Nicholas Whithorn

While three-quarters of the political and media class is united in blaming small groups of impoverished foreigners for everything, in the country they purport to lead, one-third of all children live in poverty.

May they all rot in Hell.

You know that ballroom you're building, turn it into a shelter for the homeless. Problem solved.

10th August 1860, five people are executed by firing squad in Bronte (Sicily) following a popular uprising. Thread with special guest appearances by Horatio Nelson, Giuseppe Garibaldi and the Brontë sisters >> 1

Unharmed, the poor man falls to his knees, crying and thanking the Virgin Mary for the miracle of saving his life. He has not reckoned, however, with the ruthlessness of Nino Bixio, who strides up and, ignoring his pleas for mercy, kills him with a single shot to the head // 21

Indeed, when the soldiers of the firing squad execute the men, none of them has the courage to aim at Fraiunco, who they know did nothing during the revolt other than parade around the town playing a tin trumpet >> 20

The other men executed are Nunzio Longi Longhitano, Nunzio Nunno Spitaleri, Nunzio Samperi and Nunzio Ciraldo Fraiunco (Nunzio was obviously a popular name in Bronte!). Of these, it is certain that Fraiunco is innocent, probably suffering from a form of dementia >> 19

One of the five people executed is Nicolò Lombardo, a lawyer who is acclaimed as Mayor following the revolt and, thus, considered by the court to be the ringleader. Later research proves that, in reality, he is innocent and takes no direct part in the events >> 18

Modern day photo of the Monastery of San Vito in Bronte.

A trial lasting just 4 hours sentences 150 people, many of whom are tortured to obtain confessions, to heavy prison terms and, for five defendants, death by firing squad. The executions are carried out at dawn on 10th August in the Piazza outside the Monastery of San Vito >> 17

Bixio arrives in Bronte and sets up a military court. Since the events of 2nd August any outside agitators and anyone else involved in events have had plenty of time to leave the town and Bixio's 'investigation' is hurried and superficial, a classic example of summary justice >> 16

Photo portrait of Nino Bixio in uniform.

Nino Bixio sets off for Bronte on 6th August. Along the way, he meets terrified people fleeing from revolts in various towns that have led to massacres, a chain of events set off by those in Bronte. Bixio already has a reputation for toughness; this convinces him of the need to be even tougher >> 15

A Woodhouse Marsala wine label. Interestingly it is labelled as "Garibaldi" Quality, showing how grateful British producers were for protection guaranteed to them.

An Ingham Marsala wine label dated 1834.

Moreover, Bronte is a British Dukedom and Garibaldi needs to court British support. When he lands in Marsala and during the battle for Palermo, the British Navy remains neutral on the understanding that British economic interests (Marsala wine and sulphur mining) be protected >> 14

Garibaldi does not want instability and social tension. He has only just taken control of Sicily, only has a small army and needs the support of the ruling class and state apparatus; after all, he is not heading a republican revolution but just replacing one monarchy with another >> 13

Bixio is Garibaldi's right hand man and has orders to be ruthless in putting down the revolt. But why should Garibaldi be so unforgiving of a popular revolt inspired by a longing for social justice? The answer is probably twofold: a general reason and one specific to this case >> 12

The notice issued on 14th May 1860 in which Garibaldi declares himself Dictator of Sicily. Dictator in this case was intended more in the Roman sense of a benevolent figure appointed for a brief period.

This brief and bloody uprising sets off a chain of similar episodes in nearby towns, Randazzo and Biancavilla. When hearing of this, Garibaldi decides to set an example. Under the powers of his proclamation as 'Dictator of Sicily' on 14th May 1860, he sends Nino Bixio to Bronte >> 11

Dozens of houses are set on fire, as well as the Town Hall and theatre. Mobs hunt down anybody in a position of authority. A local Baron is massacred, along with his wife and children, as are the local priest and the notary. A total of 16 people are killed and numerous injured >> 10

Relations between the Dukedom and the people that work its land are already poor and the popular sentiment aroused by Garibaldi's campaign incites resentment even more. On 2nd August 1860, an insurrection is sparked off, possibly with the intervention of outside agitators >> 9

Portrait of Charlotte Mary Hood.

