The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-13
LAZZARETTI.
Strange Story Of q Relig-
ious Visionary.
THE NEW ARK OF FAITH
Trial OF the Disciples OF a Self
Styled Messiah.

In the year 1878 David Lazzaretti. fanatic who.
known to the peasants OF Tuscany as Saint David.
styled himself q worker Of miracles. . new Mes
sah sent by the Lord to redeem mankind. was
killed by bullet entering his brain while at
tempting to subvert public order at the head OF .
band composed Of the most illiterate Tuscan peas
ants OF the Maremme. His followers. tweuty-one IN
number are now being tried for reasonable at
tempt against the lawful government and to sack
the city Arcdosso. for rebellion against the repre-
sentves of the law and murdcrous assaults against
these officials. The trial il carried on before the
jury at Sienna in the Council hall. in which for
merly. inscription says, 1.-The destinies OF the
Republic of Sienna for many years discussed
The Witnesses to be examined are no less than TO-
The defence is intrusted to several OF the most
prominent counsellors Of the Tuscan Bar. among
whom should mention the famous criminal law
yers Cavaiere Lasca and Professor Trocito The
prosecution is sustained by Cavaliere Camille
Paglcci the substitute Attorney General one OF the
most eloquent jursts in the service Of the govern
ment. The presiding Judge is the famous juris
consult NICOLA Cenni, who by simple merit has
himself the highest honors OF the State.
From the Developments in the case the following
facts which read like a romance, have been brought
to light
THE DEVELOPMENT FANATIC.
David Lazzaretti born in Arcidosso in 1884.
After receiving such An elementary education
afforded by the i'll ordered schools at that time,
characteristic Of the Tuscan villages. he embraced
the calling of driver. for the transportation Of
timber and COAL or athletic build. and rudely
handsome naturally gifted with great powers Of
speech. he quickly acquired a marked Importance
among the men of his class. He fought as . volun-
in the battles which in 1890 secured the inde-
If hia try AFT ryvh ich ha
trade. In August. 1868. he began to speak to his
friends OF mysterious dreams, visions and projects.
Some of these, he claimed he had been commanded
by the Holy Virgin to reveal only to the Pope. He be-
took himself to Rome and with such eaDnestness
prosecuted his mission that he obtained audience
with Cardinal Panebianco. and finally even with
Pope Plus TX. He pleaded eloQuently before the
Pontif concerning celestial vision in which
he had been ordered to retire to . monastery.
that his desire to do readily granted In this
monastery he wrote revelation Of new dreams.
visions and prophecies but monastic life seemingly
proved anything but enchanting and in year he
returned to his native town. There he styled him
self anchorte held political and religious meet
ings. declared himself inspired by the Almighty. and
affected the countenance and mien OF seer. The
rude multitude was easily deluded by MIN. and be-
tore long he acquired such influence over them
that they performed tor him every manner Of labor
and kept him we'll supplied with all imaginable COM
forts in order to afford him for writing and
lecturing By promising rewards in voice of
thunder. and threatening the drest punishmens for
the unwilling. he managed to extort from the peas
ants OF the neighboring villages sufficient money
erect on Mount Amiata church which he christened
1.-THE New Ark or Faith" He next devoted his exer-
tions toward founding an association which he
called "The Holy League of the Symbol OF Charity.
and afterward retired to the Island of Monte Cristo
the of Dumas celebrated fiction, continuing
usual to publish prophecies.
FURTHER DREAMS AND VISIONS
talx fpp1v fnnp To ha t1rao
OF Lazzaretti's powers of redeeming. He betook
himself to Grenoble in France. where he SO well
that they offered him their unbounded hospitality
and firmly believed him to be saint. Besides other
works. he here wrote his notorious work. Celestial
Flowers. in which he prophesied that "the great
man will descend from the mountains followed by
He returned to Italy. whence. having had some
trouble with the government. he repaired to Bel
GUM. followed this time by female school teacher
OF rare beauty. and by priest. one Philip I'M
periuzzi, now the most prominent among the cul-
prits under trial. While in Belgium. probably under
the influence of the generous wine of Burgundy. he
wrote book which he properly styled mysterious
and entitled my Struggle with God; or. The Book
the Esfna he so wrote s
programme addressed to all the princes
self hs STsa n NE thsss
soveregns to ally themselves with him, he would
unexpectedly manifest himself to the world ''in
manner utterly opposed to human PRIDE" The
priest Imperiuzzi fulfilled the Office of amanuensis
to Lazzarett, correcting the bunders of the
scrption. Strange to say these writings
printed not only in Italian but also in French aud
the expense of the ultra-Cathoic parties of the
various States. The Holy See naI, mean while, de-
their doctrines false and subversive OF law and
order, and accordingly excommunicated both.
Lazzaretti revenged himself by IN exhortation adj
dressed to the Brotherhood of the Hermits
founded by himself which, under the title OF Papa
Idolatry." stigmatized in the bitterest terms tho
doings at the Papal Court. Laxzaretti and his fol-
lowers returned to Arcidosso. where. preaching
his "holy REFORM" he succeeded in organizing y
now knew him as ..the man of mystery" destined
to accomplish great mission rs the reformer
of the new Republic" He advised tho nelievsrs
to relinqush their earthly goods and by these
he secured for himself an enormous sum of money.
which he safely invested in France and in Rome
The worst that be said of him is that he
more knave than were hts prosclytes fools. He
should his principles triumph he would provide for
an equal division of property and in the meantime
lshed practically rendering their collection i'm posi-
Bile in the whole district. He likewise announced
npanareS ms crowning miracle he nSd asgs
Oh extravaeant shape wore made for his adepts.
PREPARING TO CONQUER.
In August, 1875 the day fast approaching which
the selfstyled prophet had appointed for his miracle
he gathered around him an immense crowd of
tanners lie ordered fasting and prayers after his
own peculiar ordinance. and hoisted a red flag In
scribed with the legend, MY Republic Is the King
dom OF God" on the belfry of this church on Mount
Amiata Then at the foot of a cross the false
prophet obtained from each one OF his followers .
solemn oath OF fidelity and obedience. On this oc-
casion he delivered his last address, in which he
asserted that tho moment OF the miracle was at
land. ana that on the following morning no
would. at the head Of ms adherents clothed in their
religious garments. make his triumphal descent
from the mountain. then TO proceed to Rome and to
France. where he would carry out his great reform
The governmental authority had thus far refrained
from Interfering with the vaporings this fanatic.
But the police now began to fcol alarmed and yznly
rtrove. through the mediation of his brother to dis
suadc Lazzaretti from his mad and ruinous enter
prise. lie reminded his followers Of their oath and
those people who warned him of a possible con.
hict with tue State authorities he replied that he
would show them miracle that. being Gods mes
scngcrelcct he invulnerable that every earthly
power would yield to q sign OF his baton "even
the walls OF tho Phltstncs crumbled at the sound
OF Josllua's trumpet" On the morning of August
Is the Wild throng. guided by the "Holy David. de-
seconded the mountain. Their leader was clothed
with royal purple embroidered with gold, his head
crowned with blazing tiara surmounted by =