Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-11-03

SpudTTO, being finally admitted to full
membership after some conspicuous proof
of daring and obedience. They recognized
each other by their scarfs and two knives
and club each carried settled serious
quarres by the duello; had an drgot,
and punished treason by death. Every
sort Of fraud and violence was resorted to
to obtain money, their special "lay" be-
ing mock quarrels to gather q crowd,
which was then robbed. In 1913, Ferdi-
nand tried to hire them against the Rev
oluionists, but found their price too high.
In 1860, Francis ii tried to get them to
assist the police, but this only made them
more formidable. In 1862, Lamamora
expelled 800 in one day. Some joined
the Garabaldians, and many became
smuggers and burglars.
Nowadays the Camorra has lost this
elaborate organization, but it is not con-
ined to the lower class. There be Cam
morist in kids, and their hands are not
tho least bloody. 1t has permeated every
class and part Of the Neapolitan society,
and deals in all ailairs-the bourse, the
courts, family councils, elections to COM
pei the success Of its members or those
who have bought its support, or to force
tribute from those not Of its mem ber-
ship 1T is powerful, and fear and mys-
terry have magnilled its power, for no one
knows who does-or who may not-be-
long to it. The government is trying to
break it up; but the law is pdworIess
since it is unsupported by the mass Of cit
zons, or through fear or through compli-
/ city. To root out the cancer it will be
necessary to REQ organize Neapolitan socie-
| ty.
/ OF late the manifestations of this socie-
! ty have become exceptionally bold, till
the end has been murder in the street
at high noon and the popular apotheosis
Of tie murderer. The victim, Borrelli, a
member Of the Camorra, had for some
months been acting rs a secret agent for
/ the police, and furnished them with valu-
3
operations and plans of the organization.
4 Finally he WAS suspected. The Grand
/ Council detected his guilt, and sentenced
I him to death by way Of warning to mem
bels tempted to be unfaithful. A fort
night ago at night some one knocked Mt
! Borrelis door and gave his daughter a
! l. tttI,n IL
ed the girl. "Your father will know, F."
replied the unknown messenger, hasten
ing away. The girl took it to her father;
he opened it and found its contents
nm apparently innocent pile of mae
caron. lie turned deadly pale at once,
for he knew the significance of the mes
sage, which was in effect death warrant.
Such parcel the Grand Council sends to
suspected members. II they do not APP
pear before it to prove their innocence
their death is dccreed by the default, and
the work of assassination is conhded tc
three Of the 9iopandi d'onore.
Borrelli seems to have kept all to him.
self, hoping, pochnps to Escape by watch
funess, or perhaps being convinced tha
it was hopeless to fly. Some eight day
later, as he was walking with his daugn
ter near the corner of the street Borgio d,
Loretto, the three agents of the Camorri
surrounded him. lie had not time to de
fond himself, or even to suspect their mo
tive.
The girl saw poniard flash and he
father fall she screamed and stopped t.
pick up dead man. The asfassins dis
appeared. No one saw them or else NJ
one cared to arrest them.
Early next morning one of them cam
into the barracks Of the carbineers a
Aran, accompanied by priest, ant
ayowed his guilt. His name was Rafia
ee Esposito, a young man of twenty
who had soYeral times been convicted c
theft. On being subjected to a prelimi
nary examinations, he said almost wit
= arrogance that he and he alone had Iille
Borrelli, and that he gloried in the kill
2 ing. 1t was, however, for private reason
> that he had done so. His mother, sal
Esposito, had had quarrel not long be
G fore with some friends to whom she owe
l money from words they came to blowi
e he interfered to protect his mother an
struck a woman who was Borrelli's mi,
: tress, and Borreli warned him that +
l would have him locked up, which woul
7 not have been very difficult, since he WI
! an oD1hloAit0-a person under police su
\ veliauce. lie tried to induce Borrelli I
3 relent, but in vain, and then killed hiI
c to insure his own liberty.
This was Esposito's story, told as if
e had been well conned, not improbable a
u together, but presenting a motive that Il
u average magistrate or man, would &c
> tainly regard rs inadequate. After tel
ing it he was sent under strong escort
the prison Of San francesca, arriving
IS its gates just at noon. The square WI
u crowded with people, every Camoris
II known or suspected was there, ever
+ member of the criminal classes of Maple
" 1t was impossible that their assembin
should have been matter OF accident.
+ 1t was evidentally an organized demon
l. straton.
a, No sooner was Esposito seen by Il
J. throng that it burst into frenzy of ella
le ping hands and applauding cries. "The
N he is I" cried some, and "Bravo, bravo
le others, aud flowers and sweetmeats wei
" rainci upon him as if he had been a he
:, returning from victory. So eagerly d
= the crowd press around tho prisoner, wi
W was smiling and bowing his thanks, tn
e the prison authorities, seeing that the 6
cort uId not force its way to the gate