Louisiana capitolian., 1881-11-08
ESP s,sITtD,

New Orleans Times.

of their detective labors to q close by
capturing the renowned bandit,
Giuseppe Esposito, at the jackson
Square and shipping him to New
York, there was great diversity Of
opinion concerning the case on the
question Of identity. The arrest and
examination in New York attracted
great attention as it was urged
throughout, in the endeavor to prove
an alibi, that the wrong man had
been rnthlessly torn from his home,
family and friends and made to suffer
for another's guilt. 1t was claimed
that he came TO New Orleans % poor
man, and by strict attention TO bnsi-'
ness and frugality, had saved u
small competence. The evidence be-
fore Commissioner Osborn, though
considered by that magistrate snifi-
cicnt to warrant his action in turning
! the bandit over to the tender mercics
Of the Italian authorities, had the ef-
feet of leading Senator Kellogg to
take steps toward IN investigation.
On tho 18th Of last month Mr.. Kellogg
offered q resolution in the United
States Senate calling on the Secreta-
ry Of State for all papers on file in
his department relating to the seizure
of the brigand and his subsequent ex-
tradition.
This resolution was, however, laid
over, on motion of Mr.. Edmunds, but
taken mp on the 18th and adopted, it
being amended, however, so as to be
addressed to the president, instead
the Secretary Of State. Here the
matter rested, with public opinion
equally divided as to whether Espo-
sito was the bona iide Esposito or
not, until news Of his Identification
was received by cable. Even after
that there we're many who doubted
that the accused was in reality the
| brigaud, bat now 1t would appear
even his best friends must admit shat
he is the right man, according to his
statement that in addition to his be-
ing the bandit he was rich man
| when tie came to New Orleans.
Reaching Palermo, in the Island OF
Sicily, Esposito wss faced with his
accusers, when, seeing that all at
tempts to deny his indentity would
be upayailipg, he
THREW OFF HIS MASK
and boldly proclaimed That he was
the brigand.
1t appears that Esposto was peace
fully inclined, attending to his trade
with strict attention, and was reputed
| possessed Of large means and Of doing
an extensive business in fruits
throughout Texas and the Western
States.
But few persons knew anything OF
his European career, and those among
his countrymen who had cognizance
Of the many crimes attributed to him,
believed him incapable of the atroci.
ties charged against him, and eonse-
quently sympathized with him and
did all IN their power to aid and as.
, sist him.
HIS CAREER AS A BRIGAND,
, as already published in the Times, ii
Italy, began in 1875, when n band o
, brigands under the leadership Of th,
, celebrated brigand 'Leone," terror
, | lied the inhabitants Of the beautiful
/ island of Sicily. After many engage
ments with the Italian government
troops, Leone was finally surrounded
) by the troops and killed with most o
: his men.
Among those who escaped was Els
, posito Randazzo, who SURRENDERED
g himself a prisoner to. the authorities
. On the day set for his trial, and Will
t being conveyed to the courts in
van through the streets Of Palermo
he managed, with the assistance O
friends, to Jump out OF the vehicle il
3 which he was, and finding his wa.
back to the mountains, formed a ban'
of brigands composed of the remnant
: of the band of his former captain
: Leone, and, placing himself. at thei