The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-21 00:00:00

WONDERFUL IF TRUE!

_ - -
The following extraordinary story appears in a late
number of the .New York Tribune :
A great deal of excitement has recently been created
in the higher classes of the Austrian capital. by the re-
markable and romantic developments of numerous heavy
robberies, which for years past have been committed in
and near the metropolis, by one or more malefactors,
whose whereabout it was impossible to trace out. In
order to give a through insight into the matter we must
begin at a period when the existence of this gang was
proved by their actions.
Towards the close of October, 1848, during a fine
and clear autumnal evening, the travelling carriage of
Mr. Edward C. Brooks, a wealthy merchant of Lon-
don, who then was on his way back to Vienne, from
a long tour in Upper Italy and the Lombardia pro-
vinces, was stopped within three miles of Vienna, in
the most populous part of the country. One man only
presented himself at the coach window, and courte-
ously, but firmly, demanded the surrender of what-
ever valuables the inmates of the conveyance possessed.
With Mr. Brooks there were two ladies, his wife and her
younger sister, the latter of whom had already drawn her
purse, and was in the act of handing it to the highway-
man, when her extended arm was fractured by a pistol shot
from Mr. Brooks, who, having perceived the movement of
his sister-in-law, had from the back of the carriage quietly
taken aim at the robber, with a view of answering the im-
prudent demand. A scene of terrific confusion then en-
sued. The report of the pistol brought, besides the two
men who guarded the coachman and horses, three more
individuals to the support of the highwayman; the
traces were cut in an instant, the coachman was lashed
to his seat, and the highwaymen prepared to avenge the
the ground.
The who lay apparently inanimate on
caleche were torn open, but the
spectacle
doors
owhich
leader,
theread thee r
,
presented itself was such as to
make the robbers
pause before they launched out
upon the mission of revenge. Miss Perry, the
lay in the arms of her sister, whose
speechless agony proved the horror which she felt at
the occurrence. Mr. Brooks still ignorant that it was
he who inflicted the injury, had nevertheless aban-
doned all ideas of resistance, and was vainly endeavour-
ing to stanch e
tee blood, which flowed in torrents
from the h
g looked
wound. For some minutes the
wounded lady,
highwaymen upon this mournful scene, until
a Jew moan their leader reminded them of the
necessity of from
iving him that attention which bis
suflice,l to provealPtorily called for. A few minutes
wounded; the bullet, after fracturing the slender arm
chief
of Miss Perry, had spent itself against his chest, causing
what the (krtilatil call a Prellschuss, and though it did
conditionn
0 t penetrate P
e fleshrtehSthat he was not dangerously
had still force enough to break a
bone or two, t.
ithoti. t any other outward sign than a
smallblack sp
struck.
Th
e soon
on the place were the leaden messenger
n recovered and was able to ride off,
while be had left his followers in charge of the car-
riage, giving strict orders, however, not to plunder the
Englishman and his family, but to give them every as-
sistance to enable them to reach Vienna as early as
possible, that the young lady might obtain medical
aid. The orders were executed to the letter; Mr.
Brooks saw his
availanta, who exhibited the most respectful bearing
horses put to the carriage by his late
whim, and seemed rather to wish him good than
evil. So much,
indeed, was he taken by the conduct of
the a
great value
to him who had been left in command by the
t omr de e
n ha t
on Darting he gave a diamond ring of
chief, with orders to send it to his master, as a token of
his gratitude
r the consideration which had been ex-
tended to the suffering lady.
The occurrence caused an extraordinary sensation at
Vienna.
Apart from the boldness of the act, the stand-
ing
Brooks and his energetic action, the result of
the encounter, so far as Miss Perry was concerned, gave
,uffielent interest to the matter of it to remain the stand-
ingtopic
weeks. As to the injured lady, she
suiftred greatly from the severe wound, but recovered
without the loss of her arm, which at first it seemed im-
possible to save. Though Mr. Brooks discountenanced
oi,ry ir f ) r
many
all effor:s to trace out the individual who stopped his
carriage, the police, nevertheless, caused the must mi-
nute inquiries to be made, but without the slightest
success.

