Baron Fava to Mr. Blaine.
Washington, October 7, 1890. (Received October 8.)
My Dear Mr. Blaine: During the conversation that I had the honor to have with you last Thursday, you asked me if the two Italian subjects Villella and Bevivino, charged with a murder committed in the State of Pennsylvania, the extradition of whom could not be granted by the Italian Government, were in reality being tried in Italy.
Your question surprised me, because your Department was duly informed, through the United States legation at Rome, as well as by myself, of the arrest of the two individuals in question in Italy, and of their trial, which was begun as early as 1889 by the criminal court of Catanzaro (Calabre).
The rogatory letters of said court, forwarded to your Department by this royal legation, together with the note of July 8, to which that of August 13, 1889, referred, and together with the note of March 19, to which I referred in mine of April 20, of 5th and 16th of June, and the 23d of July of the present year, will carry out my statement.
Any insinuation leaving to suppose that Villella and Bevivino could escape punishment for the crime they are charged with would seem, therefore, inopportune.
The trial already cooimenced against them in Italy would have been ended ere this if the courts of Pennsylvania, to which rogatory letters were addressed nearly 2 years ago, had promptly responded to the questions submitted to them by the Italian courts.
Unfortunately, however, and in spite of the good offices of your Department manifested to me in the three notes, viz, of July 29, of the 1st and 12th of August ultimo, the rogatory letters referred to have not yet been answered by the judicial authorities of Pennsylvania. This delay is greatly to be deplored in the interest of justice, and I take the liberty to call your attention to this fact, begging, as I have already done in preceding official notes, that you would use your great influence with the court of Pennsylvania in order that the Italian criminal court may be enabled to try without further delay the two individuals, who have already been detained in jail for about 2 years.
Thanking you sincerely for the attention you will doubtless give to my requests,
I have, etc.,