Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1896 — A TRAIN-ROBBERS’ PARADISE. [ARTICLE]

A TRAIN-ROBBERS’ PARADISE.

Italian Railroads and the Experiences of Travelers on Them. It is surely time that the attention of the public should be called to the robberies from baggage on the Italian lines of railway, which are now of constant, probably of daily, occurenee, which must be committed by the guards of the trains or with their knowledge, as no one else can have access to the baggage in transit from one place to another, which the Italian railway authorities and the police hear of almost daily, but of which no notice is taken. I will give a few instances, writes Augustus J. C. Hare, the eminent author to the London Times. The well-known Miss L. S. has a residence both in Rome and Venice. Moving last year from the former to the latter, her boxes were opened and various articles taken. A small wooden box in one of her trunks was forced open at the hinges. It mostly contained papers, which were left, but a gold piece of 100 francs was found among them and carried off. This year the same lady moved at the same time from Rome to Venice. She then bad her boxes sealed. On receiving them at the Venice station, her servant saw that they were sealed still, and did not observe that the seal of one of them had been broken and replaced by a new (a finger) seal. On reaching home it was found that everything in the box had been turned out and ransacked, and all the contents of a work box thrown out amongst the other things. Several artcles were missing. The Venice station-master, informed at once, said that he “saw no reason to suppose that the robbery had been committed by one of the company’s servants.”

Within a very few days of this, the Countess of Kenmare had her boxes opened between Bologna and Venice and various objects stolen. About the same time an Italian princess, coming from Bolonga to Venice, lost all her jewels in the same way. Mr. Ralph Curtis, resident of Venice, had his boxes opened and half his clothes taken. Two valuable dresses were abstracted from the boxes of the Queen of Italy during her last journey from Venice to Monza. A precious bracelet, Inherited from Sir J. Outram, set with large Indian diamonds, was taken from the trunk of Mrs. , and when the authorities were informed of it, they only expressed polite regret that any one should have had “cosi poca delicatezza” as to steal her jewels! A gentleman traveling on the line from Genoa to San Remo, got out at a small station. Before he expected, he saw the train in motion. He had no time to regain his place but jumped into an open baggage van. He was surprised to see the look of consternation with which a guard in the van and his companion received him. Then he perceived that several trunks were open and their contents piled upon the floor of the van. He had presence of mind to light his cigar, turn his back and look as if he had observed nothing. Otherwise, “Mysterious discovery of the body of an English traveler on a railway line” would have beaded a paragraph in next day’s paper. Another crying evil is the state of Florence railway station. Always the worst managed station in Europe. It is now a perfect bear-garden. Any one can obtain access to the platform on the payment of one soldo, and at the time of the departure of the evening train for Rome it is crowded by all the worst characters irj Florence.

On the evening of March 12 I was about to leave Florence for Rome. From unavoidable circumstances I had nearly £IOO in my pocket, £7O being in English banknotes. The money was in an inner breast pocket of my coat, with a great coat over it I thought it absolutely safe. I had kept out enough money for my ticket b»t unfortunately my baggage cost more than I had calculated, and to get a five francs note I was obliged to take out my pocketbook. It was safely replaced, but it must have been seen then. There was the usual crowd on the platform, and great confusion when the multitude of travellers, penned up in the waitingroom, were let out into it. I put my hand-bag to keep a place in an already crowded carriage, and then went to look for something better, but failed to find it Returning to the first carriage, I found two men on the step, who, with loud Italian vociferation, rudely opposed my entrance —“You cannot come in here, this is not your place,” etc., and they pushed violently against my chest. I contended that my hand-bag was already in the carriage and my place taken, and eventually got in, the men pushing against me to the last, and then disappearing. Immediately the train was in motion, I found that in those pushes my inner pocket was torn out, and my pocket-book and money gone.

I telegraphed back to the Florence station from the first stopping place, and wrote to all the authorities at Florence. Two days afterwards I was summoned to the Roman railway station apd had the usual silly examination (afterward six times repeated on six different days at different Roman police offices) as to my exact age occupation, and place of birth, the Christian name of my father, etc. Then I was asked if I should recognize my robbers if I saw them. Of this I felt doubtful, as on the March evening on which I was robbed it was already almost dark. But the police official said: “A group of men will come into the end of this room;see if you recognize any of them.” I said: “Yes, the second from the wall on the left” Then he said, “Now another group will come in,” and again I pointed out a man, and it proved that those were the two men who had just been arrested for other flagrant robberies at Florence station. I saw their booty which had been taken—a mass of purses and pocket-books, a large pile of watches, chains, and ladies’ ornaments. The authorities said that no English notes had been found. A fortnight later I was summoned to the Roman prison of the Career! Nuove. There again I picked out my two robbers, each out of a group of other men, and each time proved right. Though I have never had any hope of recovering my money, I have since lingered on in Italy, expecting to be summoned to give evidence at their trial; but I have heard nothing; the case is probably dropped. But at table d’hote, in railway carriages, omnibuses, etc., the last railway robbery is now always the topic of con-

versation. All experienced Italian travelers set out on their journey feeling that their boxes are likely to be robbed, and Italians themselves bring the very utmost possible baggage into the carriage with them. and jewels intrusted to travelling trunks are more than likely to disappear. Small articles, such as pocket handkerchiefs, scarfs, etc., are very generally 'taken. There is no redress. The underpaid guards are practically allowed and encouraged to add to their salaries in this way.