Andrea Gebbia aka Scaccia

[Mezzo8]

I wanted to know if anyone has any information on a Sicilian story regarding a person that goes by the name Andrea Gebbia, aka Scaccia, who lived during the 19th century. I beleive he was a doctor, magician, or local traditionalist. However, I can not find that much information on him. Has anyone heard of this local story?

[PippoM]

All that I could find is this:

https://ia600201.us.archive.org/24/item ... 17pitr.pdf

He is mentioned at page 52.
Do you need a translation?

[Mezzo8]

Yes, I am curious about a translation. But it does not look like it mentions where he is from, or any family? Is this a real person? Who was this person?

[PippoM]

It is about a double truth, one by justice, and one by the people.
In Oct 1886 there was a trial in the Court of Palermo,
as a peasant from Mezzojuso, Ciro Spedalieri, had been beaten by another peasant, Andrea Gebbia, aka Scaccia, so heavily that he died. Ciro was believed to be possessed by spirits (he really had a terrible toothache), and Scaccia was held to be a magician who had the power to drive away spirits.
Scaccia was sentenced guilty by the Court, but people said it was not his fault that Ciro died, because he had done what had to be done, but the spirit was too strong.
Such magicians were called "Capurali (di li spirdi)" (Corporals of the spirits). Here, "caporale" is meant as someone who gives orders.

[Mezzo8]

Thank you for translating this. I appreciate it. Do you know if there is a resource or document from Mezzojuso to indicate if Andrea Gebbia (Scaccia) was married or had children? Or is this the only known account of him?

[PippoM]

There are 1867-1901 civil records for Mezzojuso online at Family Search:

https://familysearch.org/search/image/i ... %3D2051639

As the trial took place in 1886, it is very likely that Andrea was born before 1867.
So, you might want look in the indexes for a marriage or death record, but you can't be sure it's the right one, unless it's the only one you find.