The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-05-25
Great Times ut IRome..The Mob after the
Priests.

Ificstss
A letter from Rome, published in the
Univers, has the following account of some
extraordinary doings in the Papal City:
"Tho Church of St. Clement, since the
revolution of ls49, las been entrusted to
the safe keepin. of the Jesui,s, contra
ternty then for the first time introduced
into Valletri by sovereign fat, much TO the
dismay of the inhabitants, who were by
no means inclined to yield the education
of their children to the sole direction Of
the reverend fathers. The COOL wiseacres
of the town took it into their heads that
the Jesuits had been tempted by tho value
Of the silver and ornaments OF their ven
cradle images, and had themselves pur-
loned the treasure intrusted TO their care.
On Easter Monday popular fury and fam
aticism reached their climax, and the Je-
suits establishments was attacked by an
enraged mob, who maulcd the unfortunate
fathers SO severely that tthc lives of two or
| three of them arc at the present moment
despared Of The gonfaloniere was treat
cd in an equal unccremonions manner, be-
ing pitched bodily out Of the window OF
his own residence, which fortunately a low
one, saved him some broken bones. An
assault was made on the delegates palace,
and the principal entrance nearly burnt
down before the mob could be repelled;
but the digidtary himself was Fortunate
enough to escape the rough handling OF
the rioters.
In the meantime the real author of the
sacriligious theft, surprised at the train OF
tumult to which he had given rise by car
rying off the image, came to the resolution
OF confcssing, coram populo, his heinous
misticed, and the motives which prompted
him to it, He mounted the pulpit there
fore in the church, which was crowded
with people waiting for tho return of the
Madonna, and brandishing lis poinard, re-
vealed himself to the dismayed congrega-
tion as the notorious brgapd yolept Ven
delta, fit name for such malcfactor,
the author of homicidcs and robberies
without number, the terror of gcndarmes
and worthy rival of Jack Sheppard in
breaking ont of prison
This conscientious cut throat, however,
disclaimed any imputation Of impiety in
having laid violent hands on the Madonna
and assured his townspeople that he would
reveal the place of her concealment, where
two candles would be found burning before
her. But the coalition of this revelation
was to be free pardon from his own nu
, mcrous crimes, and those of his brother, 6
worthy of hardly inferior repute in the an
nails of brgandago, and likewise pension
of twelve scudi month. to enable him tC
leave of his malpractices, and live like
3 galanfuomo, engaging even to leave th'
, country altogether, if the government &C
cepted his terrrs and assured him of th'
, punctual payment Of the proposed pen
sion. The state Of the town was SO alarm
ing to the authorities, that Vendctta's pro
, prosition was actually telegraphed to Rom
! Orders were given for troop of hors
police and eighty Dragons to start for Val
:, lctri Monday evening" Immediately afie
! the girandola fire works on the Pincia
>. Hill. A couple Of companies of Swiss in
' fantry, with detachment of artillery, wer
. sent off mex, morning toward the scene {
y action, and the result was the restoratio
of the image, and the capture of the br
. gand, who was marched off to prison, a
! ter the Madonna had been PROFESSIONAL
: recouducted to her usual residence in tn
: Church of St. Clement, under the care
: the Jesuits.
{ Vendetta has been transferred to n pr
son in Rome, where he will probably mc'
g with no great indulgence, and fifty or si'
u ty of the most active rioters have been a
'' rested at Vallotri, which town will cont
. nue. to be occupied by the military unit
} judicial proceedings arc completed.