Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-07
THEY ARE ROBBERS BOLD,
Brigandage Still Rampant in Sunny
Italy, Even at the Very Gates
of Rome.
Bandits i'll an Iron Cage.
All Inhabitants Of Valley Near
the Eternal City.

Those who fondly imagine that the Ital-
Ian bandlttl belong to bygone age and
that they no longer figure anywhere but on
the operatic and dramatic stage, says a
Rome correspondent of the New York
Tribune, would speedily become convinced
of the fallacy of their views bv visit
either to the town of Frosinone. but two
hours ride from here on the highroad to
Naples or. if they should prefer it. bv a
trip to the ancient city of Termini in Sic
lily. At Frosinone they would see a gang
of thirty-three blood thirsty-looking brig
ands, male and female, heavily chained
and confined like wild beasts in great
iron cage, constructed for their particular
benefit: while at Termina they would have
the pleasure of making the acquaintance
of and listening to the tale of woe related
by Sig. ArrigO, one the wealthiest bankers
and most extensive landowners of Sicily.
He has just effected his release from a
| captivity of twenty-one days in the noun
talns by a payment of 100000 in cold
cash to the brigands who had kidnapped
him.
Iermlm is town of $4,000 inhabi-
tants, about half an hours distance from
Palermo, at which ancient seaport SIG. Ar
rlgo has entertained many United States
naval officers when their ships touched
there. -Four weeks ago, while spending
an afternoon IN visiting one of his estates
IN the nelghborhoOd accompanied by his
bailiff, he perceived little squad of six
carablnleai or gendarmes halt before the
gate of the villa where he was sitting
Upon entering they informed Sig. Arrigo
that they wished to know if he had any
arms on the premises, and if so, whether
he had obtained a license to use them.
The banker replied that he had left it
at Palermo, whereGpon the leader of the
detachment Immediately proceeded to con-
fiscate the signor's revolvers and rifles,
with the professional object of holding
them until he convinced himself by per-
sonal inspection of the document that the
permit had been duly granted Having
thus obtained possession of all the weapons
in the place the gendarmes announced
their intention of placing the banker and
his bailitf under arrest and of taking them
as prisoners to Palermo in order to verify
their statements. The two captives were
accordlngl y bound and blindfolded, and
were taken In broad daylight, not toward
the coast, but up into the San Cologeri
mountains, where for the first time it
dawned upon them that the men dressed
IN uniform Of gendarmes or police were
members of the famous band of brigands
that had long infested the district. The
bailiff was soon set at liberty and sent to
Palermo for the purpose of informing the
partners and relatives of the banker as to
the amount of money required for his ran
som. Twenty-one days elapsed before
the negotiations on the subject of the lat
ter were completed, and during this time
the captive millionaire lived in mountain
cave, sleeping On bundle of hay, and
forced to content himself with a diet of
black bread. fruit, and a cheap but very
powerful Marsha wine. The ransom
money has now been paid over to the ban
dts in full and the banker restored to his
anxious friends at Palermo.
"A funny mistake took place on the day
of his release. He had been turned adrift
and had not gone far when he happened to
meet patrol of three carabinieri. So rag
ged, unkempt and generally disreputable
did he appear to them that the worthy
gendarmes were convinced that he was
one of the band of banditti for whom they
were hunting, while he, on his side, taught
by sad experience, was equally confirmed
in his belief that the gendarmes were
nothing but brigands in disguise. 1t was
not until the police station at the gate of
Palermo was reached that the carabinieri
became assured Of his identity and con-
sented to cut the cords with which they
had secured him. Owing to the promin-
ence and rank of Sig. Arrigo the govern
ment is displaying unusual energy in the
pursuit of the brigands, who for many
years past have infested the picturesque
country round about Palermo and, al
though none of the actual captors of Sig.
Arrigo have yet been caught several per-
sous, including a lawyer and priest, have
been arrested ong suspicion of being affili-
ated with the gang.
With regard to the thirty three brigans
confined in the iron cage at Frosinone,
there are no less than 40 separate charges
against them, mostly for murder, burg
larry, and highway robbery. They are all
natives and inhabitants of ARENA, a
mountain town not an hours drive from
here; which has, since the sixteenth cen
fury, possessed the most evil reputation of
any place in the peninsula. Indeed the
papal records show that in the year 1859
its walls and houses were RACED to the
ground and salt strewn on the ruins by
order of Pope Paul w., who declared that
ARENA was hot-bed of crime. AID the
most accursed spot in his dominion. That
the Artenians of the present day
are in nowise inferior in power of villainy
and infamy to their ancestors is abund-
antly proved by the fact that the last three
mayors of the town have each fallen be-
meath the stiletto of assassins. Almost
the entire population of the place are more
or less directly engaged in brigandage, and
the chief of the band, who is included
among the prisoners in the cage at Frost |
none, is one of the wealthiest and most
respected municipal councillors of ARENA |
His name is Pasquale Villain, his fortune |
amassed by highway robbery amounts to
1000, and his fame as a brigand dates |
back to the days when Plus * still exer-
cised sway over Rome.
For Pasquale, though still hale and |
hearty and ready as ever for any deed of
villainy, is old and gray-headed, and stands |
on record as having during the courses Of
his long career, committed forty-two muir
ders, sixty-six robberies, and 104 assaults
with intent to MAIN and kill. The i'm
munity which both he and his fellow-citi- |
zens have enjoyed until now is due to the |
reluctance of any of the inhabitants of the |
district to bear witness against him. Nor |
is it possible to blame them for the hesita-
ton. For Pasquale's wife, Teresa, strang |
led with her own hands last autumn an
old man named Cannone, a resident of |
Artena. who was suspected of having con
sented to testify against the band. Under
the circumstances it has become exceed
ingly difficult to secure conviction. Even
the government officials of the province
hesitate to become known as taking any