Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-07

Of the New York State Reformatory
which says that So per cent. of criminals
in New York came from homes which
We're positively bad-that is, where wan
and AFFECT poverty reigned. hes des crime
while IL per cent. came from homes tha
were positively good
SO much for pathological theories A.
a matter Of everyday practice crime
hourishes in Artena as II the town were
one immense bagnio, and its 1900 inhabi-
tants so many graduates from the gal
leys, set free on a lone island to massacre
and rob each other at will.
AS already stated, per cent. OF all
| deaths in Artena are the outcome of
murder direct; persons dying of wounds
received in assaults or by the action Of
| incendiarism are not included in the list
| Thefts, street robbery burglary and
assaults with stiletto or revolver are
matters of such ordinary occurrence in
the town and in the valley belonging to
the people that to investigate them all.
according TO the Mayor Of the city the
| number of police officials and judges
| would have TO be increased out of all
! proportions to the total number of in
! habitants. The authorities continued
this official, take notice only OF the most
! atrocious Of crimes brought to their no
tice by the press Of the capital or when
| nOn-resdents suffer
This complacent official is the eleventh
| successor Of a Mayor mysteriously muir
/ dered in Artena In the beginning Of 1879
| All these mayors were elected for a
| period Of ten years Three died under
the hands OF the assassins, two OF them
| in broad daylight and on the open market
! place. The rest received such wounds
| as to cripple them for life and make
. L..
ent incumbent Of the office aspires 20
the distinction Of OUTLYING his term, and
TO that end goes about his business with
| ears securely plugged and eyes shut
| AS piece of general information. he
| told me that 1.-The number Of crimes
| against life and property brought to
| Official recognzance in Artena is fifteen
| times greater relatively to the number
Of inhabitants than in any other place or
/ district Of Italy" Mark the words off
! cial recognizance"
| Everything tends to show that almost
! the entire population of this mountain
| town is imbued with criminal propensi-
| ties. There is no need OF leading an Arte-
| MEN, who may have strayed from his or
her environment, into crime by sugges-
| ton. All Of them seem to be possessed
( OF an irresistible passion for cruelty
| cruelty that wishes its victim to feel the
bitterness OF death. The men and women
/ OF Artena are even wanting in paternal
! and maternal affection. Vengeance is OF
| their daily prayer, and in deliberateness
/ OF criminal purpose they have no EQUALS
| on the face of Europe. save perhaps in
some parts dominated by "the unspeaka-
bic Turk"
Since the old name Of Montefortino was
erased from the map after the fall Of
Rome and the end of the Papal Govern
ment in 1870, three entire families some
Of the Oldest in the city, have been com
pletely wiped out-grandparents parents
brothers and sisters cousins and nieces
nephews and uncles and aunts-the
Scarenzies the Dabos, and the Rufus
Neighbor throws himself upon neighbor
in the field, on the street or in his OF her
castle, the home All houses are provided
with means OF fortifcations and many
trap-doors. Victims OF hatred or the prizes
of robbery are killed, manned. or tortured
A house goes up in flames ana half a dozen
children with it. Who cares? Next day
a friend Of the murdered family shoots
down the perpetrator or perpetrators
wherever he finds or tracks them.
The authorities are powerless, for nc
citizen OF Artena will bear witness against
another. Vengeance is mine" saws
the mountain hero or heroine" and
no matter how convincing the proof fur
nished. his or her obstinacy OF denial is
greater. ! attended a session Of the
assizes at Artena early in the year. The
whole town knew that young Ottavl
saw his father murdered by Jegado.
Did he bear out the public prosecutor? |
Not word could that official draw from |
his sealed lips His sisters. his mother. |
who had been likewise direct or indirect |
witnesses 10 the deed were equally ST. |
lent. When ] returned 10 Rome / read |
In the Tribune a dispatch saying that |
Jegados house was broken into night |
before last, and that the murderer and |
his family Of three small children were
bound 10 the bed, drenched with kero-
sene. and slowly roasted 10 death-"per-
petrators unknown" of course.
Murder is avenged by murder in Ar
tena, as was done for centuries past In
and whoever testihes
against red-handed scoundrel takes
his life in his hands. Hatred, jealousy.
and petty squabbes lead 10 new muir
ders, for the citizen of Artena Is un-
stable. excessively vain, morbidly irrita-
tive. and loves revenge above all things
After 1870 the new government re-
solved TO break up the time-honored rob-
Der nests, and Montefortino. in particu-
ar. was given a strong judicial admins
ration: schools were erected, and the
greatest severity was exercised in carry
ng out and enforcing respect for the
avs.
AS a consequence, a few hundred OF the |
nhabitants had 10 be taken charge of
Il once, and shipped 10 the county seat,
where they were confronted with their
judges. a cage having been built for
very twelve prisoners. Whole families |
we're then deported. but crime did not
minish In the least. The new city of
.rtena soon had as bad a name as old