The Washington times., 1923-04-24
BALKAN BANDIT IS
HAVE STERN
CODE
Rob, PiIIage and Murder, But
Word Once Given Is Held
InvioIate.
By CONSTANTINE STEPHANOvE,
international News Service.


SOPHIA, April 24.---Brigands Of
| the Balkan states are a blithe and
gallant lot. They rob and pillage
and murder, If need be, those who
fall into their clutches, but their
crimes are always tinged with a
dash of chivalry such as was more
common in ancient and more ro-
mantle times.
In Albania there are many bands
of robbers always seeking to prey
upon the hapless traveller. Rob
berry is a profession Of many and a
murder now and then constitutes
no ineradicable blot upon the es.
cutcheon of a brigand. The life OF
a stranger passing through the AL
bantam hills very often hangs on the
good will of some humble peasant
or villager.
But once a traveller has found an
Albanian friend he is safe so long
as he remains that friends guest.
While you are within the household
or under the protection of an Al
bantam his solemn pledge, or "bessa,"
is all the guarantee of safety that
you need.
Safe In Home Only.
In the curious Albanian code of
ethics. however, once a person
passes beyond the protection of his
host the guarantee stuff is off.
Your erstwhile host is just as like
ly as not to seize his gun the min
ute you have crossed his threshold
and sally forth to plumber you and
shoot you If you should get hostile
over the proceedings.
An illustration of this code of
chivalry is afforded by the ex-
perience of an official of the Eng
lish relief committee a few months
ago. Desiring to send consider
able sum of money from Monastir
cerned because of his knowledge
that the route to be travelled was
infested with bands of robbers. He
discussed his problem with a native
friend.
Honor Among Thieves.
"Why not call in Ibrahim Aga,
the brigand?" the friend suggested.
"Once the money is entrusted to
his. hands you can be sure it will
be carried safely to Elbassan."
With many fears and misgivings
the Englishman accepted the advice.
Ibrahim was given the money, but
the Englishman kissed it good-by
when he turned it over. To his
utter amazement he received word
few days later that the money
san.
Brigandage in the Balkans has
had a bright side from time i'm
memorial. The poor have seldom
been molested by the "Heydooks,"
as the bandit chieftans are known
Only short time ago a caravan
of travellers was surrounded by
robbers as they were passing
through a narrow defile in the hills
near Chirpan. Three modern
robin Hoods" armed to the teeth,
lined them up and began to "go
through them" with a thorough
ness that would have been the
envy of the James boys. In the
pockets Of one young man they
found only 200 leva.
School Teacher Immune.
What! Is that all you've got?'
screamed the leader.
THAT is all 1 have, SIR" the
young man replied. 81 am a
school teacher"
A school teacher?" the brigand
| chief rejOined. What a shame!
my dear fellow, we beg of you a
| thousand pardons! A school teacher
is poorer than the devil-that we
well know! Here take these bank
notes, return to your village, buy
yourself some new clothes, and
blow yourself for once in your life. "
One of the women of the same
party sought to save a ring by tell
ing the brigands it was a gift from
her dead mother.
Keep it," the bandit leader said,
so that people may know that rob-
bers' too. can be gallant