MASTER BANDIT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1931, Page 6

MASTER BANDIT

MURDER AND ROBBERY. CORSICAN’S COOL DARING. V WHOLE TOWN TERRORISED. ’ ! Three Corsican bandits ‘have lately carried out a series of dramatic exploits in Guagno-les-Bains, a small wateringplace situated in. the mountains, 40 miles north-eaist of Ajaccio,. Corsica. Armed to the teeth, the brigands came down from the “rnaquis” (the wild scrub of the country), terrorised the whole village, raided lour hotels and commandeered visitors’ money, and coolly -shot dead one visitor who failed to obey their orders.

Guagno has sulphurus springs with the reputation for curing skin disorders.' The resort developed after the war, and four hotels and a thermal •establishment have been built. In these hotels were 200 visitors, and most of them were in their rooms when the notorious brigand, Caviglioni—a man of 35, -who took to the “maquis” several years ago, and left it only to commit crimes—descended upon them, accompanied by his two nephews. THREATS TO MANAGERS. Armed with carbines and revolvers, they first called at the Grand Hotel and asked for M. Simon Michel, the manager. (lovering M]. Mjchel with his revolver, Caviglioni took out his watch and said: “I give you 15 minutes to hand over 10,000 francs. If, you don’t I shall set your hotel on "fire and shoot all' tile visitors See that no one opens a window, otherwise he will he shot.” The manager shut all the doors of the hotel, and warned visitors to remain in their rooms, and not to open any windows.

While the bandits were waiting, outside, one of the visitors—a garage proprietor of Ajaccio—-opened a window of his bedroom to see what was happening. Caviglioni immediately shot him dead.

As the bandits noticed that the man. ager was organising resistance, they left the hotel, and proceeded to another hotel, where they ordered the manager to hand them 0000 francs. He obeyed. They then called at the two other hotels, entered the rooms and ordered the occupants to hand over their money. And then they "fined” the managers 4000 francs. POLICE OFFICERS ROBBED.

In one .of the hotels were two police officers from Ajaccio. Their pockets were also searched by the bandits, who took all their money and a gold watch. And when their pockets had been filled with banknotes, the three brigands vanished. One of the hotel proprietors tried to telephone to the Ajaccio police, but was told by the local postmaster that.when ho arrived in the village Caviglioni warned him that if he put through a single telephone call to Ajaccio he would he shot. On .leaving Guagno the bandits met an Army captain and his wife and two friends/ They, also, were ordered to

hand.-over their money and jewellery, hut on hearing that the travellers were not staying at Guagno, Caviglioni returned their property to them, saying: "That is all right. We do not want anything from you.”