The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-24


worked dioceses are unable to 6erl at
all adequately with them Their parish
priest is often a stranger to them. al
though they are by no means parted
from their religion.
This state of things afforded a very
favorable opportunity TO the agents OF
the swindlers in the United States. Il
is surprisingly easy 20 get the hard
earned money of the toiling population
away from them. and the precise extent
of the harvest reapcd may never be
ascertained-
The victims have been enjoined to
secrecy for the ostensible purpose OF
not compromising the cause Again.
all VINO have discovered the way in
which they were deluded are loath 10
speak about it, and all these considera-
tons are favorable TO the operations of
the swindlerS.
Such agents as have come here have
not remained very long. They have
made periodical trips at intervals when
ever the United States seemed 10 afford
an available field But in every great
seaport and in the large coast cities the
credulous foreigner has fallen an easy
victim to the wiles of the advocate OF
the imprisoned Leo.
In carrying out the scheme Of impo-
sition the impositors have been materi-
ally aided by the consumnate art Of
Vittoria Bianchetti This woman is
now about thirty years old, described
as tall. dark and slender and endowed
with singular powers Of persuasion.
She represents in glowing terms the
glorious mission of herself and her CO.
workers and sets forth the spiritual
treasures which the church will bestow
upon all who undertake 20 aid the cap
tive pontiff. Her language imparts
new significance to the melancholy in
terest attaching to the prisoner of the
vatican. She travels in luxurious style,
dresses superbly and appears to be
quite well supplied with ready funds
1t is estimated that she has collected
tens of thousands of dollars in the past
two years as a result solely of the Sc
ductive sorcery of her smile. She is
stated positively to be in this country
That our Italian population has beer
swindled by this woman many Catholic
clergynen know but too well.
A very delicate point of law arises in
connection with the swindle. The mem
bers of the syndicate assert positively
that they are truthfully representing
the facts-that the genuine Leo is in
reality prisoner and that fake Leo
sits upon the papal throne. To refute
this charge, the pope himself, as well
as his immediate encourage, would be
obliged TO testify in an Italian court
Even the prisoners now under arrest
for participation in the frauds allege
that they are acting in perfect good
faith. Now, of course, the papal court
refuses all recognition of the Italian
government and will not under any
circumstances recognize an Italian
court. This fact presents difficulty
How are the authorities to deal with
the swindlers? They will not assume
the responsibility of proclaiming the
swindlers falsifiers, as they maintain
that after all the vatican is the in ured
party and should testify for the prose-
cution.
What Leo himself thinks of the pre-
posterous business no one knows
Some of the cardinals are incensed,
others amused. It is said that the
swindlers have in their service form
er employee Of the vatican gardens,
fact which accounts for the truly sur
prising wealth of detail with which the
frauds maintain their story. They
even possess diagrams of the vatican
dungeons and gardens, and elaborate
ly outline the cell in which the real Leo
lies a prisoner.
The success of the swindlers has en-
boldened them to extend their opera
tions In all directions. and the vatican