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

', Ierre t1aute, lQd., JAN. -Edr-
doned from receiving a long sentence
in Jail, but doomed to ruined life
Of mental inability, is the sad fate
of Giralomo nj atrasia. young Itali-
an boy Of Clinton, Ind, who is. a
victim Of capitalistic injustice. 49,.
Giralomo Matrasia came to this
country last spring and was employed
in the mines at Clinton. Unable to
speak a word of English he was
given 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 fell
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 Clin-
ton on April unless the operators
would make the temporary agree
ment for e. raise in the scale of
wages a permanent contract. :"
Twenty-Five plain clothes officers
of Clinton rounded up the alleged
agitators. among them Matrasla 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,
t1an ID, 80 q ynConN
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 injus-
tice was being done him, and he sent
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. W. Reynolds be-
came interested in his case and went
to Governor Marshall with It,
The executive expressed a willing
mes to issue a pardon If the required
petition was presented to him. Rey-
holds 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 Z
The petition failed and 'Matrasia
| remained behind the bars. In The
meantime, the confinement had be.
I gun to tell on. the young fellow, and
1.-The sheriff noticed that he. was ap;
! parent,y Ill. Unable toSscomn1unicat.
with any one, the Italian had to SUI;
fer, silently growing worse, though
all possible aid was given him by thu
sheriff. IL
After election other officers thar
those who expected to- get in office
were placed in the county offices, ant
in the latter part of November on<
of the men stumbled onto the Ma:
trasia case. He at once investigated
and petition was rapidly filled GU
by the new officials for the boys re-
lease. Governor Marshall signed i
}! at once and Matrasia was. set free
Released from jail, it was found tina
the confinement had been affecting
his mind, which was the disease
which the sheriff had not under
stood. He was taken to the Contra
Hospital where it is thought he can
not recover.