The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-01-07
UNJUST IMPRISONMENT
MAKES YOUNG ITALIAN
i. MINER INSANE CHARGE

:. Ierre Iiaute, IND, JAM. 6:-Par-
doned from receiving a long sentence
in Jail, but doomed to a ruined life
Of mental inability, is the sad fate
of Giralomo Matrasia. young Itali-
an boy Of Clinton, Ind, who is
victim Of capitalistlc injustice. .
y Giralomo Matrasia came to this
country last spring and was employed
in, the mines at Clinton. Unable to
speak word Of English he was
GIN to understand that there was
trouble between the operators, his
employers and the miners, and that
the only way to preserve the rights
Of the miners was to act as his fel-
lows acted. Believing that he was
in the right. Matrasia became one OF
the Italian body of workmen who
made an effort to prevent the Ameri-
can workmen from working at CIin-
ton on April unless the operators
would make the temporary agree
ment for e raise in the scale Of
wages a permanent. contract. y
Twenty-Five plain clothes officers
of Clinton rounded up the alleged
agitators. among them Matrasia and
took them before the court of the
town. The specific affidavit against
the boy charged barratry. Unable
to understand any Of the proceedings
Matrasia, was tried and convicted OF
the impossible charge, and helpless
to- defend himself, was sentenced to
ninety days in Jail and $500 fine,
the maximum of the law, as. a lesson
to the "troubleome" foreign miners.
Being. told that he had ten days to
appeal his case. Matrasia was thrown
in Jail. BY this time the boy. it
seems, understood that some inN J.
tice was being done him, and he 81 It
word to Pennsylvania relatives to
help him. Before they arrived the
time for appeal had expired, and the
sentence was enforced. Unable to
pay $500, the boy started to serve
his entire time of 800 days fine and
ninety days sentence. Shortly after
ward, Attorney S. ". Reynolds be-
came interested in his case and went
to Governor Marshall with it.
The executive expressed willing
"'SS ~ AooUC d PdIuOA IL I4Ac lc4uIISu
petition was presented to him. Rey-
nolds returned to Clinton and at
tempted to secure signatures. This
was before election, ard though all
those familiar with the case said
they knew of the injustice, not one
signature could be obtained
The petition failed and sMatrasia
remained behind the bars. In the
meantime, the confinement: had be-
gun. to tell on the young fellow; and
the sheriff noticed that he was: as:
parentsy Ill. Unable to;2com1i1 unicate
with any one, the Italian had to sur
fer, silently growing worse, though
all, possible aid was given him by the
sheriff.
After election other officers than
those who expected to get in office
were placed in the county offices, and
in the latter part Of November one
of the men stumbled onto the, Ma
trasia case. He at once investigated
and petition was rapidly filled out
by the new officials fox the boys re-
lease. Governor Marshall signed it
at once and Matrasia, was. set free.
Released from Jail, it was found that
the confinement had been affecting
his mind. which was the disease
which the sheriff had not under
stood. He was taken to the Central
Hospital; where it is thought he can
not recover. :: =.