The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-25
A FAMOUS BANDIT.
COrbeddn's Career in Sardinia Like
Dick Turpin's.
Rome Letter in London Post.

Rome Letter in London Post.
Not long ago 1 described the death of the
famous Sardinian brigand, Corbeddu, who
was killed in a fight with the carabineers
A complete history of his career is now
obtalnable. 1T is interesting for it's Dick
Turpin-like episodes. Corbeddu was no or
binary brigand. He did not go about shoot
ing poor fishermen or muleteers for the sake
of the few lire they might have in their
manner so distinguished as 10 make him
the king of the Sandman outlaws. He was
born in 1854 at Oliena, in Sardinia, of a
well-to-do family, and until called to do mill
itary service he lived an agricultural life
He took part in the capture of Rome in
1870 but while stationed with the Bersaglieri
Regiment, which then formed part of the
Rome garrison, his predatory Instincts
awakened Having heard that a certain
made false key and entered the priests
house. To the great surprise of the robbers,
the priest was at supper. They. seized,
bound and gagged him and stole 800 lire
from his bureau. The authors of the crime
were never discovered until Corbeddu, in
after years, boasted of his achievement.
After returning to Sardinia from his mill
tary service COrbeddu was repeatedly tried
for cattle stealing, until one day he failed
to answer TO a summons ana took TO the
hills. AT this point began his. celebrated
exploits. First, with an armed band. he
stole sum of money from a house at Lula
in 1882. The same year he and other out
laws killed and robbed a man at Sanvero
a cara hineer at F7onni In iSS5 he with some
companions, killed carabineer and nearly
killed an inspector and another Gardiner
at Orani and stole a sum Of 1900 lire. Next
year he robbed the post, and deprived Count
Spada, who was in the diligence, OF his
watch, rings, gun and big boots The big
boots Corbeddu afterward wore In honor of
his exploit. In 1894 he robbed and killed
q wealthy man at Borore. Many other
crimes were put down to him or were COM
mitted by him or brigan6s under his orders.
Rewards amounting in all to 2Z,OOO lire were
offered for his capture, but in Fain
His most famous exploit was not the cap
ture bur the liberation of two Frenchmen,
NM Pralle and Patty, who had been seized
and held to blackmail by other brigands.
Their capture gave rise TO a violent cam
paign in the whole French and Italian press
against the condition of the Sandman police,
and Signor Crispi. who was then premier,
ordered the authorities in the island to hber-
ate the two Frenchmen at all costs. All
the carabineers were modified, and the
telegraph officers worked night and day,
though without discovering the prisoners. At
last sub-prefect named Marongin appealed
to Corbeddu by means of one of his friends.
The sub-prefect and the brigand had an in
terview in which the official promised Cor
beddu anything he might wish on condition
that he would get the Italian administration
out of a bad scrape. Corbeddu at once ac-
cepted the task of liberating the Frenchmen,
and within twenty-four hours they were de-
livered safely into the hands of the authori-
ties. Corbeddu's professional pride was so