A month or two passed quietly away,
when the news
of another attack on the highway, this time accompa-
nied with a robbery to a heavy amount, startled the
police from their apathy, to which they had abandoned
themselves
since they saw their efforts to point out
the perpetrators of the previous robbery fruitless.
Attack followed attack at four or six weeks' interval,
and they were directed only against the most wealthy,
with a sagacity and prudence which defied every pre-
cLution on the part of the authorities. Years thus
passed without the least success against these depreda-
tors;
and, late in the fall of 1851, three robberies
wer° committed during one night, not ono of which led
to a discovery, though the booty consisted of such ar-
ticles as could not have been disposed of iu the Austrian
Empire without establishing suspicion against the seller.
In the month of January Miss Perry, who, since re-
ceivingthe wound from the pistol-shot of her brother-
in-law, law, had been married to a Welsh gentleman named
Trowyth, arrived at Vienna with her husband, where
her former adventure was by no means forgotten, and
was frequently spoken about in company. Among
those who seemed to take the deepest interest in the
matter was a Baron Pregli, a Lombard nobleman,
who for the last ten years had stayed at
Vienna, and
apparently enjoyed unbounded wealth. He
became an admirer of Mrs. Trowyth and her constant
attendant. Rumour was soon started, and the question
was asked, why the husband allowed so close an inti-
macy as was exhibited in their frequent rides and walks.
None. however, pretended to prognosticate the result of
this intimacy.

At an early hoar on the 2d of March Baron Pregli's
mansion was surrounded by a body of officeos, the
leader of whom thereupon demanded access to the
building. After a while the doors where thrown
open, and the commissary, with two of his men,
entered, while others were left to guard the various
outlets. Nearly half an hour thus passed over until the
officers returned, bringing with them and care-
fully guarding Baron Pregli, whom they took to the
Prison usually assigned to political offenders. From the
action of the police no one can tell what is the offence
which he is charged with. lie had no hearing, and pro-
may have none. His friends may see him again,
o
may not, just as it suits the despotic will of him
who rules over Austria.
b ra bt lhye y
In spite of the precautions which are always taken in
Austria to keep secret the offences of the nobility, the
story regard to Baron Pregli's career has leaked
oat. in
It appears that it is he who, in connexion with
several devoted servants, has for years past rendered
on these depredations
the highway to secants'
insecure, as he could carry
without in the slightest measure incurring the suspi-
cion of the authorities. It is a remarkable fact, that the
baron had actually from his country residence
stood in the pay of the police—a
situation which he probably coveted only for the pur-
pose of leading
all Easpicions that might arise into
another channel.
Becoming deeply enamoured of the beautiful Mrs.
Trewyth, he sought vainly to
whichr, gain her affections, and
at last,
Mr. Brook in a SiLly
sfit of despair, showed her the ring
I,
-41 d sent him, as the leader of the
his years previously, and appealed to
tier to become ~i
bee she had once been chosen to
be the instrument to
highwaymen, three
save his life. So far from the
confersion having the
Keep
she became all the More • diced against him, but
promised faithfully to , preJui
g't would not
effect of softening her feelings,
repent the offensive proposals. Pregli did not come near
her for a week, but at last attempted to carry her off by
the secret i he
the aid of his satellites, and being foiled in this in-
stated.formation was given which led to the arrest, as before
Three of the Barons •
largequantity of articles
and at his country resid,
were found, all of whichcc° a
were identified ashaving
stolen.men have since been arrested,
RACING FIST"

Newcastle .. J 1
............. 22
Bibury ................. 23
Stockbridge ........... .. 24
Winchester ............. 25

J 1
Salisbury ............... 1
Newmarket .............. 6
Worcester. ............... 6
Woodford and Lou 6
Lancaster ............... 7
Jersey ..................... 7
odihem ............... 9
Ileley ........................ 14
Liverpool ................ 14
AUG