MIRACULOUS STATUE.

Shannon News, 1 February 1927, Page 4

MIRACULOUS STATUE.

A SOLDIER SAVES HIMSELF. FROM COURT-MARTIAL. Croatian newspapers till how a miracle iigurcd as a'determining factor in a court-martial trial. During the Austrian invasion of Upper Italy a Croatian soldier was suspected of having stolen a pearl necklace from a statue of the Holy Virgin in a pilgrim’s church and was brought to trial (states the New York Times), He admitted having taken the necklace, but insisted that it was a gift to him. He said that he had gone into the church to p;ay, and had lamented before the statue of the Virgin the sad lot of his family, whom he had been compelled to leave destitute. Thereupon, he said, the Holy Virgin bowed her head, and took the pearls, from her neck and handed them to him. The eoir't could not venture to reject this story offhand, as there was general belief in the miracle-working power of the statue. So it referred the matter to two bishops, asking them whether such a miracle was within the domain of possibility. The bishops were perplexed. If they answered "I'es, ” they might be protecting a rascal. But if they said "No,” they would destroy the repute of that church for miraculous power and phenomena. Finally they answered that such a miracle was within the range of possibility; and in consequence the soldier was acquitted. But the colonel of the regiment to which the soldier belonged was either sceptical or of a most prudent turn of mind, for after the verdict of the court had been announced he issued this order: "In future no soldier under my command is permitted under heavy penalty, to accept a gift from, anybody. ’ ’