A BRIGAND'S GREATEST COUP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11397, 14 April 1899, Page 6

A BRIGAND'S GREATEST COUP.

Perhaps the most daring exploit ever recorded in the history of Italian brigandage promises to have a very interesting sequel shortly. In 1864, the whole district of the Romagna was terrorised; by a famous outlaw, II Passatore,: and his band. -On the last day of the carnival a gala performance was taking place' in the theatre o£ Forlimpopoli, a town of 20,000 inhabitants,' and all the nobility and gentry of the district assembled there.: When,1 after "a long delay, the curtain at.last rose, -the stage was found to be occupied by II Passatore and his • men, who :pointed ,an ominouslooking row of gun-barrels, at the astonished audience. The ' head; brigand, bowing politely, explained' that it was useless to attempt to escape, ■as all the doors were, guarded, and that; he and his .friends, would go round the boxes and stalls, and collect all the money and' valuables, 'which he sincerely hoped would be delivered without any resistance in.order to avoid blood-, shed. In this manner II Passatore netted' nearly £80,000 at one stroke, and got avfay, with his men unmolested. This daring out-. rage, however, led to his capture, for th» authorities were roused to action, and the eelebi-ated trial of. the 1.00 brigands atBologna is still remembered in.lta.lv. But it appears (says a Morning Leader telegram) thai before being caught II Passatore succeeded in hiding his share of the booty, amounting to £40,000, in a little wood near Bologna, and that while in prison, where he died 10 years ago, be confided the secret to a fellow-convict. . In some manner the brigand's secret has partly, leaked out, and the police authorities have just authorised two gentlemen of Bologna to excavate, in a certain locality with a view to discovering the treasure. ■■■--.