Nelson himself probably never visits his Dukedom in Bronte and nor do many of his successors to the title. They are largely absentee landowners. In 1860, the title is held by his niece, Charlotte Mary Hood (neé Nelson), 3rd Duchess of Bronte >> 8

Photo portrait of Patrick Brontë (Brunty).

When Nelson becomes a national hero in England, it is thought that Patrick Brunty, father of Emily, Charlotte and Anne Brontë, perhaps wanting to change his surname to hide his humble origins, chooses the name Brontë in order to associate himself with the distinguished figure of the Admiral >> 7

A picture of Admiral Caracciolo.

Nelson is brutal in putting down the rebellion. Admiral Caracciolo of the Neapolitan Royal Navy, who's also served with Nelson, throws in his lot with the Republicans. Although he is sentenced to life imprisonment after being tried on board Nelson's ship, Nelson personally orders he be hanged >> 6

Portrait of King Ferdinand IV of Naples.

Around the town of Bronte (on the western slopes of Mt. Etna), the major landowner (15k hectares) is the Duchy of Bronte. In 1799, King Ferdinand III of Sicily (IV of Naples) grants the title to Horatio Nelson for his help in restoring the monarchy and ending the short-lived Republic of Naples >> 5

The social system in rural areas of Sicily under the Bourbon monarchy is characterised by large landed estates in the hands of the nobility. The novel "The Leopard" by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and the film with Burt Lancaster (or the recent Netflix series) accurately depict this society >> 4

Garibaldi lands in Sicily with just 1,089 men and he depends heavily on the support of Sicilian volunteers to complete his conquest of the island. To get their support, he has promised Sicilians a new era of social justice and redistribution of land >> 3

Giuseppe Garibaldi in a photo taken in 1860.

By the end of July 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi (photo) has conquered Sicily, defeating the forces of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, as part of his campaign to unify Italy under the rule of King Victor Emmanuel II. This has brought hope for a better future among the population >> 2

10th August 1860, five people are executed by firing squad in Bronte (Sicily) following a popular uprising. Thread with special guest appearances by Horatio Nelson, Giuseppe Garibaldi and the Brontë sisters >> 1

Antonino Scopelliti.

"A judge is alone, alone with the lies he has believed, alone with the truths that have escaped him, (...) alone with the tears of the innocent and with the mendacity of the evil. But a good judge, in his solitude, must be free, honest and courageous."
Antonino Scopelliti, mudered on 9th August 1991

Antonino Scopelliti.

"A judge is alone, alone with the lies he has believed, alone with the truths that have escaped him, (...) alone with the tears of the innocent and with the mendacity of the evil. But a good judge, in his solitude, must be free, honest and courageous."
Antonino Scopelliti, mudered on 9th August 1991

The memorial to Aurelio and Luigi Luciani with the abandoned station of San Marco in Lamis in the background.

Caterino is sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders on 30th November 2020. This judgment is then upheld on appeal and by the Supreme Court of Cassation. Nobody else has been charged for the murders // 13

Giovanni Caterina's mugshots follow his arrest.

In October 2018, Giovanni Caterino is arrested in Manfredonia and charged with being the organiser of the ambush. He followed Romito for weeks to establish his habits and led the killers to the victims. Caterino has already survived an attempted revenge murder in February 2018 >> 12

Having decided to collaborate with the authorities, Magno recounts that Tucci confided in him that he had been one of the gunmen that day in San Marco in Lamis. An investigation by Italian magistrates and Carabinieri, with the cooperation of Eurojust, leads to a result >> 11

The recklessness and weak command structure of the Gargano mafia often makes investigations easier. In October 2017, a mafioso from Gargano, Carlo Magno, turns himself into police in Amsterdam and confesses the murder of Saverio Tucci, whose body is found in the trunk of a car in the city >> 10