Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1877 — Capture of Brigands. [ARTICLE]

Capture of Brigands.

Writing of Sicily reminds one of the capture of theAlfani brothers, two famous bngands, who were arrested in Palermo on Easter Sunday. The two brothers, who have been for a long time the 'terror of Sicilian provinces, and on whose head was set a price of *I,OOO each, ventured into the city to pass the day with some comrades and friends. Although perfectly disguised and surrounded by trusty friends, the police, in some mysterious way, discovered that the brigands were ifi Palermo, and an ingenious plan was laid to capture them. Two police agents disguised themselves as peasants out for aholiday, and strolled about the city until they got near the house in which the brigands were feasting with their friends. When within ear-shot the pretended peasants feigned to quarrel. Words ran high, and the two made such a noise that the brigands came to the window to see what was the matter. They saw, as they supposed, two peasants quarreling, and, enjoying the sight, they remained to look on. At last the pretended row reached such a pitch that one of the disputants drew a revolver, upon which the other ran away, and the brigands’ house being the nearest refuge he ran directly into the doorway, his adversary with the revolver following in hot pursuit. Meantime another part of the plan was being carried put. While the noise outside was going on the house had been gradually and quietly surrounded by the police, all in plain dress, however, and all more or less concealed, except two, who, at a given signal, suddenly appeared on the scene, as if attracted by the dispute. Seeing one man, revolver in hand, pursuing another, what more - natural than that they should, give chase J The first two rushed into the brigands’ house, the others followed, a whistle was heard, and still other men appeared, and before the brigands comprehended the situation the room where they were was filled with armed, men. Then, but too late, it flashed upon them, and, although both brothers attempted, a. desperate resistance, the odds were too great for them and they were soon overpowered. Pinioned and handcuffed to each other, they were brought out into the streets of Palermo, where the report that the terrible Alfani brothers had at last been taken spread like wildfire, and the people crowd* ed into the streets, cohering the polic<aS they marched along with their prizes.— Boston Transcript.

—” Driver, said a gentlefhan to a hack--’ man whom he had engaged by the hour, “ why is it, the moreyou oeat your horses the slower they seem to proceed.’’ “That’s cause I has ’em trained,’’ was the reply. Questioned further,- the fellow, said: “When I whips pae of my’oeaes on the left side he understands I’ve got a party what travels by the'hour,i and so he earns ’is oats by loafin’.” —ln the light of ? a recent event the Boston Trawtier says: “ Better give the baby a rattle. He can get lots of fun out of a revolver, but it is apt to go off and hurt somebody. When you see the baby in the back yard with a revolver, find* reporter looking over the fence and whistling, ‘ I hear an angel calling,’ It fr as weU to go out and take the weapon away from the child.” —A celebrated Judge bad a very stingy wife. On one occasion she received his friends in the drawing-room with a single candle. “Be pleased, my dear.” said his Lordship, “to id us have a second eandle. that we mar see where the Other s'ands.**