The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-11-05
A BANDIT OF MANY PRAYERS.
He Never Killed without Worship, and
He Had Childlike Faith.

O1OVannl IOlu q bandit, VINO Tor ~
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 il be published for this
purpose:
"To warn the urfortunates Of my
class and to teach the officials how to
proceed if they would better the condi-
ton Of thu poor and unlucky."
According to his autobiography Tolu
was the most pious man that ever cut a
throat or stole a purse. He began his
career of crime by trying to kill priest
who prevented his marriage with the
girl of his heart. Nevertheless, in his
subsequent life, he had a worshipful re-
gard for the cloth. He confessed, he at
tended mass, he even prayed in the
presence of his dead victims.
Before l took the life of traitor or
a rich oppressor of the poor" he ex-
plains in his book. 81 always besought
the Virgin and the saints to advise and
comfort me On the day when l resolved
to kill Salvatore Moro sought the aid
of heaven. On my way to him l called
without ceasing on the mother of God
to enlighten me and advise me whether
my comrade really deserved to die. l
also commended my soul to Gods care
in case | should go under in the COM
bat When | had shot Moro dead, l
loaded my gun again, laid the stock ON
his body and then offered up in fervid
humility an Ave Maria and requiem
for the departed soul
II killed the bodies, but not the souls
of my enemies, and | observed always
the religious exercises which the cir
cumstances required. "
The bandits favorite books were
"Meditations on the Life of the Holy
Virgin" and the Bible. ALTHOUGH
bandit, he declares, Il never neglect
ed any religious duties. Every day l
said my morning and evening prayers.
| prayed for the dead, went to church
and confessed many times every year.
The abbot of Florinas was wont to lead
me into church by the secret passage
from his house Outside the police were
watching for me; inside | fulfilled my
duties to God. | was alone with the
priest.
Tolu had some queer ideas about
priests proper discharge OF his
churchly duties The priest who prayed
more than three times at mass, he re-
lates, invariably bewitched somebody.
"Once i'll Florinas," goes his story, II
had bad attack of rheumatism, and |
ocpvyinaol thnf I ho1 lao1, hoxrri t1b
ed by priest. | sought help from the
Florinas priest, who was an excellent
man. He put on his vestments, and with
holy water and cross began to exercise
the evil spirits. The pain ceased almost
at once, and | had few weeks of peace.
Later l went to the curate of Ossi, who
was supposed to be still more skilled in
exorcism. He told me to kneel, and he
sprinkled me with holy water. Then
No prayed long time. went to him
three times. The third time the pain
was worse than ever, and then he con-
Iessed to me that he had been bewitch-
ed by another priest, who was mightier
than he. Finally l obtained relief from
the abbot of Ossi, who for 40 days made
me partake of blessed oil and blessed
bread. "
Perhaps this childlike faith was what
made the Sandman peasants regard To-
lu with love and veneration. He was
always helped and fed by them when he
was hard pressed by soldiers or police.
To him hundreds of them gladly paid
small annual sum as insurance against
thieves, cutthroats and robbers. They
had implicit confidence in his ability to
protect them. At the same time they
often refused to pay taxes and were I'M
willing to ask the police or military to
arrest those who plundered them.
In his 30 years of bandit life Tolu,
despite his religious scruples, killed be-
tween so and 80 men, robbed hundreds |
and burned to the ground the buildings
on nine great estates. He was ever at !
war with the authorities of the land,
and in the last ten years of his career
devoted himself exclusively to robbing
and killing persons holding office or
standing in the service of the police or
military.