Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
BANDITS LIFE, BY HIMSELF.
Extraordinary Career of Giovanni
TOiu, Itnly's Notorious
Outlaw.

One of the NEST sensational hooks that
has ever been published recently appeared
AZ Fossari. in Sardinia. 1t is nothing less
than the autobiography of "A bandit, the
aitle being. Life History of Giovanni Toiu,
Related by Himself II is published by
a lawyer named T.. Costa III compliance
with the bandits request. As Costa WAS
summing himself in his garden some time
ago old Tolu, who had for years been one
OF the most notorious briGands in Italy, APP
peared before him and begged him to give
his story to the world.
Il want" said the A-year-old bandit. TO
give in his way Il warning 10 my col
leagues. a lesson TO Eighty young men,
ana a word of advice rs To the manner
in which the government should treat tie
poor people,
With these words he handed over his
manuscript and went to his home. where
he died It few weeks later.
Strange is the story which he tells. lie
began his iniquitouS career by a murder
Gus assault ON Il priest. who had used his
int!uenCe TO prevent Il respectable young
girl from marrying him. After that cA-
plot; he fled TO the woods, and there he
lived for thirty long years. No ordinary
bandit was he. Lust of gold was not his
bosetting sin. He attacked only those
whom he believed to he his enemies. Thus
he was ever ready to deal Il blow against
police officers ana spies, but on the other
hand he WAS "A stout champion of the
poor and needy. The latter. indeed. looked
upon him as their leader. and willingly
contributed to his support.
Strang TO say. this red0ubtahle outlaw,
who feared no man, was the ahjcrt slave
al many childish SupCrStitiOnS. For cN-
ample, lac was convinced that II priest who
said NOR" than three prayers during the
mass WIS bent on some evil decd and
would surely hCWitch some members of his
congregation. Being once ATTACKED with
severe illness in floriuos. ms native place.
he felt certain that a hostile priest. aided
betook myself he says In his book. to
a worthy priest and he took his bIcviaTy
and began to exercise me. Th'rcIp"u IN"
pain loft me. and | had rest for several
weeks. Later | went to the cuTate of
rrsi. Who was said 10 he especially ShilloI
al exercising. lie lhdc me knsci. and then
b. sprInkled m" with water and prayed i
long time. Three times / went to him. hut
when | told him on the third time that the
pain was Wnrs" than ever he frankly con
tossed that he. too. MAS bewitch"d, hay
ing been hound by another priest, who
WIS much stronger Than he
Iolu never ventur"d 3" rake any ones
III" until he had first appealed for advic"
To the Madonna aud the whole army OF
SAINTS. one day he decided TO murder u
certain salvatore Moro. As l went to his
house he tells us. II begged tn" Mother
Of God to "nlightou N" and to show IN.
whether this man really deserved death.
! also commended my soul to tod in oa-e
! should be SURPRISED and killed 10y my
enemy. After l had slain Moro. I loaded
my gun atrcsl. after which ! said q Hill
Mary and prayed for tn" Geuartci soul.
In this WAY | learned that I had killed the
body. aud not ~" soul OF my enemy.
This extraordinary bandit spent his lci-
sure time in reading devotional books. his
f%%yOrito being Mgr. Biodati's version of
the Bible. Although ! WIS an outlaw"
he tells US. Il never neglected my refi-
gjoHS duties. Morning ami evening ! sand
my prayers without fail: aye! ] prayed too
and I confessed several times each year.
Through the kindness Of the abbot Of