The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-07
A BANDIT OF MANY PRAYERS.
Never Killed without Worship, and
Had ChiIdIike Faith in the Church.

New York Sun.
Giovanni Tolu, bandit. who for thirty
years was the terror Of Sardinia, died Ia a
few months ago, after having related the
story of his life to a lawyer, with the re-
quest that it be published for this purpose:
ITO warn the unfortunates of my class
and to teach the officials how to proceed,
If they would better the condition OF the
poor and unlucky."
was the most pious man that ever cut a
throat or stole a purse. He began his ca
reer of crime by trying to Kill priest WHO WHO
prevented his marriage with the girl or ms
heart. Nevertheless in his subsequent IRE,
he had a worshipful regard for the cloth.
He confessed he attended mass; ne even
prayed in the presence of his dead VIC
tins.
before took the life of a traitor or a
rich oppressor of the poor" he explains IN
and the saints to advise and comfort me.
On the day when / resolved to Kill Saliva
tore Moro l 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 de-
to Gods care. in case ! should go under in
the combat. When / had shot Moro dead
loaded my gun again laid the stock on
his body, and then offered up in fervid hu-
mility an Ave Maria and a requiem for
the departed soul.
81 killed the bodies but not the souls, of
my enemies, and l observed always the re-
ligious exercises which the circumstances
The bandits favorite books were "Medi-
tations on the Life of the Holy Virgin
and the Bible. Although a bandit" he
declares. II never neglected any religious
duties. Every day ! said my morning and
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 l fulfilled
my duties to Cod 1 was alone with the
priest"
Tolu had some queer ideas about a
priests proper discharge of his churchly
duties. The priest who prayed more than
bewitched somebody. Once in Florinas,
goes his story, Il had a bad attack of
rheumatism, and I was convinced that l
had been bewitched by priest. | sought
help from the Florinas priest. who was an
excellent man. He put on his ysstments
and, with holy water and cross began to
exercise the evil spirits. The pain ceased
almost at once, and | had q few weeks. of
peace. Later | 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 he
prayed long time. l went to him three
times. The third time the pain was worse
than ever, and then he confessed to me
that he had been bewitched by another
priest. who was mightier than he. Final
ly, obtained relief from the abbot Of Ossi.
who for forty. days made me. partake Of
blessed oil and blessed bread
Perhaps this chidlike faith was what
made the Sandman peasants regard Tolu
with love and veneration. He was always
helped and fed by them when he was hard
pressed by soldiers or police. To him hum
dreds of them gladly paid small annual
sum as insurance against thieves. cut
throats and robbers. They had implicit
confidence in his ability to protect them
At the same time they often refused to
pay taxes, and were unwilling TO ask the
police or military to arrest those who plum
dered them.
In his thirty years of bandit life Tou,
despite his religious scruples. killed be-
tween fifty and sixty men, robbed hun
dreds. and burned to the ground the build
ings on nine great estates. He was ever
at war with the authorities of the land
and in the last ten years of his career de-
voted himself exclusively to robbing and
killing persons holding office or standing
in the service of the police or military.