The Warwickshire Herald. — 1885-10-08 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

BRIGANDS AND THEIR PROFITS.  The capture of Mr. Charnaud by brigands naar Smyrna, and the demand of a- ransoin of £B,OOO, will revive for a time an interest in those cut-throats, whose doings add a spice of romantic danger to Fastern travel. Brigands are always eager to get hold of Englishmen : they are sure of large ransoms, which, sometimes, according to the positive declarationof the victims, they share with the ruling officials of their districts. A score of cases can be recalled in which during the last 35 years parties of Engli:h travellers have been captured, and have been forced to pay heavy damages for their release. The acts of brigandage took place in Spain, in Italy, in Turkey, in Greece, in Sicily, and in Mexico. Chief ameng the Spanish captures was that of Mr. Arthur I I aseldin, who fell into the Lands of brigands in the Sierra Islerona in 1874. Four millions of reals (nearly £40,000) was first ilenianded for his ransom; but this wat soon reduced to a quarter of the amount ;and, alt r nine days' captivity, Mr. Haseldin was reed on payment by his brother of £6,000. Three yi a; s before this Mr. and Mrs. Rankin and Mrs. Taylor were taken near Denia,in Spain, but were at once releast d on payment of 42200. Mr. Edward Rowse was captured near Hiendelaencina in 1875, but he also at once Caine to terms with the brigands, dispa ching his eel vent for £l,OOO, which they agreed to take for his release. The remaining Spanish case was near Gibraltar, where two brothers named Biulell fell into the hands of brigands. In this case the ransom of 4:5, PO was advanced by the Governor of Gibraltar. The Mexican brigands were more moderate in .heir demands. Mr. William Rabling, captured near Pachuca in 1863, obtained his release, after three weoks' detention, on his friends handing over £703 and 12 muskets. Three years later Mr. J. 1). Mirrilies was taken near Ira limit by an armed band claiming to be a portion if U e Liberal forces of General Antilon ; but he paid the £lOO demanded of him, and was detained only four days. Again. in BM, Mr. Farber was taken near Granaxato, and on the following day his body was found with an expianation attached to it that he had been murdered for having refused to pay £l,OOO for his release. The first Italian MC we can recall was that of Mr. Beale, who Wai captured near Floreoce in 1864. He wa;; exceptionally foil/pate, as he was released the day following his capture without any ransom, the guard thinking the 12,000 scudi demanded had been paid. In the following year Mr. and Mrs. William Moens, the Roy. J. C. M. Aynsley and Mrs. Aynsley were taken near Battipaglia. The ladies were releas' d the same day, and Mr. Aynsley was sent on he following day to arrange about the ransom, which was fixed at £8,400. Finally, after negotiating for more than three months, £5,100 was paid over to the briganes, and Mr. Moens was released. Mr. Forester Rose, who was captured close to the railway station at Lecara, Sicily, had to pay £1,600 for his life. In this case a demand of E 5 000 was made on the Italian Government for damage to the firm by suspension of the business, but no compensation was given. The most memorable act of brigandage, however, by which British subjects suffered, was the capture in 1870, about a dozen miles from Attalla, of Lord and Lady Muncaster, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Vyner, and Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd. The fitst demand was for £50,000, but this was reduced to £25,000 and a pardon. Lady Muncaster and Mrs. Lloyd and child were released the same day, and Lord Muncaster was sent back two days later to arrange a ransom. The negotiations failed, however, and after ten days captivity Mr. Herbert, Mr. Vyner, and Mr. Lloyd were murdered. In this case the King of Greece gave Mrs. Lloyd £l,OOO for her immediate wants and the Greek Government afterwards granted an indemnity of £lO,