New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-06
A CAPTIVE MILLIONAIRE.
BRIGANDAGE STILL RAMPANT AT TIE VERY
GATES OF ROME.

no longer figure anywhere but on the operatic
and dramatic stage would speedily become con-
WINGED of the fallacy of their views by visit
either to the town Of Frosinone. not two hours ride
from here on the highroad to Naples, or, if they
should prefer il, by trip to the ancient city OF
Termini in Sicily At Frosinone they would see
gang of thirty-three bloodthirsty-lo looking
brgands, male and female, heavily chained and
confined like wild beasts in great iron cage, con-
structed for their particular benefit; while at
Temini they would have the pleasure Of making
the acquaintance of and listening to the tale OF
woe related by Mr.. Arrgo, of the weathiest
bankers and most extensive landowners of Sicily.
lie has Just effected his release from captivity
Of twenty-one days in the mountains by the pay
meat Of a ransom Of 100000 in cold cash 10
the brigands who had kidnapped him. Iermini
is a town of 5000 inhabitants, about half an
hours distance from Palermo, at which ancient
seaport Signor Arrgo bias entertained many Cnlted
States naval officers when their ships touched
there. -Four weeks ago, while spending an after"
noon in visiting one of his estates in the neigh
borhood, accompanied by his bain, he perceived
a little squad of six carabneire, or gendarmes,
halt before the gate Of the villa where he was
sitting Upon entering they informed Signor
Arrgo that they wished to know if he had any
arms on the premises and if 50 whether he had OBJ
tanned license to use them. The banker replied
that he had left his license at Palermo, whereupon
the leader of the detachment Immediately pro-
| ceeded to c0niscate the Signors revolvers ana
rifles with the profcssed object of holding them
until he had convinced himself by personal IN
spection of the document that the permit had been
duly granted Having thus obtained possession
| of all the weapons in the place, the gcndarmes
| announced their intention Of placing the banker
| and his bailif under arrest, and Of taking them
| as prisoners 10 Palermo in order 10 authenticate
| the veracity of their statements. The two cap
tives accordingly bound and blindfolded, ana
were taken in broad daylight, not down toward
| the coast but up into the San Coogen Mountains
where for the first time it dawned upon them
| that the men dressed in the uniform OF gcndarmes
or police were members of the famous band Ok
| briqands that had long infested the district. The
baiif was soon set at liberty and sent 10 Palermo
| for the purpose OF informing the partners ana
relatives of the banker TO the amount OF money
required for his ransom. Twenty-one days elapsed
before the negotiations the subject OF the latter
were completed, and during this time the captive
millionaire lived in n mountain cave, Sleeping ON
a bundle of hay, and forced 10 content himself
with diet of black bread, fruit and cheap nus
very powerful Marsha wine. The ransom money
has now been l,nil over f. the bandits in full ana
the banker restored TO his anxious friends az IA
| lermo
A funny uui pro quo tool, place on the day OF
his release He had been turned adrht ny MS
captors at the foot Of the mountain, and had noe
gone far when he happened TO meet patroi OF
three carabineiri So ragged, unkempt and gen.
orally disrcputable did he appear 10 them tnae
the WORTHY gendarmes were convinced that no
was one of the band of bandtti for whom they
were hunting. while he on his side. fought oy
sad experience was equally confirmed in his beliet
that the grndarmes were nothing hut bri2ands in
dsguse II was not until the police station az
the gate Of Palermo reached that the cara
binieri became assured Of his identity and con-
sented TO cut the cords with which they had Sc
cnrpd him Owing 10 the prominence and rann
of Sigpor Arrro. the Government is displaying
unusual enernv in the pursuit Of the briGands.
who for many years past have infested tho
ncturesoue country round about Palermo. and al
though none of the actual captors Of NJ. ArrigO
has vet been caught, several persons. IN"
Guiding n lawyer and priest, have perh ar
rested on the suspicion of being affiliated with
! the gang.
With regard TO the thirty-threc brigands cons
fined in the iron cage at Frosinone, there are no
less than 470 separate charges against them.
mostly for murder, burglary and highway robbery.
They are all natives and inhabitants of Artena.
! mountain town not an hours ride from here.
which has since the sixteenth century, possessed
the most evil reputation of any place IN the pcnin-
| sula Indeed the Papal records show that IN tho
| year 1857 its walls and houses were RACED ~ the
ground and salt strewn on the ruins Dy ORDER or
Pope Paul ". who declared that Artena was
hotled of crime and the most accursed spot IN ms
! dominions That the ArtcnianS of the present day
| 80 in noyisc inferior in power OF villany and
| nfamy to their ancestors is abunhantly proved
By the fact that the last three Mayors OF uie own
| ,olIa hnnn he Is.
Almost the entire population OF the place are more
| or less directly engaged in brigandage, ana the
chief Of the band, who IS included among t ths
prisoners in the cage at Eros nonc, is one oil inc
| wealthiest and most respected mlnlclpai couhcli-
Iors of Artena. His name is Pasgnale Nlahi.
| his fortune amasscd by highway robbery amounts
80 sac 900 and his fame as a brQand dates back
! 10 the DAYS when Plus TX still exercised Temporal
| sway over Rome For P0squae, though sim maze
| and hearty and ready ever for any deed OF VIZ
lnny, is old and gray-headed, and stands on
record MS having during the course OF his long
career committed forty-two murders, sAN -siN roV
berries and lsi assaults with intent To H,a,in any
| kill The immunity which both he ana his lel-
! loy-citizens have en- loved until now is due 70 the
reluctance Of any of the inhabitants OF the disris
to bear witness against nm, NOT Pnr P,s"1oIes
| wife Teresa strangled with her own hands mso
autumn an old man named tannone, lesineh, OF
| Ar,ena who was suspected OF having consented 70
testify against the band. Under the circumstances
il has become exceedingly difficult :" secure
| conviction Even the Government oWclnls OF the
| nrovincc hesitate 10 become known rs taking any
ppctiyc mar, in the proceedings against them. and
| nrrfcrrcd 10 close their eyes To the crimes thao
were pcrpctratcd under their very noses. As an
illustration thereof il may he stotcd that two
military officers related to Prince Sciarra were
attacked. robbed and killed in broad dayhgh, ov
! posonolc and his band in the very courtyard or
tbr railway station Of valmontonc one OF the
first stops after leaving here OF the line 70
Noplcsl while the station-mastrr and his assis'anIs
,.are Looking on and trains filed with passengers
were passing through the station.