The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-26
BAFFLED PADRONES.

TWO PARTIES OF ITALIANS MEET WITH wAhM
RECEPTION FROM THE EMIGRATION OFFICIALS
AT CASTLE GARDEN-Two AGED FRANCISCAN
MONKS AND YOUTHFUL MUSICIAN PLACED
UNDER EMBARGO
few days ago the Italian Consul in this city
notified President Gerry, OF the Society for the Pre-
venton OF Cruelty to Children that he had received
information of the coming to this port OF several
padrones with number of children. who were to
be used for begging purposes. Mr.. Gerry requested
Superintendent jackson of Castle Garden to keep
sharp lookout for the expected arrivals. Yester-
day morning. when the Celtic. from Liver
pool. arrived. bringing large number of
Italians among them several boys ana
two dwarfed old men, Superintendent Jackson i'm
medately telegraphed for Mr.. Gerry During tho
afternoon Il. Folowes Jenkins Secretary OF the So
ciety. and officer Chiard put in appearance. and
Superintendent Jackson, with the aid of Interpreter
MacPherson commenced an examination of the sus-
pected parties. They were called in one at time
and questioned closely as to their antecedents and
future prospects, The first investigated was
that Of two old men who were dwarfs. and who.
it thought. were brought here to beg. as
they were too old to work. being nearly seventy
years OF age. Rocco Labraico, the party who
brought them to this port. first examined. He
and that he had wife and five children in Chicago,
where he earned livelihood by selling fruit The
ola men We're his unces and bore the names OF Rocco
and Egldio Ungaro. He had paid $50 tor their pas
sage from Naples to this city, and intended to take
them to Chicago and provide for them. he FOUND
them starving in Italy and thought they could get
along better here He denied that his purpose was
to send them out , begging, Having been
said that for twenty-five years they had been
Franciscan friars attached to monastery at Lau-
renzana. Province of Basilcata, but the monastery
was broken up twelve years ago and since that time
they had earned their living as laborers.
The OLD MEMS STORIES.
Rocco Ungaro, seventy years of age and the oldest
of the dwarts, then called in and zorro borated
the statement Of Labraico i'll every particular
When Egidio Ungaro, the second dwarf, was ex
anned no stated ut first that Labraico was his
brother-in.law, but aferward said that he abraico)
nephew by marriage. He admitted that lio
had promised to do whatever kind OF work Labraico
wished and said that contract to that effect had
been drawn up by Dom Pietro Laurai. notary ut
Labraico was recalled and denied positively that
any contract had been made He said that he had
been in the habit OF sending money to his uncles
from time to time tor their support, ana he thought
here. He expressed great Indignation at being con-
sidered padrone, but when confronted with the
statement of his uncle. Egidio that contract had
been made he turned on that individual and called
him some very hard names Ill the Italian language.
To the question whether he would give bond TO
support his uncles i'll this country Labraico, after
considerable hesitation answered in the affirmative
superintendent Jackson decided to hold the
dwarfs until he has learned the nature Of the con-
tract from the notary in Italy.
The next case was that OF three Italian boys who
came here with two Italians who claimed to be
their parents. One OF the boys called before
Superintendent Jackson, and he entered carrying his
violin. Under examination he stated ut first that
his name Francisco Fiero, but afterward cor
rected himself and said it was Francisco de Rosa
He admitted having been in this country before for
five years, and said that he during that time the
slave OF padrone named Juano Fiero year ago
he went back to Italy. and now on his way TO
name Giuseppe de Rosa. and he was his COM
panlon on the voyage. Francisco refused, however,
to swear that the latter was his right parent.
Giuseppe dc Rosa at first corroborated the state
ment OF his alleged aod gave the address of his
wife No. 433 South Clark street, Chicago. He
stated that he had received $50 ducats from the
padrone Fiero for the Of his boy one years
contract. Subsequently, however, he admitted that
all the above false and that the story had been
manufactured He admitted that Francisco not
his son, but said he did not remember the latters
name. He confessed that certain Luigi Pignataro
had requested him to pass of Francisco his son,
and also that Pignataro had paid for the boys
sage to this country He also said that Pignataro
three four boys. ae
Francisco will be taken of by the Commis-
sioners OF Emigration. &C
The next that of an Italian named Josepho
LOMBARD who was accompanied by two boys, one
q cripple, whom he claimed his sons. The cripple
testified that he had been In this country before,
under the charge of padrone named Antonio Pla-
celia, but he maintained stoutly that the man who
accompanied him was his father.
superintendent Jackson could obtain evidence
to the contrary and obliged to let this party CO.