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54 VIOLENCE AND THE LABOR MOVEMENT
snow disappeared from the summits of the Apennines.
According to information furnished by Malatesta to
Guillaume, on April 6 and 7 they journeyed from San
Lupo (Province of Benevent) into the region at the south
of the Malta Mountains (Province of Caserte). On
the 8th they attacked the communes of Letino and Gallo,
burned the archives of the first named, pillaged the treasury
of the preceptor, and burned the parish house of the
second. On the 9th and 10th they tried to penetrate the
other communes, but in vain, for they found them all
occupied by troops sent directly by the government to
oppose them. Their provisions were exhausted, and they
would have bought a fresh supply in the village of
Venafro, only the soldiers gave the alarm and pursued
the band as far as a wood, in which they hid themselves.
All of the nth was spent in a long march through rain
and snow. The jaded band was finally surprised and
captured in a sheepfold, where they had sought shelter
for that night. Two of the revolutionists escaped, but
were recaptured a short time afterward. They were confined
in the prison of Santa-Maria Capua Visere, to the
number of thirty-seven, among them being Cafiero, Malatesta,
Ceccarelli, Lazzari, Fortini (cure of Letino), Tomburri
Vincenzo (cure of Gallo), Starnari, and others.
On December 30 the Chamber of Arraignment of Naples
rendered its decision. The two priests and a man who
had served as guide to the insurgents were exempted
from punishment, but the thirty-four others were sent
before the court of assizes on the charge of conspiracy
against the security of the State. As these were political
crimes, which were covered by a recent amnesty,
there remained only the murder of a carabineer, of which
the court of assizes of Benevent finally acquitted Cafiero,
Malatesta, and their friends in August, 1878. (10)