Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-11-06
A BANDIT OF MANY PRAYERS.
Ho Never Killed without Worship, and
He Had Chlldliltc Faith.


Giovanni Tolu, u bandit, who for 80
years was tho terror of Sardinia, died %
few months ago, after having related tho
story of his life to u lawyer, with tho
request that i be published for this
purposes:
'sTo warn tho unfortunates OF my
class and to teach the officials how to
proceed if they would better the condi-
ton of the poor and unluclly. "
According to his autobiography Tolu
was tho most pious man that ever cut
throat or stoloa purse He began his
career of crime by trying to kill priest
who prevented his marriage with tho
girl of his heart Nevertheless, in his
subsequent life, he had n worshipful re-
gard for tho cloth He confessed, he at
tended mass, he even prayed in tho
presence of his dead victims.
Before l took the life of traitor or
rich oppressor of tho poor" he ex-
plains in his book, II always besought
tho Virgin and tho saints to advise and
comfort me. On tho day when l resolved
to kill Salvatore Moro I sought tho aid
of heaven. On my way to him called
without ccasing on the mother of God
to enliShten me and advise mo whether
my comrado really deserved to die. l
also commended my soul to Gods care
in case | should 20 under in tho COM
bat. When had shot Moro dead,
loaded my gun again, laid tho stock on
his body and then offered up in fcrvld
humility an Avo Maria and requiem
for tho departed soul
~ killed tho bodies, but not the souls
of my enemies and observed always
the religious exercises which tho cir
cumstances required. F"
Tho bandits favorite books were
calculations on tho Life of the Holy
Virgin" and the Bible. Although a
bandit, +" he declares, II 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 tho secret passage
from his house Outside tho police were
watching for me; inside i fulfilled my
duties to God. was alone with tho
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.
"Onco in Florinas, goes his story, Il
had bad attack of rheumatism and l
was convinced that had been bewitch-
cd by priest sought help from the
Florinas priest, who was n 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 IL few weeks of peace.
Later went to the curate of Ossi who
was supposed to be still more skilled i'll
exorcism. He told mo to kneel, and he
sprinlxlcd mo with holy water. Then
he prayed long time. went to him
three times. The third timo the pain
was worse than ever, and then he con-
fcssed to Inc that he had been bewitch-
cd by another priest, who was lnightier
than ho Finally obtained relief from
the abbot of Ossi, who for 40 days made
me partallc 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 un-
willing to ask the police or military to
arrest those who plundered them.
In his 80 years OF bandit life Tolu,
despite his religious scruples killed be-
tween so and 20 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 tho service OF the police or
military. $1,000. .-..;---....