The times., 1898-11-06
coRBEDpU, THE BANDIT.
The Famous sardinian n Match for
Dick Turpin.
Frm the London Post.)

Frcm the London Pcst.1
Not long ago l described the death OF
the famous Sandman brigand, Corbeddu,
who was killed in a fight with the cara
bineers. A complete history of his career
is now obtainabIe- 1t is interesting for
its Dick Turpin-like episodes. Corbeddu
was no ordinary brigand- He did not go
about shooting poor fisherman or mule
teers for the sake of the few lire they
might have In their pockets, but he carried
on his profession In a manner so distin-
guished as TO make him the king of the
Sandman outlaws. He was born in 1874
at Oliena, in Sardinia. of weli-to-do
family, and until called to do military
service he lived an agricultural life He
took part In the capture of Rome In 1870,
but while stationed with the Bersagiieri
regiment, which then formed part of the
Rome garrison. his predatory instincts
awakened Having heard that certain
priest was wealthy. he. with an accom-
plice, made a 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 1890 lire from his bureau. The au-
thors of the crime were never discovered
until Corbeddu in after years boasted OF
his achievement.
After returning to Sardinia from his
military StTNlCt heo icPSaNOu-
ly tried for cattle stealing, until one day
he failed to answer to a summons and
took to the hills. At this point began his
celebrated exploits, First with an arm
ed band. he stole a sum of money from
house at Lulu in 1852, The same year he
and other outlaws killed and robbed
man at Sanyero Mills. In 1854 he fought
and nearly killed carabineer at Fonni.
In 1885 he, with some companions, killed
1
tor and another carabineer at Orani, and
stole sum of 1i,00 lire. Next year he
robbed the post and deprived Count Spa
da 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 kill
ed wealthy man at Borore. Many 9TH
er crimes were put down to him or were
committed by minor briganGs under his
orders. Rewards amounting in all to 22,-
600 lire were offered for his capture. but
In vain.
His most famous exploit was not the
capture. but the liberation of two French
| men, NM. Pralle and Patty. who had been
seized and held for blackmail by other
| brigands. Their capture gave rise to
| violent campaign in the whole French
| and Italian press against the condition OF
| the Sandman police. and Signor Crispi.
l WHO was lHeH pftinltE,
| thorities in the island to liberate the two
| Frenchmen at all costs. All the carabin-
| GERS were modified. and the telegraph
| officers worked night and day, though
without discovering the prisoners. At
| last a sfbprefect named Marongin ap-
| pealed to Corbeddu by means of one of
his friends. The subprefects and the
| brigand had an interview, which the
| official promised Corbeddu anything he
~l-kx t1~A
| get the Italian administrator out of bad
scrape. Corbeddu at once accepted the
| task of Hberating the Frenchmen, and
| within twenty-four hours they were de-
| livered safely into the hands of the au-
| thorities. Corbeddu's professional pride
| was so great that he would accept neith-
er the 100000 lire reward oTered him nor
| a free pardon. nor any. other compensa-
! ton, considering himself sufficiently paid
| by having done in twenty-four hours
| what ministers. projects and an army of
carabineers had been unable to accom-
| plish.
| From that time he gave up his murder
| Gus expeditions and enjoyed in peace the
| fruits of his robberies. He kept herds of
| cows and pigs and flocks of sheep and
| goats. He lived in a cave on an almost
| inaccessible mountain peak, to which the
| path was known only to himself and his
pTother. 1he cave was Separdteu IRON
| the path by a precipice, over which Cor
bedu passed on the trunk of a small tree,
drawing the trunk after him into the
| cave. On one occasion a daring thief
| discovered Corbeddu's hiding place and
robbed him of a quantitysof the stores he
had accumulated. Hes would frequently
surprise the mountain3hunters. and show
them the best district in which to lool
for game. Though Isl trdinian, he almost
always spoke Itanaf. and manifested
great disdain forf The other outlaws
whom he called gt6stamestieri. or trade
spoilers Lately she seems to have goi
into the bad books of the car9bineers, by
whom he was killed after a hard fight
some three years ago.