The evening times., 1899-12-23
ENsLAVED BY 4 PADRONE|
A Report on the Condition of Iial-
ians in Aven, N. Y.
ImmigratiOn Inspector Smiley. of
Cincinnati. Calls the Attention of
the Department to Remarkable
Condition of Affairs in an Empire
State villaxe-ActfOn In the Case.

| A case has been brought to light by the
immigration officers of the Treasury De-
partment which represents virtual state
of slavery in the little village of Avon,
Livingston county, n. y. According to
the statement made at the immigration
Bureau this afternoon, there is an Italian
colony in that village consisting Of 270
persons. all in charge of man named
I Salvatore Deloatis. who controls their
labor and appropriates their wages. The
first knowledge Of this state Of affairs was
obtained through the immigration inspec-
tor at Cincinnati. Milton Smiley.
few Gays ago Inspector Smiley wrote
letter to the Treasury Department, re-
citing the complaint Of an Italian in that
city of the name of Michael Santori. The
complainant came to this country several
years ago and was naturalized. Ear.y in
the present year he wrote his brother-in-
law Salvatore Deloats. of Avon, n. Y,
saying that he wished to have his wife ald
son, then in Italy. come to the United
States and join him in Cincinnati. He
asked Deloatis to purchase tickets and
send them to his wife and son, promising
to reimburse his brother-in-law within q
short time.
Made slaves of Relatives.
In his preliminary report TO the Treasury
Department, Inspector Smiley says he is
doubtful whether the Government should
interfere in family dispute such as arose
in the present case. but he believes the en-
tire incident is OF such an outrageous char
acter that the department may well take
cognizance of it. He says tina. Santori
repaid his brother -n-law a. he pron,ist1
to do. but tha. the wife and son were Ieid
in Avcn by Deloatis for the eviden: pur-
pose of extorting morc money. Soon after
the Cincinca;i Italian lea:ne that his wife
and son were being detained he complain
ed to Rev. G. b. Castellini. the pastor OF
an Italian mission. in that city. cores
pondence setween Santori and Deloatis fol-
lowed and the minister translated one OF
Deloatis' letters which was handed to In
spector Smiley and forwarded to the Treas
ury Department. The Avon Italian ad-
dressed his brother-in -in-law as My Dearest
Horned One" and proceeded to abuse and
threaten him in vile language. Il Will show
you" he wrote, who am, horned one that
ycu are" and declared that Mchael's wife
should see the knife" before she should
see him unless more money should be
Forthcoming. He said the $50 he has re-
ceiyed was not enough and he demanded
S35 Tore.
The report of the immigration officers
shows that D-loatis had spent only sS6 in
behalf CT the woman and boy and that h
had. moreover, virtually kept his relatives
in bondage for seven months, receiving the
wages for their labor during that time ana
giving them only their board and poor
clo.hing in return. Several weeks ago tie
bog ral: away ard after some ii1t 'cdchei
his father in Cincinnati. to whom he told
a wretched story Of wrong and abuse.
Upon the advice Of Inspector Smiley the
whole matter was referred 10 immigration
Inspector J. r. DeNarry. of Buffalo, for
investigation. part Of Mr. DeNarry's
report. received today. says:
In the case OF unlawful detention OF
Michael Santori's wife at Avon, y. Y, by
Salvatore Deloatis. as directed by your
order of December 10. proceeded to Avon
on the 18th instant. taking with ME an
Italian interpreter from Buffalo. | found
Deloatis a very stubborn man; refused to
give up the woman unless he got sS5 bal
ance of cash advanced by him for the bene-
fit CT Santori. and re likewise demanded
payment for the beard and lodging OF Mrs.
Santori for five months.
Watching for other Victims.
Il had the interpreter explain to him that
he made himself liable TO law for keeping
the woman in slavery, and that his let
ters to Santori were obscene and threaten
ing. for which he would be given two
years imprisonment.
"At my second interview with him, and
after a good deal of persuasion. he allowed
her 10 leave his house, but would not pay
a cent for her fare TO Buffalo. brought +.
her to Buffalo and asked the superintend I
ent OF the poor TO send her to Cincinnati. !
but he refused, as she is not a proper |
charge for Erie county. But he would |
make a State pauper of her. then tele- |
graphed 10 Inspector Smiley to have San |
tori send SO to me for his wife's expenses /
TO Cincinnati. He replied last evening that |
the money would be sent today.
'.Santori could have redress in the county |
or State courts. he being an American citi !
zen. There are about go Italians in the |
little town of Avon. and Deloatis is the /
head of the colony. He hires out the Ital- |
ians of the place to farmers and fruit grow !
ers. / have requested the constable there /
to notify me when any new Italians come /
from Italy to Avon. and ii will be wise to ,
request the commissioner at New York TO 4
look cut for young Italians going to Avon, .
as l fear this man Deloatis may be I'M
porting Italians and holding them TO la
bor"
The Commissioner of immigration sent I
instructions to the commissioner at New
York yesterday afternoon directing him
to exercise special vigilance in regard to
Italians landing at that port and declaring
their intention Of going to points in west
ern New York State 1t is probable that
Deioatis will be prosecuted.