Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-26
Daring Robbery and Attempted Murder Of
Catholic Priest, in Baltimore

/ Yesterday morning, the Parsonage attach
Cd to the Church Of the Immaculate Conccp-
: ton, on Mosher street, near the corner OF
Ross was broken into and robbed. The bur-
! glars effected an entrance into the premises
! by breaking out pane of z Ass in the frame
at the side of the door nearest the lock, and
| putting the hand inside turned the key. which
! had been carclessly left in the key-holc. In
order that no noise might be made in break
ing the glass, they first smeared it over with
tar, and stuck piece OF newspaper over the
entire surface, thus prepared. After obtain
ing an entrance into the house they proceed
ed to ransack the parlors and rooms on the
first floor, but found nothing but heavy fur
nture which they could not carry off. They
then went up stairs and entered the sleeping
apartment of the Rev. Joseph Giustiniani,
pastor of the Church Of the immaculate Con-
ccption. They found the door of the room
unlocked and were therefore enabled To en-
ter the apartment without any obstruction.
As soon aS they were inside they discovered
that it was occupied and the worthy Father
being aroused by their entry, was in the act OF
sitting up in bed, when they made Il violent
assault upon him with billy or slung shot,
inhct;ng two very severe wounds on the lore
head and left temple The blows admins
tered were of such violent nature as 10
render the unfortunate man unconscious
The noise made by the assassins aroused
the Rev. Mr. Quigly, Mr.. Giustinianis
assistant, who was sleeping i'll an adj
joining room. He at once got up, struck a
light, and proceeded to the apartment from
l., II H. L., tl,,
the burglars had succeeded in snatching up
Il silver watch, Il pair of pantaloons, vest and
shawl, belonging to Mr.. GiuStinlanl, with
which they made OFF to another part Of the
house. On entering the room they had just
left, Mr.. Quigly noticed that the furniture
was not properly arranged and on looking
towards the bed found its occupant weller
ing in his blood-thc linen and bcd-clothing
being perfectly saturated with gore, and the
blood still flowing from the wounds on the
Reverend gentleman's brow. Mr.. Quigly
hastily left the apartment light i'll hand with
the intention of examining the promises. lie
descended to the first landing Of the steps
leading from the passage and heard some
one move at the bottom of the steps,
He Immediately inquired who was there,
and asked what they wanted, n voice an
swered, your money or your ID life. -
Thinking it best not to advance any further,
Mr. QuigIy retreated to his own room, where,
Selling rattle, he stood at one side Of the
window, which he hastily threw open, and
gave it few turns. AS soon us he had COM
menced to spring the rattle, one of the bur
glars fired pistol from the street, Mr.. Quigly
supposcs at the window, in hopes of shooting
him: but having only the arm that with
which he used the rattle) exposed he had no
fear, but continued to give the alarm. In
about three minutes after the pistol was fired
and while the alarm was being given, officer
Lipscomb promptly came up to the spot, fol-
lowed by officers Younger, Suter and Rich
ardson They were, however, too late to APP
prehend the burglars. who had in the mean
time escaped. Mr.. Giustniain is an Italian
ian by birth, and has been in this country
for some i or 20 years. He is about forty
five years of age and is universally loved and
esteemed by the Pensioners under his
charge During the entire day the house
was throngcd with sincere sympathizers i'll
his misfortune. DR.. Charles O'Donivan, VIII"
was called in soon after the occurrence, has
been uuremitting in his endeavors to allevi-
ate the pain and restore the sufferer to con
seriousness. Towards the close of the even
ing he had entirely recovered the seot his
faculties, and though much better, was not
out of all danger Bat. Er.