New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-07
4 STRANGE STORY FROM ITALY.

4 letter from Rome in TIE Paris UHireTs, contains
the following extraordinary tale;
"In the Cathedral Of Velletri, near Rome, va. an
image of the Virgin, nearly covered with god, sno
decked on. with necklaces, rings and Jewelry ara IL
was he'd in great generation by the people. 10 me
Holy Week il was, according TO custom, screened
from view by curtain, and On Holy Thursday some
person contrived to steal il. On Good Friday the
archpIes Of the Cathedral received note thus con-
ceived: g. the undersigned, know the thief and the
spot in which is deposited the image OF the Madonna,
and will make revelations on three conditions sim
purity for myself the release of my BROTHER who IS
{ TO be condemned - death, and a pension OF w
crowns month. VESDETTA. Toe archprlest,
having ascertained that the image really had been
distracted, mmunicated the strange ep'stle TO
the delegate MoDsignOr Giordsn. lns:eid OF seek
ing at once for the writer of the letter, this dgni
tsry applied TO Rome for orders and the Pope rearing
the total loss OF the image, and the effect that ~ou1
be produced among the people, directed that the rst
condition OF the bandit should be accepted, but That
the other two should be rejected. Vendetta, having
learned this resolution, spread among the people Of
Veetri the news of the robbery If TIE image, wh N
the clergy Ct the cathedral had kept secret, and he
wrote to the clergy that he would be conten. witn
IMMUNITY for himself and with 800 crowns pad
down. On Saturday the people went en- ma"e
to the church, and waited with anxiety for tae sr
rival Of that part Of the service in which the
cruc6xes and images uncovered but the vail
which had covered the image of the Madonna was
not removed. On Sunday the people again went TO
the church, but as the image was not dspayed they
them got on the altar and tore down the curtain. The
rumor was then spread by friends of Vendetts
that it was the Jesuts who had stolen the Madonna
and the excited people, believing the fasehood broke
into the convert occupied by the Jesuts, which Is
adjscent to the cathedral, and with cries OF La
Madonna nostrs completely sacked il, and ILL
treated the reverend aher Shortly ya after tes
the people who remained in the church to be calm,
but they would not listen to him There is no gar
ron except 10 or - veterans in the town 90 tnat
no opposition could be made TO the mob. When the
bishop descended from the pulpit scarcely credible
scere occurred the brigand Vendetta, armed with a
poenard, ascended it, and thus addressed the people;
BE patient TIE good fathers are innocent. l. II
who stole the Madonna. But will only restore IL
when the Government, to whom grant delay TILL
Monday evening, shall have consented to the com;
pact have proposed to it. BE calm, therefore and
shout no more. l you, in conclusion, that my
companions are armed as well as l. What followed
that narangue we have not yet learned but depu:
tation Of the Municipality and Chapter Of Velletri
have arrived here, and have had an interview with
the Pope. Orders have been issued to dispatch a
troop Of gendsrmes on horseback and company OF
Swiss infantry in Veetr 10 establish order"