Giuseppe Caruso (brigand)

He was, with Giovanni 'Coppa' Fortunato and Ninco Nanco, one of the most ruthless deputies of Carmine Crocco, but also, after being handed over to the Savoy authorities in 1863, one of the men responsible for the suppression of banditry in the Vulture.

In 1863, along with Crocco, Coppa and Ninco Nanco, he presented himself to General Fontana, with the captains Borgognini and Corona to enter into surrender talks, which eventually were not carried out.

Caruso, due to friction with Crocco in unclear circumstances, abandoned the gang and, when convinced by the Saraceno family, surrendered to General Fontana on 14 September 1863 in Rionero.

After the establishment of the military zone of Melfi-Lacedonia and Bovino, Caruso was then assigned to general Emilio Pallavicini [it], with whom he continued his repressive activities against the brigands, thanks to his valuable information.

During the search for Crocco, Caruso, a crack shot, fired a carbine at a distance of 200 meters at a brigand who resembled his ex-commander, hitting him in the head, killing him instantly.