The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-30
AUNIQUE
ROBBERY
BY WILLIAM CHANDLER

| From time to time some young man
appears in the criminal world who
from the pranks he plays, his daring
and the eel-like way he slips through
the fingers of the police excites the
admiration Of such as are prone to
read dime novels.
Such one many years ago doomed
up in Italy in the person of Giuseppe
1 Vampa.
In Vampa's day most Of the travel
was done in the diligence or the post
chaise. One day diligence left Bo.
l0gna for Florence. Although there
were two compartments beside the
coupe, but one compartment which
would hold six persons was used. 1t
contained four carabinier, or national
policemen, in disguise. Two of them
wore women's, the other two mems
clothing.
| Vampa had appeared on the route
between Bologna and Florence, turn
ing up suddenly first at one point,
then at another, levying tribute, Rob-
in Hood-like, Of preate here and
pouring it into the lap Of poor wom-
an there; setting the police beside
themselves to place him. A peasant
told Gardiner that Vampa had met
him on the road and asked him at
what hour the daily diligence reached
q certain point. This was taken to
mean that the bandit intended to rob
1t. The next time it passed over the
road arrangements were made to cap
ture him.
| On arriving at certain poant, where
horses were changed, a young woman
wearing some flowers In her corsage
asked to be taken aboard. Since her
presence was not desirable In an at
tempt to capture bandit, her request
was refused. She appeared to be very
much disappointed, saying that she
was anxious to reach her mother, who
was very Ill. Those in the diligence
still refused her and were driven on
without her. Presently the policemen
saw that something on top Of the dill
gence was attracting the attention Of
persons beside the road, and, having
pulled up, one Of the men got out to
see what it was. He saw the girl who
had asked for ride on the top Of the
coach, She had climbed up unseen by
them when they had started from the
relay. The leader of the policemen
concluded to take her inside.
Despite the fact that she was going
to her sick mother, she was very
CHEEKY. Before long she had her fell
low passengers laughing at her sallies
of wit and humor, and they were all
quite infatuated with her. The dill
gence made a long descent before
reaching Florence. this part of the
road being travelled after dark. The
night was chilly, and the girl complain
ed Of the cold wind coming in at the
windows. Every man fastened to
shut them. To show her appreciation
of their consideration the girl passed
around box of cigarettes. Every
man took one, and the compartment
was soon filed with tobacco smoke.
Presently one Of the men sank back
in his seat, apparently In slumber
Then another succumbed and another.
till all but one, dressed as a woman
remained awake. This person was sit
ting beside the girl, and suddenly he
felt her arm around his neck in WISE
like grip and a bunch Of flowers held
under his nose, from which he was
forced to inhale some peculiar odor
He struggled to free himself and, be-
ing powerful man, succeeded, but
only to feel the cold muzzle Of pistol
against his cheek.
Cease your struggles" said the girl.
whose voice, now undisguised, was evil
IDENTIFY that Of a man, ''or will settle
you with bullet in your BRAIN"
"Who are your asked the victim.
Giuseppe Vampav'
The name, backed by the pistol, was
quite enough to insure an easy victory,
but Vampa's plan was to rob the coach,
and to do so unaided he must put this
fellow to sleep with the rest' Holding
the pistol to his head with one hand,
Vampa held the flowers under his nose
with the other till he was unconscious.
Having thus rendered the whole four
unable to resist, he began to 60 through
their pockets. Raising the skirt Of the
person he had put to sleep with his
bouquet, he felt the material of mans
trousers.
"Ohow he exclaimed, lighting a
match. 1--WE have a party of carabi-
nieri. am pleased to meet you, my
fine fellows, but shall make no great
haul"
In this he was right. Not more than
20 lire were obtained from the whole
party.
When he had done all he cared to
do he put his head out the window and
called upon the position to stop, that
he might alight. The man, ignorant OF
what had taken place, obeyed.
"Goodby," he said to the position
"Give my compliments to the good peo
pie of Florence and tell them that
shall pay them visit SOON"
The position, wondering, cracked his
1 n ~ H.