A WONDERFUL THIEF.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 29 July 1911, Page 10

A WONDERFUL THIEF.

ROBS OFFICE FOR A WAGER. A CAMORRIST INCIDENT. ROME, July 22. A sensational disclosure was made at the Camorrists' trial to-day by the witness Captain Fabroni, who said that, wearing ai disguise that effectually concealed his identity, he had won the confidence of some of the prisoners and obtained admissions from them of an incriminating character. , " Fabroni said that when Antonio Parlati was arrested he made a most novel excuse for: himself, and as the authorities believed him he was released from, prison. | Wishing to prove himself a thief rather than a murderer, Parlati gave a demonstration of his skill in the robbing line. ! He entered into a wager with some of the officers of the guard that he would rob Marshal Farris. When. Farris heard of the bet he laughed heartily. But within ten minutes Parlati had won his bet, and no one could tell how the robbery was effected. It was done in the presence of Captain Fabroni and other officers. Although the Marshal's tunic was tightly buttoned, and he himself noticed no attempt at pocket-picking, his private notebook and silver cigarettecase disappeared from the inside pockets.

_ln handing over the stolen articles .Parlati said triumphantly, "You see, ray skill as a thief renders it unnecessary for me to take life. How then, can I be a murderer."

It was this piece of bluff that earned him his release.