Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-03-19
THE ROMAN BANDITTI'

The following strange story is published in lei
fer from Rome dated the 3ls Of January last:
81 have to-day TO relate most singular and al
most incredible fact the authenticity OF which, now
ever. established by the most inconesaole evidence
including that of official reports.
On the 25th ofihis month the ihea'rIcal corps OF
Forlini-Popoli was playing the Deam o. Cesar
For]ini. Popoli is small town OF about 4,ooo nhao-
itan,,, enclosed by high wall entered by two gates
and scarcely three miles from the town OF orlI OF
which il is kind of suburb BY s O'Clock in the
evening. the hour when The theatres open in llaly,a
movement had disappeared from the s.rees,windows
are closed and the inhabitants have retired 10 their
homes. the cohee-houses or theatres. This absence
of activity in the Streets which every one remarks at
Rome. is still more complete in small towns. II may
then. be understood how, at Forni-Popoll. and par
ticularly on an evening when the theatre was open,
the streets should be deserted TO make possible
the occurrence now to be related.
The frs. act of the peice had terminated, and the
curtain had just fallen when suddenly it rose and
dsclosed-nstead of The actors, who had disappear
ed-en brigands of the band del Passato+e, arm
ed with muskets and carbnes, levelled them so as TO
command the Entire range Of the pit and boxes. Al
the same another party, consisting oil ~ br-
gands, made their appearance on the floor of the
house, the issues of which were guarded, and armed
with sabres and pistols, menaceG the spectators.
momen! of supor, during which no one dared move,
elapsed when the chief Of the brigands advanced 10
the foot lights, and, exhibiting the keys of the two
gates of the town, said, Genemen, you see by these
that YOU are entirely in our power; any resistance
on your parl would lead to disasters which should
be the first 10 depore, but which depends upon you
to avert. Listen, then, to what have 10 say. am
about to call out the names of several among YOU
AS pronounce name, lei him who bears 1t step
forth from his box and repair to his house, in com
pany with one or two Of my friends, who will assist
him TO bring hher all his hoards and that without
defrauding us Of porpetto.' This said the orator
dsplaveda paper and commenced reading the fatal
roll. Submission was inevitable. :ozen carbneers
formed the sole police of FornP Popoli. Six ofthese
were in the theatre and had been gagged by the
brigands. The other six, surprised in their guard
house, had ventured vain resistance. The burgo-
master was the first victim.
Some time was of course requiredfor this operation,
which did not terminate before quarter to ~ O'CLOCK
II was probably to shorten the agony OF The Pl'
and boxes that two brgands went from spectator TO
SPECTATOR collecting hatls Of Watches purses,
rings, and even umbrellas. When the harvest was
gathered and the booty had been heaped upon the
Stage, the brigands allowed the curtain TO fall, and
quietly withdrew carrying all with them The mon-
ev thus obtained amounted to 1000 Roman Piasters,
or about 100000, and The boux, objects of arr, &C.,
TO double that sum.
The next day an Austrian detachment sci out in
pursuit of the band, which propaby had dispersed by
that time in the mountains, or passed the Tuscan |
frontier Their number is supposed to have been a.
bout 300 or 400. 1t is probable that they were in
leagne with some of the inhabitants. However this
may be. private houses and public treasures have all
been plundered, with The exception of the Monte de
Pele, the fastening Of which resisted all The attempts
made TO break it,"