Gilpin observer., 1912-05-30
CLEVER THIEF TAKEN
Europe's Most Daring SwindleI
Is Under Arrest
Robbed the Charitable, Posed a
Prince, Marquis and MonsIsnor Of
Church, and His Loot
Totals Millions,

Rome.-Nerve was what kept this
phenomenal rascal skating gracefully
over the thinnest kind Of ice. And his
nerve has not deserted him, now that
the ice has broken under him and he
has sunk overhead In the muddy wa.
ters Of trouble.
Behind his prison bars he seems, in.
deed-like most clever criminals-to
take sort OF professional pride in his
achievements. When he realized that
denial was henceforth futile he shrug.
ged his shoulders and said:
Il congratulate the Roman police. ]
have travelled all over the world and
got away with many hundreds OF
thousands of lire.
However, that which I stole stole
from the rich. never trimmed any
one for less than 100000 lire ($2O,OOO).
What pity that the law must punish
me! have helped an infinite number
OF poor priests. Today l had an ap-
pointment with another prelate; in.
stead. l am in jail. What pity!"
This unique scoundrel is a sort of
combination Of Tartune and Barry
Lyndon. He posed as a priest and
wore priestly garb. but he was not con.
tent with that, for he wore purple at
his throat and purple girdle, which
Indicated that he was a monsignor of
the church.
The bearer Of these noble names and
ecclesiastical titles had no right to
any of them. He never was a priest.
He had no right to wear even a cas-.
sock, much less the purple of a pre-.
late. He is just plain Giovanni Bat.
tista Gindri, son OF a respectable Turin
hotelkeeper. He obtained his familiar.
ity with church affairs while receiving
his education in an ecclesiastical sem.
mary. His father probably hoped that
he would become a priest. But the
youth found his vocation along very
different lines.
1t would be impossible and useless
to make a list Of those he has swim.
died. 1t is believed he has got away
with several millions of francs in all.
The greater number of his victims
have made no formal complaint against
him, preferring to pocket their losses
rather than to suffer the chaffing OF
their friends because of their gullibil.
lty. But 1t is known that among the
sufferers are cardinals, archbishops,
abbots Of monasteries, mother super;.
ors and abbesses of converts and noble
men and women who are charitaSly
disposed.
How did he do 1t? In many ways.
He forged letters of Introduction from
one bishop to another. He ingratiated
himself here and there by conspicu.
ous acts of charity and piety and SO
got genuine letters of introduction
from prelates and mobiles.
Among those upon whom he imposed
was the dowager duchess of Genoa.
mother Of Queen Margherita of Italy,
IN whose private chapel at Novara he
said mass. and from whom he received
present
When caught in Rome he was about
70 go to st. Peters to say mass, the
authorization so to do being signed by
Cardinal Respighi. which signature is
declared to be forgery.
There was nothing new about his
swindles; they were the old, well-worn
1evices. with which every one ought
% be familiar, but which work Just
as effectively today as they worked in
he time Of Gil Bias.
He Is TO be sent successively To
Zach Of the cities where he is want.
ed;" In each Of them he will be tried
md. II convicted. will be sentenced. So
ae has the prospect OF four or Ave
prison terms. one after another, IN
1ifferent parts Of Italy.