A BRIGAND AS A TAX COLLECTOR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XV, 11 April 1896, Page 406

A BRIGAND AS A TAX COLLECTOR.

Brigandage is still rampant in many rural districts of Italy. A letter from a friend in Trieste to a gentleman in New Zealand contains a reference to Tiburzi, one of the most picturesque of these freebooters. Tiburzi is about 48. At the beginning of his career he was as bad as others of the same vocation in life. In 1872 he was caught, convicted of highway robbery and murder, and sentenced to imprisonment for life. He escaped in 1874 and took refuge in a wood near Viterbo, where he lived in security, in spite of seventeen warrants and a large reward for his arrest. Tbe reason of this security is simple enough. He was good to the poor—any peasant in need of help could always get a gold coin from Tiburzi —and he punished traitors. Consequently the peasants were ready to assist him against the police or Government emissaries, and those who would willingly have given information were afraid to do so. After his escape Tiburzi altered his method of gaining a livelihood. He caused it to be made known to all the well-to do people in the district that if they paid him an annual contribution he would not interfere with them and would protect them from molestation by others. It was considered advisable to agree, and Tiburzi has been for years in receipt of a large income, one man alone paying him a year. Crime has considerably diminished in the district; the smaller fry dare not molest Tiburzi’s proteges, for he is still a good shot with his English repeating rifle ! Tiburzi does what the Government cannot do ; he collects his taxes without trouble and he keeps down crime. It must not be supposed he hides in the woods all day. He can walk about the whole district without fear of capture, and he lives in good style. He goes to Rome sometimes, presumably in disguise, and has even been abroad. Will he ever be arrested ? Time alone will tell.