Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1901-12-27
CAREER OF A BANDIT.
iTALY'S NOTORIOUS OUTLAW
WROTE HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY
lie Was Extremely Reiigious--Desoribe.
the Way He Murdered His Companion
Ro.sa-Makes Fun of the Physicians
who Conducted the Inquest 10


that has ever been published recently
appeared at Fossari in Sardinia. II is
nothing less than the autobiography of
bandit, the title being Life History
OF Giovanni Tolu. Related by Himself
II is published by lawyer named T..
Costa, in compliance with the bandits
request. says the New York Herald.
As Costa was summing himself In his
garden some time ago old Tolu. who
had for years been one OF the most
notorious brigands in Italy, appeared
before him and begged him to give his
story to the world
Il want" said the 74-year-old bandit,
ito give in this way a warning to my
colleagues, lesson to flighty young
men and word OF advice as to the
manner in which the government
should treat the poor people"
With these words he handed over his
manuscript and went to his home
where he died few weeks later.
Strange is the story which he tells
He began his inquitous career by a
murderous assault on a priest who had
used his influence to prevent a respect
able young girl from marrying him.
After that exploit he fed to the woods
aAd there he lived for thirty long years
No ordinary bandit was he. Lust OF
gold was not his besetting sin. He at
tackled only those whom he believed to
be his enemies. Thus he was ever
ready to deal a blow against police Of
ficers and spies. but on the other hand
he was a stout champion OF the poor
and needy. The latter. indeed. looked
up to him as their leader and willingly
contributed to his support.
Strange to say. this redoubtable out
law, who feared no man, was the alb
ject slave of many childish superstl-
tions. For example, he was convinced
hat a priest who said more than three
crayers during the mass was bent on
So g evil deed and would surely be-
witch come member of his congrega-
ton. Being once attacked with severe
| illness in Florines, his native place, he
felt certain that hostile priest, aided
by several others, had afflicted him. 81
betook myself" he says in his book,
ito a worthy priest and he took bis
breviary and began to exercise me.
Thereupon the pain left me and had
rest for several weeks. Later ] went
to the curate of Orsi, who wss said to
be especially skilled at exercising. He
bade me kneel and then he sprinkled
me with water and prayed long time.
Three times ] went to him. but when
/ told him on the third occasion that
the pain was worse than ever he frank
| ly confessed that he, too, was bewitch-
ed, having been bound by another
priest, who was much stronger than
he."
Tolu never ventured to take any
ones life until he had first appealed for
advice to the Madonna and the whole
army of saints. One day he decided to
murder certain Salvatore Moro. "As
went to his house." he tells us. "I
begged the Mother of God to enlighten
me and to show me whether this man
really deserved death. also COM
mended my soul to God in case should
surprised and killed by my enemy. Az
ter / had slain Moro / loaded my gun
afresh, after which l said Hail Mary
and prayed for the repose of the de-
parted soul. In this way learned that
had killed the body but not the soul Of
my enemy"
This extraordinary bandit spent his
leisure in reading devotional books, his
favorite being Mgr. Dlodati's version
of the Bible. Although was an out
law" he tells us, Il never neglected my
religious duties. Morning and evening
| said my prayers without fail; aye, |
prayed for the dead and visited many
churches and confessed several times
each year. Through the kindness of
the abbot Of Florines, was enabled 20
get into his church by way of a secret
stairway which connected the church
with his dwelling"
In regard to the murder OF his com
panion, Rosa, who betrayed him. he
says, naively: II killed him at the
first shot, and therefore had to laugh
when | read, some days later, an ac-
count OF the inquest. The worthy phy-
sicians gravely testified that Rosa had
been assaulted by at least four mem
When such mistakes are made, is II any
wonder that inquests are often a
farce?"
Criminologists and psychologists will
find this book we'll worthy OF study.
Not often is a man like Tolu to be
found. and therefore thorough analy-
sis OF his character would be very in
teresting. A brutal murderer one mo-
ment, fawning penitent the next. he
w aaonrad1u ofr