Morning journal and courier., 1891-01-13
A ROumanIan RrInand.

The days ot romantic brlgandaSe ln Eu- rope have long since ceased to exist, and it seems as though the race of the Rinaldo had disappeared forever, says a Bucharest letter to the Galignani Messenger. Of course brigandage in the strictest sense of the word is still in our midst as vigorous as ever, though in a more modern guise. In other words, brigandage has been met amorphosed and adapted itself to existing social forms and customs.
 At one moment we find the modern bri- gand at home in the drawing rooms of the great in the form of a smart financier, at another he appears before us in the gown of a lawyer, and at another we find him personifed as blackmailing journalist. The brigand railway king and the brigand jobber on change are by no means phe nomenal, and it would be no easy, and withal thankless, task to enumerate the multitudinous disguises adopted by the fraternity of to-day. Modern brigandage is, so to say, tanned and refined. Such be- ing the case, it is rather a treat than oth- erwise, in these latter days, to come upon a desperado, who, through thick and thin, has remained loyal to the traditions of the heroes of romance.
 A brigand of this particular type Rou- mania can boast at the present time domi- ciled in the province of Dobrudtcha, where he has long held the population in fear and trembling. This dauntless hero answers to the high-sounding name of Stanislaus Leczinski. The narrative of his life and adventures is so replete with in terest that brief recital of the stirring :- ,ob hic fop,a ic associated will, I doubt not, meet with general ap- preciation in these days of humdrum con ventionalism.
 LecZinski first became famous in 1886, since which date he is accredited with hay ing perpetrated countless daring robber- ies, not unfrequently accompanied with bloodshed. Leczinski, in all his adven- lures, has been seen armed with two breechloaders, whilst three revolvers are stuck in his belt. In age he is about thir- weight. He is below the middle height, and is described as having deeply-sunk, large, gray eyes and brown hair.
 He appears alone on the highroad on the approach of his prey, and has often at tackled whole caravans of travellers, dis playing superb indifference on discovering that they were armed. In sonorous voice, heard above the cries of his terri fled victims he commands the travellers to stop, introduced himself by name, where upon he demands the delivery of their money and valuables. LecZinsh has nev- CT been known to make use of his arms, excepting to revenge himself on an enemy or in self defense. He is first-rate shot | and has killed seventy people in combat. He frequently visits the towns of Tulcea and Macin, although he is aware that the police and military are on the lookout for him On such occasions he will enter the
 taverns, and in the presence of room | full of guests, demand a sum of money | from the innkeeper. His presence seems | to paralyze all present, and no one even | attempts to remonstrate, much less to stir | finger to arrest his escape. On leaving | he is in the habit of firing off his revol- | yer in the air, "just for the fun of the thing" as he is wont to observe. The DO | lice and military of the entire district seem as frightened of him as the ordinary | inhabitants, and repeatedly when on the point of effecting his capture their fire | arms have missed aim.
 When pursued by soldiers on one oeca- sion the daring brigand, convinced ot the | superstitious awe he inspired, called on l them to fire. The soldiers stood as though | petrified, and Leczinski escaped to the l thickets He once presented himself be- | fore tradesman at Tulcea, and upon . | sum inadequate to his demand being given to him, he threatened to repeat his visit III | A months time on the corresponding day
 and at the same hour. He kept his word
 but on approaching the house he found
 that the police, who were in ambush, had
 made the premises too hot for him, and SC
 retreated Two years later he waylaid thu
 same tradesman in his vineyard and sho