The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-20
AN OLD BANDIT COMES IN.
Belac ascia OF Corsica Forty-four
Years an Outlaw.
From the London Times

Years an Outlaw.
From the London Times.
A very curious chapter In Corsican his
tory has just been closed by the surrender
of the notorious Corsican bandit, Bellseas-
cis, who has been out ''in the bush" for
forty-four years, and has baffied all the eff
forts of the gendarmerie to capture him
He was born at Boeagnano, small village
in the center of Corsica, his father being
shepherd, and 10 1S4S be killed the assistant
mayor Of the village in quarrel and took
TO the bush. His presence was betrayed Co
the gendarpnerie soon afterward, but Bella>
cascia, having got wind OF this, lay In walt
for his batrayer and killed him.
He was then joined in the bush by his
brother Jacques, VINO had been preparing
for the priesthood, and the two brothers led
a very wild existence in the mountains or
Corsica, killing several gendarmes who at
tempted to capture them. They do not
appear, however, to have lost the esteem OF
their compatriots, for NJ. E manuel Arene,
one of the deputies OF Corsica III the French
chamber, relates how, about fifteen years
ago, he and the late Edmond About were
received by the two brothers at breakfast,
and how they were introduced to the differ
ent relatives of the brigands, all mayors OF
their respective communes. Nj. Arene re-
Iates, too, how the late Baron Haussmann
casion when the gendarmes appeared i'll the
distance and the two brothers made on,
leaving their guest to explain his presence
there as best he could.
There was some talk OF granting the two
brothers an amnesty when NJ. Carnot paid
his visit to Corsica two years ago, and the
daughte of the younger brother was pre-
sented to him. Nothing was done, however,
and the two brothers might in all prooa-
bility have remained at liberty tor the rest
of their lives. But Antoine, the elder Of tn Q
two, has at last been persuaded by his
friends to give himself up to The authorities,
and his mode Of doing so was not less
dramatic than the whole OF his life has
been. Another OF his brothers, who was for
several years himself an officer in the gen
darmerie, induced him TO take this step, and
the two met at daYbreak in the forest OF
Vizzavona, which is about half way between
Ajacoio and Bastia. They then went to 8
place where Capt. Ordioni, commanding the
gendarmerie OF the district, was waiting for
them, and Antoine Bellacascia laid down
his arms in token of submission. They went
by train, on the line newly opened, to
Bastia, and Antoine Bellacascia was de-
lighted at this mode OF locomotion, which
was quite novel to him.
Upon reaching Bastia, where he is to be
tried at the next assizes, he went to the
principal hotel, writing his name and pro-
fession in the visitors book as Antoine
Bonelli, commonly called Bellac ascia; pro-
fession, bandit; born at Bocag ano; res
idence, uncertain" He is not under the
least restraint or even surveillance. as Capt.
Ordioni, who is now responsible for his ap-
pearance at the assizes, knows that when a
Bellacascia gives his word he never goes
back from it." Antoine Bsllacascia has
several times been sentenced to death in
contumdciGnl, but as all the murders for
which he was condemnei took place more
than thirty years ago they are covered by
prescription, aud the only offense for which
he can be tried is an attack he is accused Of
having made on gendarme in 1880. The
expectation is that be will be acquitted and
that he will spend the rest OF his days IN
molested among his friends.