THE PASSATORE
Stefano Pelloni, nicknamed "Il Passatore", was born in 1824 in Boncellino Bagnacavallo, the youngest of ten children.
He was one of the best known brigands from Romagna.
Where did it all start from?
In the summer of 1833, Stefano's mother decided to send him to the thermal waters of Rioli, to strengthen his health, a center frequented by rich people from the legations.
The origin of his vocation to reveal itself on the "gentlemen" began precisely in this summer.
His criminal career began early, in fact already at the age of 18, in September 1842, with a shotgun theft and damage to some laborers.
Together with two other more experienced cronies they targeted peasants and landowners extorting - under threat of fires and violence.
Pelloni was arrested several times between 1843 and 1845, managing to escape several times until he was sentenced to the court of Ferrara and from early August 1845 he would never come out of hiding, until his death.
How was the gang born?
Pelloni did not act alone, since 1847 the Mansada was formed which was called the "gang of the passer", of which he was not the leader, but a leader of cruelty.
The gang did not have a fixed organization chart, but it formed from time to time for a robbery project and then melted.
The gang also possessed a network of maintainers, straight and spies.
What was their tactic?
The benomal tactics were always the same.
Once inside the walls and put out of action the garrison of the public force, the brigands took hostage the wealthiest citizens who were in public places.
The kidnapped were used as a shield, to penetrate their homes, after which the brigands opened the furniture with a hatchet and took everything, from coins to valuables and finally made the loot flow on a table, publicly showing off the wealth accumulated.