AN ITALIAN NED KELLY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4313, 23 March 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN ITALIAN NED KELLY

. '; Da ‘!y Express - ’ correspondent, writmg from Genoa, says; One hears a great deal out here, about the terrorising tactics of the London Hooligan, but the Italian desperado, operating alone in the sparsely-populated country districts of Southern Italy, wields a larger and tar more dangerous influenca than all the hooligans of East London put together. V. nde the Hooligans hunt in bauds, and are devoid of any vestige of chivalry, or that sense of honour which is supposed to exist among thieves, intimidating and brutally ill-treating women and aged men, your Italian brigand operates alone, and lias the reputation of possessing a certain amount of regard tor persons in-his own station in life. Une day he will carry out a marvellously sxilful and cold-blooded robbery and assassination, and the nest will grant safe transit and,even give succour to’unprotected travellers and peasants.

■ A case which is now causing a sensation throughout the" whole cf Italy and has earned for its hero—who is I went vfive years bid—the title of “His Majesty King Mussolma of Reggio,” isf very interesting, and is the most famous occurrence of. this description since the divs cf the brigand Tiburk V * Mussolipa is -at large in the district around Reggio, in Calabria, and appears to have earned .Lis title, for the chief of the Italian iiolice has taken the matter in. hand,, and. for some weeks past two battalions of infantry, besides three or four hundred gendarmes, have been completely out-witted and out-manoeuvre 1 by Ids daring and successful tactics. He has killed, quite a number of his pursuers, and those who. have in -any way assisted, them, have shared a similar fate- : ' 1 Only recently two carbineers' were shot by him from behind while eatiik their dinner. ” '■ ■■ " 1 ; ’ •• ) SEVEN WITNESSES KILLED.’ ! Here is; the history of the 'man. • A short time - ago he was condemned l to 2o years’ panal, servitude for attempted murder. During the course of the trial he was loud in his protestations of inno+ cenee, and swore vengeance against seven witnesses who appeared against him, and managed to kick one very severely in thq face during the trial. ■ .'■> Since he escaper! ho Jins killed ' all seven. ' ' , . . )

He also swore a solemn oath that-lie would take the Judge’s life, and would doubtless have’ carried out bis, threat had the Judge not been removed on this account to- a vacant post in Northern Italy. The peasants generally consider him innocent, and do nor object to lending him a helping. hand, so the trouble in his “sphere’of influence” is likely to be interminable. . - ■ >

“King” Mussolina has recently ad* dressed a letter to the newspapers threatening death to the Governor • f tbo Province if ho dora not immediately withdraw, the troops. * - I The whole story appeals to the imagin-l atioh of the populace of Southern Italy; and when, some weeks ago, .his sisters were arrested,’ there was such a succession of threats-and disturbances that the authorities were forced to liberate: them: And now, after the succession of coldblooded assassinations and robberies, a petition is dicing signed for his pardon, and several prominent newspapers have taken up the matter! ■..... . -FORTY-SIX YEARS AT LARGE. , Tlio audacity and success of Mussolma in avoiding bis pursuers brings to -mind tbo case of the famous Roman brigand, Tibnrzi, who for fortv-six years dominated tho district between Rome and Civitavecchia, actually drawing, among other things, a, large income irom the Mayor and principal merchants of the latter city by intimidation. • , -During the peiriod of Tiburzi’s “influence” between Rome and -Civitavecchia the countryside was - never so free from brigands. Tiburzi preferred a. monopoly! ' • , ■■■■ ■■ ~ :. ,

One of the most .curious things about Tibjwzi was tha fact that, as far as canid , be ascertained, lie .had no actual followers, but in danger called on all and every (among the peasants) for help, and none dared disobey the.call. , ... .■:■ . ; - One evening, he .was recognised in a theatre in. Rome, and the police ordered all doors to be closed, ana gave the public warning that Tiburzi.. ■ was- among them. Curiously, 'no Tiburzi was found when they .came, to arrest him.; but it was ascertained that an old man had gone: up to .the, superintendent of the police in great terror and asked to bo i conducted to a place of safety, as he. had i a large sura of money on hiiuj and .-was ’ afraid the. brigand would get it. His re- ] quest was granted. The old man was Tiburzi. ONE AGAINST TWO HUNDRED. The following characteristic story was related to me by an actual eye-witness : —-A foreman of harvesters gave certain information to the police concerniug the movements: of Tiburzi, who got wind of the affair and escaped capture'. A short time after he appeared in'the midst of 200 harvesters, where the fqi’eman was them working, proclaimed his identity, : called the foreman to him, and gave him ’ five minutes to confess anything' that might be on his conscience. He also took note as to the! final division, of his'property j or money; to his - wife and children, and i then, hi'tha midst of alb the man’s em--1 ployees, blew out his brains, not one of the harvesters daring to raise a hand in ■ his defence. :. Tiburzi was without a companion the whole time, and before leav--1 ing addressed the men, warning them !as to their fate should they take any j steps to. aid the police in capturing ; him. '

j Two years ago Tiburzi was surprised | and shot by gendarmes, and two months ! ago the man who was supposed to be i his principal leader was also killed. It is said that in Sardinia aione last year nearly /LOO brigands were captured and some hundreds of followers arrested, including the Mayors of. several, small, towns. Southern' Italy is infested,, and the extent of the intimidation and rob* j hery can hardly be grasped by the inhabitants of ordorly Britain.