The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-07-23
GIUSEPPE ESPOSITO.
4 ROMANTIC HISTORY.

ito, whose Arrest in New Orleans and
transfer in police custody New York, is
Il most interesting one. For almost a
score of years, it is said, band of rob-
bers infested the Island of Sicily, led by
a notorious bandit named Leone opposite
was one of the most active of his follow
ers. The unwary traveller was their vic
tim. Sometimes they murdered him; at
other times they held him for ransom,
submitting him meanwhile to tortures to
make his friends more active in raising
and forwarding the necessary blood
money. Leone was finally forced to leave
the island by the vigilance Of the author
tiles, and opposite was proclaimed chief
of the band. A year or two ago the new
leader. with several of his followers, was
captured and put in prison. He was
charged with having ext0rted money by
violence from different persons, and with
having committed several premeditated
murders. One of his victims. 1t is said,
was an Italian bearing his own family
name. who had several times shielded
afraid that Santo Esposito would finally
betray him int the hands of the author
tiles, and he killed him to put that dan
ger out of the way.
AN ATRoCIOUs CASE OF MUTILATIoN.
R,,f la {l,,t ,&t Of
tention was the capture and multilation
of an English Clergyman. named John
Forester Rose. This unfortunate man
the brigands took to their mountain fast
nesses with a view of extorting ransom
from his family and friends. A letter
was sent to his wife threatening the
death of her husband by torture if the
sum of 1000 was not paid. The wife
was advised not to pay the money. A
second letter was received by her, in
which the threat was made that if she
did not comply with their demand they
would cut off one of her husbands ears.
Shortly aiterwarh they carried out their
threat and sent the unhappy clerg, mans
right ear to his wife. 1--WE will send the
left ear also said the letter. ''if you re-
fuse to send us the money Not long
after the receipt of this letter another
came containing the left ear, the brigands
rcmarking that the next time they would
send the nose. The victims friends,
after great effort. succeeded in raising
the money and obtaining his release.
after which he returned to England.
When this case was related to the Eng
lish authorities, the Italian Government
was induced to send out a strong enough
force to kill many of the members of this
band and to capture others. Among the
captured was Espesito himself.
ACAPTURE AND ESCAPE.
As it afterward proved, some of the
outlaw chiefs friends escaped and took
measures to effect his release. So one
day as n prison van containing Esposito
and some of his companions was being
driven through a narrow street in Paler-
mo to court of justice, it was suddenly
surrounded by hundred desperate men
armed to the teeth. \ man who was
driving the van and one who was riding
behind could not resist SO many. and,
the van being broken open, the prisoners
made their escape. Esposito came to
this country and engaged in the fruit
trade in New Orleans under the name of
Antonio Castranzo. He appears to have
carried with him some of his ill-gotten
gains or to have possessed knack for
trade IS we'll as for brigandage, for in a
short time he had "a sloop of his own and
was recognized as one of the most sue
cessful fruiterers along the levee. The
name of his sloop was the Leone until
attention was attracted to it, VIXEN he
discreetly dropped the final letter, making
it the Leon.
THE ARREST IN NEW ORLEANS.
Some time ago the Italian Consul in
New York was informed that a person
answering to the description of opposite
was in New Orleans, and that he would
be delivered up to the Italian Govern
ment for a reward The informants
warned the Consul against having any
thing to do with the police. Notwith-
standing this advice Fice-Consul Mare
faschi communicated with the Chief of
Police in New Orleans, and put the case
in the hands of detectives. By means
of photographs and sketches supplied by
the authorities in Italy, the detectives,
on the third day after their arrival in
New Orleans, were able to pick out their
man. But they We're not satisfied be-
cause they could not see if he had a GER
tain mark on his forehead. For two
weeks they watched him for an oppOr-
tunity to see if the mark was there. At
length the swarthy brigand pushed back
his broad hat and disclosed well-defined
scar between his heavy eyebrows. This
was considered conclusive, and that even
ing. while he was walking home through
IA deserted square, he was pounced upon
by the detectives. TO their surprise he
offered no resistance, and maintained-as
he did afterward-a stolid Indifference to
the charges made against him.
BOUND EOR ITALY.
The day after his capture Esposito was
placed on board the steamer New Orleans
for New York. On the voyage he was
heavily ironed and watched night and
day by the officers in charge. From the
first he refused to give his name, and,
when an attempt was made to read the
charges against him in his own language
he shook his head and said: Me no I'M
derstan'." A Frenchman Oh board told
him in conversation that he was accused
of murder and robbery in Sicily, but he
replied that he knew nothing of the
charges against him. He had, he added,
committed crime. and if he was to be
put to death for it, he wanted it done as
speedily as possible, as he was tired of
life. Some one showed him picture in
PHck, in which band of brigands is rep
resented as in the enjoyment of cutting
off the ears Of an unlucky tourist. This
seemed to amuse him exceedingly. and
he smiled for the first time on the jour
ney. The only other time that he smiled
it is said, was when the scene Of his res