SPATOLINO, THE BRIGAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 50, 12 December 1891, Page 678

SPATOLINO, THE BRIGAND.

ANY years ago the name of Spatolino was X F • a terror to persons whose business or pleasure \*/(l W ' t * ienl to traverse the country in the neighbourhood of Rome. This famous brigand, who ruled the roads of that district for eight years, is said to have been the scion of an ancient family. He was a robber of the melodramatic type—handsome in person, fearless of danger, and of a physique muscular and sinewy to a remarkable degree. There was a sublimity of impudence in some of Spatolino’s exploits that lent a dangerous charm to the profession of brigandage, and brought more than one noble youth to an ignominious end. The anecdote of the * coincidences ’ will serve to illustrate the character of the man.

An Englishman of wealth was about returning with his family to Florence. He engaged a courier about thirty years old, who spoke several languages, and had been travelling from one end of Europe to the other since he was a boy. The Englishman’s family consisted of his wife, a grown-up daughter, and a son, aged about fifteen. The courier advised the travellers to be prepared for all contingencies, stating that he himself always went armed to the teeth, besides making his postilions carry loaded pistols in their belts.

Shortly before the party started on their journey, a French gentleman, with whom they had become slightly acquainted at Rome, asked permission to accompany them. He was a very gentlemanly person, and the travellers gladly availed themselves of the opportunity to secure an intelligent travelling companion. As they were rolling along in the heavy carriage, the conversation turned naturally upon brigands. The Englishman related a story on the subject. ‘ Four or five years ago,’ said he, ‘ a friend of mine was robbed and taken prisoner by a band of brigands on this very road. They took him away to the mountains, and he regained his liberty only after a tedious negotiation for a good round sum as ransom. This gang of bandits was, shortly afterwards, dispersed on information given by my friend. He told me that a French officer, stationed at Rome, was active in pursuing them, and that he was indebted to that gentleman for the recovery of valuables that he would not have liked to lose. His name was Roberts. ’ ‘ This is a coincidence,’ said the French gentleman with a smile. •I am the French officer who commanded the party by whom the gang was broken up, and here is the gold watch presented to me on the occasion by your friend as a ■souvenir. See here—“ E. Roberts to his friend Leon Des Champs.” We did not catch the chief of thebrigands, though. His name, I think, was Spatolino.’ ‘ Another coincidence !’ cried the handsome courier, now for the first time joining in the conversation from the box of the carriage. ‘ Another coincidence — I am Spatolino. Hand over your effects !’ The pistols of the travellers were snapped at him—but they only snapped. His duty as courier was to look to the fire arms, and he had done so effectually. Now the postilions dismounted, and, standing by the carriage windows, compelled the luckless travellers to hand over all their valuables, after which it was but the work of a moment to unharness the horses, with which the three robbers galloped away, leaving the travelling party alone, in a horseless carriage, and at a point at least ten miles distant from any place where assistance could have been obtained. * Honour among thieves ’ is a saying susceptible of more meaning than one. Spatolino professed to have a deep sense of honour. This was the rock upon which he split. Finding it impossible to cut off this redoubtable brigand by force, the authorities had recourse to stratagem. They put upon his track an active and sagacious officer of police, whose name was Angelo Rotoli, to whom a large bonus was promised for the capture of Spatolino, dead or alive. Rotoli obtained an interview with the brigand chief, by causing it to be intimated to him that the government wished to negotiate with him. They met each other, by appointment, at a certain spot. It had been agreed on, beforehand, that both were to come unarmed, but Rotoli violated this clause of the agreement, on which Spatolino upbraided him vehemently with having broken his word of honour. Nevertheless he listened to him. The proposal made by Rotoli was that Spatolino would receive a free pardon on condition of delivering up all his accomplices. The brigand, who had amassed a fortune, and was weary of his dangerous calling, agreed to this, further stipulating that his wife, also, should be exempted from arrest. • Bring with you at eight o’clock to night,’ said he, ‘ twenty gendarmes and a troop of peasants, and I will guide you to our stronghold. I mistrust your word of honour, however, but hereby promise to pay you two thousand crowns if you carry out our agreement to the letter.’

Rotoli, having made his arrangements, went with his gendarmes to the place of meeting, where Spatolino soon made his appearance. A tedious and circuitous route at last led them to a lonely house in the mountains, where they halted, and, on a signal given by Spatolino with a peculiar whistle, the door was opened to them by his wife, a handsome but masculine-looking woman, who had long been a partner in the crimes of the reckless brigand. ‘ I have brought you some new comrades,’ said Spatolino, * the soul of honour,’ to some eight or ten brigands who were seated round a table, at supper. This disarmed suspicion, and at a sign from Rotoli, his men threw themselves upon the robbers, and handcuffed them in a trice, whilst he, himself, seizing Spatolino by the neck, pressed the muzzle of a pistol against his temple, threatening to pull the trigger if he made the least attempt to struggle with him. Nevertheless, the brigand made a desperate resistance, but was overpowered and put in irons. •Is this your word of honour ’’ said he to Rotoli ; • fool that I was to trust in a plebeian like you 1’ A slight explosion now attracted the attention of the gendarmes to the woman who had nearly blown up the house, and all in it, by setting a train to a keg of powder that lay in a corner of the room. Her purpose was foiled only by the accidental circumstance of a wet spot on the floor, by which the train was cut off. She, too, was placed in irons, as the tigress was perceptible in her every movement.

I'he whole gang was marched off to prison. A commission was appointed to take evidence in the affair, before

which more than four hundred witnesses were examined, and the investigation brought to light some of the most frightful details of assassination and robbery that ever have been placed on record. Spatolino, with eight of his accomplices and his wife, was tried in the criminal court. On being asked whether he had any remarks to make, he rose, and said : ‘ I am guilty of all the crimes that have been laid to my charge, and many more ; but the worst thing I ever did was to trust to the honour of alow fellow like Rotoli.’ Spatolino was executed, with some of his accomplices, and his wife and the others were condemned to imprisonment for life.