BANDIT TO PAY PENALTY

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 7 March 1935, Page 4

BANDIT TO PAY PENALTY

Notorious Corsican “King” Sentenced to be Guillotined CARNIVAL CROWDS LOOK ON COUNSEL’S RINGING PLEA'

t United frees OToclation—By Electric lelegrapQ Copyright.). Received 2 p.m. to-day.

BAiSTIA, March 6. Andre Spa da, the Corsican bandit “king,” wiio for eleven years terrorised the interior of the island, appeared at Rastia to-day on seven charges of murder and attempted murder. Two years an prison have reduced him to a gaunt, timorous, religious fanatic. Spada was sentenced to death and will be guillotined, despite his counsel’s ringing appeal, which was audible to joyous carnival crowds outside. “Surely you don’t want blood to flow in the public square at dawn on a spring day,” he said. “Remember Spada’s chivalry to his old parents, who anxiously await your verdict.” During the trial a laughing columbine, hoisted on the shoulders of a mediaeval musketeer, peered into the court to catch a glimpse of the bandit, who stood silent and nodded solemnly as the prosecutor demanded his head for the honour of Corsica, denying that he had been 'anything but a racketeer, dishonouring all banditry if an honourable bandit ever existed.

Spada received the verdict with a smile.