The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-16
BRIGANDAGE DOESN'T PAY NOW.
Only Practlsed for Revenge West OF the
Adriatic Last Speculation Nabbed.

Only Practised for Revenge West OF the
Adriatic Last Spectator Nabbed.
.Brigandage as a lucrative profession is
decidedly on the decline in Europe, 1t is
absolutely a thing OF the past in Spain and
Italy. When a desperate takes to the
woods and the hills in these countries he is
either a fugitive from justioe or else he is
out for revenge not money.
East Of the Adriatio there is still some
| thing doing. The profession got a bad
setback in Greece in 1895, when, on Sep
TENDER II. fifteen gentlemen who had led
a merry life on it's proceeds had their heads
chopped of; but since 1902 there has been a
revival and predatory bands roam through
the mountains and the Peloponnesus. They
are careful to oonfine their activity to their
own countrymen. however. Their profits
are greatly reduced. by doing 30. but 30 is
the danger.
In Turkish territory bTigandage lie always
In existence. but in recent years there lave
been no coups like the extortion OF $75. 900
ransom for Mr.. Ransom, an Englishman, at
Saloniki a few years ago. or the capture Of
Miss Stone in 1901, which brought some
where near 500 900 to the Macedonian
bands, half bandits. half revolutionists,
who held her and her companion. Nine.
Tsilka, prisoners for five months. OF late
the brigands have contented themselves
with bagging local magistrates and well
to do merchants In the towns Of their region,
whose ability to pay for their lives the
brigands can estimate TO a dollar. The
country 10 short OF railroads and the victims
are usually caught riding or staging through
the wild forest roads on business journeys
from one town to another. Sometimes.
however, raids are made into towns and
villages where no troops are stationed, and
men who can pay are taken out OF their
beds. The prisoners are always well
treated-as Miss Stone was-but when the
payment Of the sum demanded lie o long
delayed the brigands have a pleasant habit
Of FIRST cutting of the victims ear and later
his hand and sending them TO his relatives
as a hint that they mean business.
Only two cases OF b~rigandaRe are re-
| ported from the more westerly mountains
In recent times. One was In the Tyrol,
where the members Of a family long eus,
OF the Swiss Diet and carried him of into
the wilds. The prisoner and his friends
stood firm and refused TO pay any black
mail, and the prisoner was killed. This
took place last year.
Very recently a desperate named
Giuseppe Crealin built himself a retreat
on Monte Zelda. near Lake MaReiore. at an
elevation OF 1000 feet. He terrorized
the entire country for a couple Of years
leyying blackmail or every one who could
afford to. pay, but steering clear OF the
tourists. In whose cause the Government
might get unduly active II they were
bmolested. He had no band, not a single
man associated with him; but as IL usually
the case with Italian brigands. the whole
country was dotted over with his sweet
hearts, who brought him food and am
munition, warned him as TO the move
ments OF the police and gave him tips on
good things TO pull of.
He is said TO have got together a large
sum OF money and he was on the point
peacefully In some city where he wasn't
known when a party Of carabiniers rushed
his stronghold one morning and carried
him on a prisoner. He will probably spend
toe rest of hih life In prison.