The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10

He Never Killed without worship. and He
Had ChIIdIILr Fnith In the Church.

49, @-~ AS
Had ChIidliL- Faith In tho Church.
Giovanni Tolu. a bandit. who for thirty years
was the terror OF Sardinia. died a few months
ago. after having related the story OF his life to
a lawyer, with the request that it be published
for this purpose:
Tt warn the unfortunates OF my class and to
teach the officials how TO proceed. If they would
bctterthe condition of the poor and unlucky."
According to his autobiography Tolu was the
most pious man that ever cut a throat or stole n
purse. He began his career OF crime by trying
to kill a priest who prevented his marriage with
the girl OF his heart Nevertheless, in his sub
sequcnt life. he had a worshipful regard for tho
cloth. He confessed, he attended mass, he even
prayed in the presence of his dead victims.
before l took the life of a traitor or a rich
opprcssor of the poor" he explains in his book,
81 always besought the Virgin and the saints to
advise and comfort mo. On the day when I re-
solved to kill Salvatore Moro ! sought the aid
OF Heaven. On my way to him l called without
ccasing on the mother of God to enlighten me
and advise me whether my comrade really de-
served to die. / also commended my soul 10
Gods care. In case l should go under In tho
combat. When l had shot Moro dead l loaded
my gun again, laid tho stock on his body. and
then. offered up in fervid humility an Ave
Maria and a requiem for the departed soul.
IL killed the bodies but not The souls OF my
enemies. and | observed always the religious ex.
erCises which the circumstances required"
The bandits f~avorite books were Media.
tions on the Life of the Holy Virgin" and the
Bible. Although a bandit hc declares. II
never neglected any religious duties. Every
day | said my morning and evening prayers. I
prayed for the dead, went 10 church. and con-
frEscd many times every year. The abbot OF
Florinus was wont to lead me into church by
the secret passage from his house. Outside tho
pole" were Watching for me; inside | fulfilled
my duties TO God. was alone with the priest. -
Tolu had sou'e queer IDEAS about a priests
proper discharge of his chnrchly duties. The
priest who prayed more than three times at
body. "Once in Floriuas." goes his story, II
had a bad attack OF rhcumatism, and I was con.
i sought help from the florinas priest. who was
an excellent man. He pat on his vestments. and
with holy water and cross began to exercise the
evil spirits. The pain ceased almost at once.
and | had II few weeks OF peace. Later ! went
10 the ]curpte q ,ossi, who was supposed to be
knee. and he sprinkled mo with holy water.
| Then he prayed a long time. ! went 10 him three
times. The third time the pain was worse uhaa.
been bewilchcd, by another priest. who was
mlghticr than he. Finally J obtained relief
from The abbot b Of % 0.1i III T md 'S SIn forty days made
Perhaps this chill like faith WAS what made
the Sandman peasants regard Toiu with love
and veneration, He was always helped and fed
by them when he was hard pressed by soldiers OF
police. To him hundreds OF them gladly paid a
small annual sum ~ Insurance against thieves,
hdence in his ability to protect them. At the
same time they often refused 10 pay taxes. and
were unwilling to ask me p9 3Ls1 or military TIC
In his thirty years OF bandit ilie Iolus despite
his religious scruples, killed between hfty and
sixty men, robbed hundreds, and burned TO the
ground the buildings on nine great estates. He
Was ever ut war with the authorities OF the
land and In the last ton years Of his Gare eIi,G de-
persons holding Office or standing in the service
OF the police or military.