Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-05-22
S3t(i5ttIlaneous,
A Strange Story From Italy.


\ letter from Rome, in Tile PGriS UniterS
contains the following extraordinary tale:
an tho Cathedral Of Nellctri, near Rome,
was an image, Of the Virgin, nearly covered
with gold, and deck cd out with necklaces,
rings and iewelry and it was held in great
vernation by the people. In the Holy Week
it was according TO custom, screened from
view by curtain and on Holy Thurs day
some person contrived to steal it. On Good
Friday the archpriest of the Cathedral re-
ceiyed note thus conceived: II the under
signed, know the thief and the spot in which
is deposited the image Of the Madonna, and
will make revelations on three conditions
impunity for myself, the release of my brother
who is to be condemned to death and a pen
sion Of 10 crowns q month. VENDETTA y
The archpriest, having ascertnined that the
image really had been taken distracted, COM
mup!cated the strange epistle to the delegate,
Monsignor Giordani Instead s.of seeking at
once for the writer of the letter this dig
nitary applied to Rome for orders and the
Pope, fearing the total loss of the image,
and the effect that would he produced amoung
the people, directed that the first condition
OF the bandit should be accepted, but that
!he other two should be rejected. Vendetta
having leared this resolution spread among
the people Of Nclletri the news Of the robbery
Of the image W hich the clergy of the cathedral
had kept secret, and he wrote TO the clergy
that he would be content with impunity for
himself and with 300 CROWDS paid down. On
Saturday the people went On mGSSc to the
church and waited with anxiety for the arri-
val Of that part of the service in which the
crucIiyes aud images are uncovered but the
veil which had covered the image Of the Ma
donna was not removed. On Sunday the
people again went TO the church, but as the
image was not displayed they became excited
and murmured and al length some Of them got
on the altar and tore down the curtain. The
rumor was then spread by friends of Ncndet-
/ ia that it was the JesuitS who had stolen the
/ Madonna, and the excited people, believing
/ the falsehood, broke into the convent occupi.
ed by the Jesuits which is adjacent to the ca.
! tLedral, and with cries of" La Madonna no.
! stra completely sacked it, and illtreated the
! reverend fathers. Shortly after the suilragan
! bishop ascended the pulpit and eXhorted the
people WHO remained in the church to be calm
! but they would not listen to him. There is
/ no garrison except 10 or II veterans in the
/ town, so that 10 opposition could be made &c
/ the mob When the bishop descended from
/ the pulpit q scarcely credible scene occurred
/ the brigand Vendetta, armed with poignard
assembled it, aud thus addressed the people
7 lie patient The good fathers are innocent
/ 1t IS / who stole tho Madonna. But | viii
only restore il when the Government, to whom
grant a delay till Monday evening, shal
/ have consented TO the compact | have pro
posed to it.. Be calm, therefore, and shout
no more. ] warn you in conclusion, that my
companions are armed as well as |. What
followed that harangue we have not yet learn
ed ; but deputaton ofthe Municipality and
Chapter of Nellctri have arrived here, ant
have had al interview wththe Pope. Orders
have been issued to dispatch q troop of gen
darmes on horseback and a company of Swiss
iulantriny Nelletr to establish order"