment. "Be very careful" wrote the Consul's
youthful correspondents 'to advise the police to
very quietly in the direction viii give you;
otherwise he has spies who will tell him and he will
run away. while will have to follow him.
have not cent and he would take our instruments
and leave to starve. Your Excellency will tell
the police of the city and will give the following
name. Giovanni ROmagnani, with four boys; they
will find in our room the money made out of our
labor. which he keeps in trunk We hope that
Your Exceency viii give us justice and punish this
tyrant as an assassin and. cruel man. In his trunk
he keeps many little things he makes us steal.
ne WAS 'nS' ss oi socstw Sw tS
Prevention of Cruelty to Children took immediate
measures to secure the padrone's arrest. but
fcatlon reached it. The agents Of the society
not to be baed though. and last week they located
city city a communication was addressed by Mr..
L. Fellows jenkins. the superintendent of
the society. urging him to use his his
to relieve the four bond-children from slavery The
Utica Chief ordered his assistants to look up the
one of the boys, Nicola by name who after denying
his identity for time at length made general ad
mission inculpating Romasnani and exposing more
himself was soon in custody. and though he exer-
cised sufficient influence the children to make
trayed him. Romagnani had sallow sphinxike
face black itterng eyes and an expression Of utter
possessed Of artifce and cunning
THE PADRoNE's TREASURE.
by the boys labors he had accumulated almost
$1,000. One thousand and eighty dollars of this was
in twenty dollar gold pieces. and these the crafty
had sewed carefully in the lining of his coat
distributing them all through the back and sides:
with Mr. jenkins 1t Utica; he mentioned the reported
wealth Of the padrone. and suggested search This
upon his own person and brought his concealed
treasure to light More Of the money was found
upon of the children. to whom the
padrone had confdcd il while they in the
cell together. An examination ordered before
the Utica Recorder. to whom was unf0ded the
volting features of the case. but owing to the
padrone's having secured as counsel number Of
the local lawyers. he was dealt with much more
lenienty than might otherwise have been expected.
In his defence he said that he had brought large
sum of money from Italy, which he had increased by
peddling in Western cities The society's agent.
however, succeeded in presenting epitome Of
known padrone aud q brother.in-law of Antonio
Bglia of the most notorious rascals engaged in
the ensaving of Italian children.
The story Of the four young minstrels of itself
conclusive In officer Chardi's hands they became
quite ductile and described the cruelty and parsi-
mony Of their taskmaster In manner that bore the
impress of truth. From the time when they were
carried of from their native place to the day of the
padrones arrest they detailed all the sad experiences
they had gone through. They were quite elated
gladly avaled themselves Of the chance
offered them to return home. BY securing
various wrts Of habeas corpus and resorng to other
legal tricks the Utica lawyers sought to battle tho
socetys agents. but the latter succeeded in securing
the liberty of the four children. Their master
only muicted $50, though he was also compelled to
The four tawny young minstrels we're then put on
the and yesterday morning they arrived In this
city in charge OF Messrs Jenkins and Chiardi They
were brought to the Central Once. whAse they were
accommodated by Matron Webb.
The lads are loss to furnish their actual names.
One of them is known as both ''yita" and Nicola
The other three are called respectively '.Jim,"
Michael" and "Pietro." They are oil bright and
intelligent little fellows, and seem quite overjoyed
over their newly secured freedom. Three of them
will be sent to their homes Italy by the Italian
Consul who is much interested in the case, and the
fourth who Is sixteen years Of age Is left to
decide what course he shall pursue.