The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-12-31
MODERN BRIGANDS.
An Ancient Industry Enjoying a
- Great Revival
Brigandage ms a Safe and Profitable
:. CaIling-How Robbers Operate
In Different Parts OF
the World.

since the time OF Homer, anu just 10 81
ciety is. congratulating itself that the
danger is extinct, it reappears among
the mountaineers of Italy, Greece, or
Turkey, or the train robbers OF Arkan-
sas or Missouri.
It is all nonsense, says the New York
Journal, to suppose brigandagc Is dead
in italy. The Sicilian mountains still
furnish as many chances for wild en-
counter as they did forty years ago, ana
a 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 durancc
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, a 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
good man now, and in few months We
shall be hearing of new deeds of daring
in the enyirons 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 its 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. If this was
not wholesale brigandage, what was it?
1t shows what the Malta can do when il
is free from persecution.
The connivance of the police at
petty brigandage has long been well
known in Italy, but there seems no way
to stop it. 1t is not very long since u
deputy declared in the chamber that
members Of the Malta always received
warning in due time of any measures
which the secret police were talsina
against them, thus showing that mem
bers of the criminal association were
on the police force.
There is something irresistibly comic
in the idea of brigand with pull.
Fra Diavolo TRANQUILITY dining will
travellers whom he is to rob, and pre-
pared to sell his life dearly when Tao
carbineers attack, has bravado abou
him which compels respect.
But a brigand coolly arranging TO
police protection" and bargainint
with the copper" as to division o
the spoils-this is so thoroughly nine
teenth century, SO hard and cynicall'
practical-that it excites ones sense o
the ridiculous.
1t is said that Athanos, the brigan,
who caught the German travellers b.
stopping railway train in Turkey re
Gently, and got such u large sum o
money frcm them for ransom, was i
collision with Turkish officials, VIII
were playing very safe game.
If the victims paid up quietly, and nc
too much fuss was made over the maj
ter, then the officials divided quietl
with Athanos and his band, and q
went merrily as marriage bells.
But il Athanos were caught and in
prisoned, because hue and cry Wa
raised by the foreign ambassadors, the
the officials would receive reward f.
their diligence in catching him, an
thus some of the money would fall I'M
their hands, Athanos would have
mock trial-as he undoubtedly will
and some fine day it will be report,
that he has escaped from prison. The
he will take to the road-on the ra
road-again. To leave him in prison
dangerous, for he seems to be desert
by the officials; then those worth
will be assassinated by his frient
Thus there are wheels within whee
even in brigandage.
Railroad brigandage is becoming
regular profession in Europe. 1t
perhaps, the most sinister and repulsi
form of crime in existence. Ever
body knows that railroad cars
European lines are divided into co
partments of first, second and tn
class, and that on rapidly rolling {
press trains traveller may frequen
be alone for hours.
Suddenly, when crossing some Bird
or traversing tunnel, the door of [
compartment will be thrown open; I
brigand who has arranged for occu
ing the compartment behind and
front, and has confederates with hi
enters, murders and robs the lon
traveller, throws the body out on
line, and leaves the trains as it slows
This requires desperate courage 6
great GOODNESS, but several cases h,
occurred on main lines in Europe wit
the last year or two.
The brigands invariably select a ,
tim who will yield well, and they Sc
to have their agents in half a do
countries. 49,.
There is one case In which a briga
caught in the act of robbing won
in an express train, gave her the fin
ing stroke, wrenched her rings fl
her fingers. fired pistol in the face
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