The Brigand's Captive.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2495, 19 August 1890, Page 3

The Brigand's Captive.

Signor Arrigo, the millionaire banker of Palermo, who was captured by brigands close to his own property, and given up for lost by his family and friends, has returned home m a half-starved condition, but without having paid the ranscm which was demanded. This amounted to 30,000 onze, or about £4000 m English money, During the time he was held by the bandits the Signor's place of confinement was a * humid grotto,' and for the three weeks he had to subsist on bread and cheese, given m small quantities, although three bottles of Marsala were allowed him. His letters to his family were written with a goose feather dipped m the juice of mulberries. They were dictated by the brigands, who would not allow the letters to be fastened until they h,ad Jbaken precautions to discover from someone possessing the knowledge they lacked themselves thai; the missives were what they pm-ported to be. The gaoLtir was as well behaved and deferential as his office and f oar of his comrades would permit.. That his sympathies were restricted was shown by the fact that 12,000f and a free passage to America would not tempt him to offer escape to his prisoner, the far-reaching arm of the vendetta acting as an insuperable deterrent. Eventually, however, the brigands liberated Signor Arrigo. Disgusted afc being baulked of their ransom, they turned (iu> unhappy bankor adrift m the dead of night. Without any kind of j light to help him, he had consj durable discnlty m making hjs jvay tq a* neighboring fjarm, the occupants of which attended tjo fife wants and provided him wifch .a iftule ,on whijuh {# complete his journey. Several arrests have been made, and it is believed jbhat lj;ie ' .whole band will shortly be made prisoners', and a reproach thus removed from King Hubert's dominions.