SICILIAN BRIGAND.

Grey River Argus, 18 July 1922, Page 5

SICILIAN BRIGAND.

HIS CAPTURE UNPOPULAR. A PECULIAR CHARACTER. ROME, July 16. Sicily’s classical brigand, Turi Rapisarda has been captured. Sicilians describe him as a gallant generous friend of the poor. Ho was a powerful Sicilian and had long been a hero in th-e country about Mt. Etna. When a lad of 19 in 1913 he shot two Carabineers in an attempt to release an unjustly arrested brother. He fled to the forests around Etna, where ho has operated ever since. Offers

of big rewards and all manner of traps failed to secure him because the peasants regarded him us a gallant generous friend of the weak and poor. Ho waged war on robbers and common criminals, healed family feuds, restored stolen property, and did other good deeds. During the war, he hunted deserters, many of whom had scattered among the mountains. When he caught them he gave them tho option of returning to duty or being shot as traitors. Rapisarda was known throughout the countryside. He rode a big mare, richly caparisoned, followed by three fierce mastiffs. His love of dancing led to his undoing. He went into a village to dance. When Rapisarda. and several friends were leaving for homo, Ripisarda found the rifles of throe Carabineers, waiting in ambush, levelled at his breast. His friends fled and Rapisarda surrendered, reproaching his companions as cowards. The Carabineers found him armed with three revolvers, 500 cartridges, a hunting knife and stilletto. Rapisarda refuses food in prison. Already thousands of country folk have signed a petition to the King, beseeching a pardon.