Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-21
THE DREAD MAFIA.
How the Members Wrcak Vengeance
on Their Betrayers.

RNoNN S.AAOos VI blCAAlduo duu Wh'
founded by an italian cut-throat named Malta
at Palermo 100 years ago. The members are
for the most part criminals and counterfeiters,
and hesitate at no atrocity. The inhuman
cruelty Of some OF the Malta agents is almost
beyond human credencs, and savors OF the
brutal barbarity OF the middle ages. Vincenzo
Arditi burned a victims house in New Orleans,
hoping TO burn the owner at the same time.
he was sent to the penitentiary. organized
branch of the Mafa-for housebreakIng pur-
poses only-among his fellow prisoners. got
out, wen. to st. Louis and murdered Zoe oil
the Malta there.
He went to Chicago, opened a saloon en-.
tcsd an obnoxious fellow-countryman into ii
aud stabbed him in the back with a knife SO
long that il stuck out on both sides Of the dying
man as he fell to the floor. He came to New
York, opened a store, fired it to get the iDsur-
ance, and was unsuccessful He vowed ven
geance and La Iata a fellow-cOuntryrnan
whom he believed instrumental In causing his
defeat He invited his victim to a private
apartment to have glass OF beer, offered a
beaker with one hand, and with the other. by
one stroke OF the razor. laid the poor wretch 8
face open from his forehead to the point OF his
chin Whom the wounded man, almost by a
miracle, recovered and able to leave the
Chambers-strset Hospital he was afraid to COM
plain against Arditi, who went scott free.
In October, 1855, Antonio Flaccomio was as
sassinated in the shadow OF the Cooper Union
building, in New York city. Flaccomio had
been adjudged a traitor to the organization, Of
which at one time he was prominent menu
Der, and il was said that Carmello Farach,
who was murdered in the Staten Island woods
four years before. had been enrolled in the
same society. The unlusthable killing of
Farach was one OF the causes that led to FLAG
COMICS removal, but the cause of his assassina-
ton was the testimony that be gave shortly
before his assassination against some of his
countrymen, who were cOunterfeiters, as well
as brother members of la Nafia- hlaccOmio
vas sentenced to death, and two brothers,
Carlo and NincenZo Quarrara, we're selected to
Kill him. The former plunged the stlletto into
the doomed mans heart.
Sgnor Ratio of New York city, the Italian
consul, is authority for the statement that the
FIRST that was really known Of the order at
the beginning OF the present century IN the
town of SLIM, Sicily, where family OF nine
named Giavanni, Of considerable social po-
sition, were murdered in many weeks. The
father went first, being found at his very door
step. Seven days later the mother followed.
Her dead body found in almost the same
location as that Of her husband. The author
tiles were unsuccessful in tracing the muir
derer or murderers. and several days after
ward the bodies of the two eldest children
were found dead in bed. The others followed
in regular order until the family was COM
pletely annihilated. A tough character of the
town named Slpoli was arrested on suspicion
and confessed. lie revealed the existence OF the
order and said that Giavanni and his family
ing a criminal, who was a Malta, to the author
ties. Spoil had been instructed, among others,
to commit the murder. He tried. and
although the best counsel was employed to de-
fend him a plea of insanity by the Malta he
was convicted and sent to prison for life.
Several witnesses for the prosecution were
aftervard murdered by the Malta. The gov
ernment becoming aware of the liwless nature
OF the organization, al once took measures to
have 1t suppressed. but the efforts proved
futile. La Malta continued to grow. A police
Officer in 1868. i'll Milan, discovered a mark by
which member ef La Malta could be known.
1t consisted of a small scar imme diatoly under
the ear. caused by burning. In this way great
numbers of criminals were afterward run down
and brought to justice. the society then gave
up the mark. and tho police officer one year
after was found dead. stabbed to the heart
La Malta Is a modern organization based on
medieval sentiment. 1t Is related to the Ca
mora of Naples. Ii Is a society confined not
10 Italians, but TO Siciliaas. the baser kind of
Greeks, who bring their national customs, their
secret societies and traditions OF murder with
them. II a SicIlian believes that he can pro-
vide for the protection OF his person and prop
erty without having recourse to law that per-
son is a MafOsa. lie may be bully, n black
mailer, Q murderer. but IL whatever he does
the public opinion of Sicily supports him still.
The code OF ethics which maintains him is
called ''omerta" or manliness.
Not long ago a wealthy proprietor driv-
ing 10 his home In the neigEbOrhood of Pa
lermo. Six bullets whIzzed by him. None
OF them hit him. No complaint was
made to the police. Yet within a few
months everybody who had taken part In
the attempted assassination himself assas-
siDGted A Malta had attacked Matiosa. He
was more powerful than his assailant Sicilians
justify these crimes. Everybody knows the
authors, yet nobody iHterferes. SAID guide
Of a recent traveller in sicily: "'Youder home
belongs TO a most respectable mana highly
respectable man, sir. The other day he killed
his cook. One of the most respectable men IL
these Parts. sir"
Murder Is the corner stone Of the social fabric
Of SIcily. A SiciiIan wishes to sell u farm. A
Cope Malta wishes to buy it. Nobody Gares bid
against him II anybody is so foolhardy he
would be shot next day from behind q wall or
the corner of a house.
II Cope Malta runs for the mayoraltv OF n
village nobody runs against him. lie invari-
ably has unanimous election. His hands may
be red with a dozen murders and his pockets
ailed with blackmal. Not servant can be
discharged without reference to the unseen
Mania. The Mafosa rule their district as des-
pots. II they have rivalrles the knife decides
II. The CamOrrista Of Naples live IN Italy and
thrive, just as the Mafiori of Sicily
The political power Of the Cammorals is
broken, yet maintains underground ex-
istence and has three grades A novice in the
hrst grade Is called "Gazzone dI Malavita" "a
youth OF bad liie.) The more advanced pupil
IL styled ''PicciOtto iii Sgarro." The finished
scholar IL the CamorrIsta. The novice mar ks
out the victim, follows him and PLAYS detec tive
On him The PicciOtto is initiated into the
secrets OF the contraternIty. He merely gets q
handful OF sous from the Camorrista lie lives
Ia hope of reaching the third grade and some
DAY, by means OF an artistic stab or unusually
long term IN prison, he is advanced to the
sacred band He takes the oath on crowned
knives with his hands immersed in his own
blood He 10 then licensed TO murder whom
loever he pleases. The Cam orrista has two
degrees OF punishment-One is the spreggio or
slash from q razor, the other ID the coliettatti
or stab with knife.
In old days the police delegated their author
ity TO the Camorrisia. Just before the adj
vent OF Victor Emmanuel they were placed IN
charge of the whole city. For time they did
their work we'll The thieves being we'll paid
crime diminished After a while their old in
stincts were too strong for them. The customs
OF Naples. which were worth 40 600 duca;s TO
the state, returned under their fostering care
barely LOCO ducats. The collectors of internal
revenue thought they were doing well when
they returned 20 per cent INTO the treasury.
The secret service of the United States has
been aware for several years OF the operations
81 La Malta in this country. Their counter.
feitipg, which is their diversion as well rs
part OF the duties Of their profession OF crime
could not fail sooner or later to bring then
before the eye Of the governments detective
force. SebastiGno LAMA. who held meeting,
With regular group at IS Thompson street
Now fork city, sold Malta counterfeits at A
cents on the dollar TO colored people. boys
girls, his own countrymen. and any American
he could find Supplemented enough to buy.