The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-03-06
BRIGANDAGE IN SICILY.
A Peep Into the Prison of Esposito--
The Famous Robber at Home.

''What has become of EspositoP
We were in the pleasant rooms of the
American consul at Palermo. That
gentleman, being genial young Vir-
ginian, chatty and full of information
we asked the above question about the
somewhat famous brigand that filled
the columns of newspapers two years
ago.
"Esposito?"
''He has been tried. sentenced, and
hung by this time, 1 conjecture?"
"Not yet. You are in a country
where the mills of justice grind exceed
inglv slow"
'.But is not such a delay as this ex-
traordinary?"
Far from it; 1 know of cases in
which the parties, arrested four or five
years ago, are still utter strangers to a
court room."
'Is this much talked-of brigand at
home to visitors?''
doubtless he would be glad to see
any one from country where he had
YOU cannot even buy admission into an
Italian penitentiary. Policy makes
their regulations stringent"
w ucu ull Ulo
of his identity-that which interfered
so with his immediate extradition at
New York;"
20, when the steamer came, right
away the question settled itself. Such
a grand reception as he had from the
Jacobin rabble of Palermo is only
equalled when Garibaldi comes.''
''All his old cronies were on the sea
wall to watch the steamer come in. 1t
is always such a beautiful sight from
the Piazza Marina.
There was an immense crowd of
SanS caI,0ttes. A boat full of soldiers
pushed off from the steamer and pulled
for the mob at point near the prison,
which you know is not far off from the
fort. the throng OH the sea wall caught
a glimpse Of their Old comrade in the
midst of his guard, and made a rush
for the land.n%."
'.Dld hey a nlpt = rescu p
80 ar .'ou = ] r" at The
guards, but used no force. With their
quondam friend they laughed and ioSed
SO cordially that it clearly identified
Esposito."
s'Doubtless he was very popular with
the poorer classesP"
20, yes. The brigands are in per-
feet accord with the peasantry. Their
occupations often interchange. A la
borer out of q job knew we'll where to
get money to help along his family,
when Esposito reigned in the noun
tains. If he couldn't get it as gift.
he would turn brigand himself for a
while. There is bond of fellowship
between them. In sickness or trouble
they are in each others arms"
In southern Italy the dwelling houses
are very tall. Experience has proved
to the inhabitants that immunity from
the dreaded fever is best found high
above the ground, In the hotels the
most desirable rooms are on the high
floors. The consulate was perched in
| one of these eyries, and we looked from
the windows down upon a handsome
carriage drive. 1t was late in the after
noon. and one snowy equipage after
another passed before us in sort OF
review The consul pointed out gen.
tleman in an approaching barouche.
His yellow hair and ruddy face declared
him Enthusiastically to be Briton.
There is an individual" said the
Virginian with q smile, ''that the New
York courts decided was dead"
"Civilly, tiguratively to this world,
or how?"
Actually. In the New York exam
ination for the purpose of eXtradition,
before Esposito could be sent here,
they had to find him guilty in a sort OF
way of numbering some one. Names
of victims were immaterial, so it didn't
make much difference that it was this
Mr.. Forester whom you saw drive by
just now for whose death the great
brigand was sent home to the land OF
his fathers.
In Sicily, we learned, there is a dis
tinction between brigands proper and
mere highway robbers. With the latter
all is fish that come to their net. But
the former hunt for particular game.
A tourist from America was once
taking stroll on an unfrequented road
neaF the city, He came to Il spot coz,
cred with low bushes; it looked, he
said afterwards, ''like New England
blueberry pasture" Stunted trees and
the thick shruhbery formed the imme
diate foreground. There were, blue
mountains in the distance and an olJ
woman leading well-laden mule Oh
road quarter of a mile away. They
were the only animated objects in the
tranquil scene, and he fancied he was
quite alone, All at once he had sur
prise party. 1t slightly resemblec
that of Fitz James. There was rustic
in the bushes, and
Instant through copse and heath, arose
Bonnets and spears and bended bows,
And every tuft OF broom gave ilIe
To plaided warrior amid for strife"
For the innoccnt-looking blueberri
bushes seemed suddenly to spring VI
into men, dark and villainous in ap
nearance, He had fallen into brigant
trap. Did he cry, do you ask, lik
James Fitz James, "Come one, com
all'' and declare that those blueberr,
: bushes should fly from their firm root
before he would? No, gentle questione
not much; not that evening. He wa
nearly half gone with fear that tina
would happen anyhcT~. He saw n
: way to run, and thouz AZ it was need
less to repeat from the story OF tn
E Lady Of the LAX" f" what seemed Il
/ be a foregone conclusion. Two stou
| fellows stepped up to him, and bega
VI to ipterviaU him after the fashion o