ITALIAN CRIMINALS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 38, 12 January 1884, Page 3

ITALIAN CRIMINALS.

Seven hundred convicts of the most Wicked criminals of all Italy are confined at the Bazona, on the island of Elba. Passanante, th« would-be-niur-der^r of King, Humbei't, is- imprisoned there tar life; c Admission to his cell is stricdyj. prohibitedo' The .convicts live m cells wnichT have . double pavements of bricks, on which Ah& prisoners sleep, .^attached to. the floor by a Jong chain which unites. the . whole, bad company. Of the entire lot $ere are only two who save mbiey^ and senil it to their ikmilies, although their, opportunities are fair to make good earnings, m welLaired workshops, where 300 convicts are making carriages^ furniture, stQves, carpets, nails,. and locks. Highway robbers wear yellow and black jackets, murderers black ones, and thieves yellow clothes. Those condemned for life wear green. Rossigerold, who strangled the victims enticed to his hquse at Turin, by his paramour, is located here foe ten years. He is very devout and a most exemplary teacher of twftnty young prisoners, who are condemned for life. The famous brigand, Cipriano la Gala, who used to eat the hearts of his enemies, has been confined to Imbed for two year,s by paralysis. He is still proud of hw past life. His brother Giona, who was equally notorious is very taciturn, and considers himself to have been a hero. Chained men m the wards, grim looking and lazy, drag theitiselves to and fro between the iron gates, like wild beasts waiting feeding time. Whenever one of tnc convicts is srispected by bis . comrades of: being a spy his fate is sealed, and if not, removed m time lie is. sure to be strangled.. J.. .., \