The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-09-30
MODERN BRIGANDS.
An Ancient Industry Hnjoying .
' Great Revival
BrIgandage as safs and Proftabls
Calling-How Robbers Operate
In Different Parts OF
the World.


danger is extinct, IL reappears among
the mountaineers Of Italy, Greece, or
Turkey, or the train robbers of Arlran-
sas or Missouri. ftt5
It is all nonsense, says the New York
Journal, to suppose brigandage is dead
In italy. The Sicilian mountains still
furnish as many chances for wild en-
counter as they did forty years ago, and
Fra Diavolo Is always leaving prison
In, some southern city and preparing to
take to the woods again. There Is
proof, too, that the able brigand has
the completely Of the police in many
cases. In order to get out Of durance
vile he has only to claim that he has ex-
perienced "change Of heart" At the
present time extraordinary efforts are
In progress for the liberation Of one
Carbone, noted brigand, on whose
head four assassinations weigh. He has
been in prison long time, and the
chiefs brain Is wild with thoughts of
future exploits, so he claims to be a
good man now, and in few months we
shall be hearing Of new deeds of daring
in the environs of Palermo, or in the
woody country between Naples and
Rome.
Mountain brigandage has largely
given place, however, to operations in
and near the large cities, because the
latter is the safer. The collision Of the
police helps the malefactors wonderful
ly. Signor Tajani, not very long ago
minister Of justice for the Italian king
dom, and at one time prosecuting at
torney in Palermo, narrowly escaped
the ruin of his career because he ex-
posed the infamous brigandage which
he saw going on around him.
The police, according to his state
ment, had many Of the maffiosi In
corporated in It's ranks, and permitted
burglaries Of the court OF appeals and
In the central palaces Of Palermo; and
robberies in the museums, and In the
government pawnbroking establish
ments amounting TO hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars. No one was ever
punished, for the police was the real
receiver Of stolen goods. II this was
not Wholesale brigandage, what was "?
u shows what the Mafia can do when Il
Ia free from persecution
Tho connivsnce Of the police st
petty brigandage has long becn well
known In Italy, but there seems no way
TO stop It. II IL not very long since Q
deputy declared In the chamber that
members OF the Malta always received
warning In due time Of any measures
which the secret police were taking
against them, thus showing that NOM
bers Of the criminal association were
on the police force.
There Is something irresistibly comic
in the idea Of brigand with n pull" I"
Fra Diaxolo TRANQUILITY dining with
travellers whom he Is 10 rob, and pre-
pared to sell his life dearly when the
carbineers attack, has q brayado about
him which compels respect.
But brigand coolly arranging for
police protection" and bargaining
with the copper" as to division Of
the spoils-this Is so thoroughly nine
teenth century, so hard and cynically
practical-that II excites ones sense Of
tho ridiculous.
IL Is said that Athanos, the brigand
who caught the German travellers by
stopping railway train In Turkey re-
Gently, and got such large sum Of
money from them for ransom, was In
collusion with Turkish officials, who
were playing very safe game.
II the victims paid up quietly, and NOT
too much fuss was made over the mat
ter, then the officials divided quietly
with Athanos and his band. and all
went merrily rs marriage bells.
But II Athanos were caught and Inn
prisoned, because hue and cry was
raised by the foreign ambassadors, then
the officials would receive reward for
their diligence in catching him, and
thus some of the money would fall into
their hands, Athanos would have a
mock trial-as he undoubtedly will
end some fine day II will be reported
that he has escaped from prison. Then
he will take 10 the road-on the rail.
road-again. To leave him In prison Is
dangerous, for he seems TO be deserted
by the officials; then those worthies
will be assassinated by his friends
Thus there are wheels within wheels
even In brigandage.
Railroad brigandage Is becoming q
regular profession in Europe. It Is
perhaps, the most sinister and repulsive
form of crime in existence. Every
body knows that railroad cars on
European lines are divided into com
partments OF first, second and thirt
class, and that ON rapidly rolling OK
press trains traveller may frequently
be alone for hours
Suddenly, when crossing some bridg,
or traversing tunnel, the door OF th,
compartment will be thrown open; th,
brigand who has arranged for occupy
ing the compartment behind and II
front, and has confederates with him
enters, murders and robs the lonely
traveller, throws the body out on th,
line, and leaves the trains as II slows up
This requires desperate courage ant
great GOODNESS, but several cases hay,
occurred on main lines in Europe within
the last year or two.
The brigands invariably select vic
tim who will yield well, and they seen
TO have their agents in half a dozei
countries.
There Is one case In which brigand
caught in the act Of robbing woman
In an express train, gave her the fnisi,
ing stroke, wronched her rings from