At these words, Dasso “fell to his knees, burst into tears and sobs,” and revealed the truth.
According to the story, the young man was a Freemason and the group had sentenced Don Bosco to death. Twelve men’s names had been drawn, and they were to carry out the order.
Dasso told Don Bosco that “it was up to me to be the first, just me! And this is why I came! I will never do it. I will draw down upon myself the revenge of the others; revealing the secret is my death, I know I’m done for. But killing Don Bosco, never!”
After confessing what his mission was, the young man threw the weapon he was hiding on the floor.
Despite Bosco’s attempts to console him, the young man quickly left the house. On June 23, Dasso tried to take his life by throwing himself into the Po River but he was rescued in time by policemen.
Some time later, Bosco helped him escape from Italy and he lived in hiding “until the end of his days,” according to the Salesian account.