The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-12-03
Clever RASCALS.
Robbers of Naples as Daring as
They Are ResourCefuI.
SCHEME OF ONE LONE THIEF.

"SSNSV "e""e' iH Wnlcn MS Ru-
dacious Rogue PIfered a Church
Furnishing Shop and Corded Up Its
Too Confidins Proprietor.
His name was Signor Domenico Doc
tor Dolchinetti, and he was host In
Rome. For scholar with degree
he enjoyed his meals rather unre.
STRANGELY. but after the spaghetti and
capretto had disappeared he used to
SOW his pace over the finocchio con
vino and to straight.n his back, wipe
his mustache and begin his stories.
"NapCi? 81. ST. Naples? Bella cit.
ia, beautiful, beautiful! And what
thieves are they in Naples! 1t is the
one city where you cannot lead a don
key through the Streets"
There did not seem to be much con-
nection between these, and our puzzled
looks said SO.
"Perche? You dare not lead. You
must take him by the tail. for when
the unsuspecting peasant leads an ass
laden with panniers or onions or wood
into Naples before long he happens to
glance back. and. behold, all is gone
produce. panniers. pack saddle. all
hlched. Thereafter he takes the ass
by the tail and steers him through the
streets that lie may watch constantly.
"Poi-it Is all organized. Some years
ago the leader Of the robbers was the
captain. Everybody knew him. When
anything was stolen from one, one
went not to the police. but to the cap
tain.
There was little music master
came home one day and found his pi-
ano gone, n whole piano. and no one in
the house could say how. when or
where 1t went. The little man was
distracted.
"Then he took heart and went to the
captain and stood before him with his
hat In his hands. He was just a poor
music teacher. His piano was all he had
In the world. He Co. said the cap.
tain. AT this evening you have your
piano And about the time of the
service that afternoon q wagon came
to the little mans door, and four men
heaved out piano. which they set in
Its accustomed corner; then they drove
Off without q word.
"Poi the music man. went again to
the captains house and began to thank
him and to tumble about in his pock.
cts, saying that he did not have much.
about 20 lire. all his savings--22 lire
perhaps. "What-twenty-two lirev'
yelled the other. Il. who am rich,
whom men call the captain-22 lire to
me! You poor And he kicked him
down the stairs.
But the most remarkable robbery
was done not by the band. but by a
Neapolitan single handed.
"One day there drove up to a church
furnishing shop an equipage with two
prancing horses and a liveried coach
man and halted before the big win
dows full Of precious finery. A beau
tifully dressed little signor alighted
and asked to see the proprietor. He
said he had cousin who would the
next day be ordained bishop and he
desired to purchase appropriate gifts.
First he would see a crozier. The pro-
prtetor fetched superb crozier of sill
YER. the crook Of it gold. wonderfully
chased and overwrought with carving.
How much? asked the we'll dressed
man.
"'Five thousand lire, signor.'
Good. Tie it up and put it in
the carriage. And let me see also a
miter. Aid again he chose the costli-
est. one frosted with silver arabesques
and beaded with pearls. He sat
down TO write Il check for 5000 lire
altogether. But. no; he would see also
n bishops ring. How much was this
One?'
1.-Two thousand lire. signor'
Good" And that. too. went into the
carriage with the miter and croZier.
Finally this princely customer would
buy Il complete vesture and decided on
a figured alb broidered with cloth Of
gold from shoulder to foot. Only he
doubted. will it fit? But stay he
said TO the shopman: you are q big
man. almoS' as large as my cousin.
See If the garment will fit you So
the proprietor put it on and stood
clothed in magnficence from cravat to
ankle.
GOOD. Beautiful. Only the waist.
My cousin happens to be enormous OF
girth. Suppose you put your arms at
your sides. and / shall fix the girdle
to include them. That will about equal
my cousins waist SO he buckled the
belt tight about the proprietor's wrists
and moved back to survey the effect.
'Boun, Bclissima, Most beautiful be
cried. And now, signor-buon giornor
He skipped through the door into
his carriage and whirlcd downtown
"At that Good day the proprietor
let out one awful yell and bounded
into the street. Thief" he scrccched
He crashed into astoundcd people.