New-York tribune., 1898-10-16
( Fl.UOt ) BANDIT.
coREiDpI-s CARRIER IN SARDINIA LAKE,
DICK TURPINS

DICK TlI;PINS
Rome correspondence Of The London Post
Not long ago described the death Of the ia
nous Suriiniln brigand. Corh"ddu. who was
killed in 2 fight with the carahinc"rs. \ com
pIctc history of his career is now obtainablc 1t
is interesting for its Dick TurPir-l'kr episodes
Corbcddu was no ordinary biiGand ii" dld not
90 about shooting poor fishermen or Wulet'"IS
for the sake Cf the few lire they might nave IN
their pockets. but he carried on his profession in
a manner 80 distinguished "a to make him the
king OF The Sandman outlaws. H. was born IN
1Nll At Olicna. in Sardinia. Of wcll-tO-do fam
ilv ami until called to do military service he
lived an agricultural life. II" took part in the
capture of Rome in 1870 but while stationed
with the EerSaGlier regiment which th"n
formed part OF the Rome garrison ms predatory
instincts awakened. Having heard that c"r-
tain priest wealthy he. with AN acc"mplicc
mad" false key and entered the priest house
TO the great surprisr of the robbers. the priest
was IT supper. They seized. bound and gagged
him and stole 800 lire from his bureau. The
authors of the crime were never discovered un-
til Corbeddu in after years boastrd OF ms
achievement.
After returning to Sardinia from his military
service Corboddu was repeatedly tried for cattle
stealing. until one day h. failed To answer to a
summons and took 10 the hills AT tins point
began his celebrated exploits. First. with an
armed band, ne stole sum of money from a
house at Lula in 1852 The same year ne and
other outlaws killed and robbed Il man at san
vero Mills In 1881 hc fought and nearly killed
companions killed q carabineer and nearly Killed
an inspector and another carabineer at orani.
and stole a sum Of 1000 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 after
ward wore in honor of his exploit. In lN''l he
robbed and killed a wealthy man at l'otore.
Many other crimes were put down to him or
were committed by minor briSands under his
orders. Rewards amounting in all t" 22.ooo lire
were offered for his capture. but in vain.
His most famous exploit was not the capture
but the liberation Of two Frcnchmcn. NM. Pralle
and Patty. who had been seized and held to
blackmail 10y other brigands. Their capture
gave rise to q violent campaign i'll tn" whole
French and Italian press against the condition
OF the Sandman police, and SignOr Crispi who
WIS then Premier. ordered the authorities in the
island to libcratc the two Frenchmen at all
costs. All the carabinecrs were mobilized, and
the telegraph officers worked night and day.
though without discovering the prisoners. AT
last a sub -prefect named Marongin appealed to
Corbeddu by means of one Of his friends. The
sub -prefcct and the briSand had an interview, IN
which the 3iicial promised COrDcddu anything
ne might wish on condition that he would get
the Italian administration out OF bad scrape.
Corbeddu at once accepted the task of liberat-
ing the Frcnchmen. and within twcnty-four
hours they were delivered safely into the hands
OF the authorities. Corbeddu's professional pride
was so great that he would accept neither the
10000 lire reward offered him nor free par
don. nor any other compensation. considering
himself sufficiently paid by having done in TWEEN
ty- four hours what Ministers. projects and an
army Of carabineerS had been unable to accom-
plish.
From that time he gave up his murderOus ex-
petitions and enjoyed in peace the fruits of his
robberics. He kept herds Of COWS and pigs and
nOcks of sheep and goats. He lived i'm a cave on
an almost inaccessible mountain peak. 10 which
the path was known only to himself and his
brother The cave was separated from the path
I,y a prc, ipice. over which COrbeddu passed on
the trunk Of a small tree drawing the trunk
after him into the cave. ON one occasion "A
daring thief discovered C0rhcddus hiding place
and robbed him of a quantity Of the stores he
rad accumulated. lie would frequently surprise
the mOufon hunters and show them the best
district in which to look for game Though a
Sandman. ne almost always spoke Italian. ana
manifested great 1isdain for the other outlaws.
whom he called guastamestieri. or trade spoil