Morning journal and courier., 1891-03-17
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH. From All Quarters. THE ITALIAN TRAGEDY. More Details and Comment
 On the Affair. COLLISION OF OCEAN STEAMERS, A New York Village Wiped
 Out by Fire. ONE HUNDRED DERVlSHES KILLED. The Reached War Vessels Be-
 coming Wrecks.
)NE HUNDRED DERvISHEs KILLED.
THE MAFIA SOCIETY.

-NA
 Interesting Statement of Prom
 inent Italian-How the Order In-
 creased Its Membershfp-The Oath
 Further Comment of the Press
 Correspondence Between Rome
 and Washington.
 NEW ORLEANS, March 16.-In Father Manoritt's statement yesterday he said that he was sure the letter he received was from the Provenzano faction. This statement Joseph Provenzano this morn ing most emphaticslly denied. He said that he had not been connected with the Ma6a in any manner. On the contrary he has been an object of their enmity. "About five years ago." said Provenzano, 'the Mafia sent me several letters, threat ening to kill me and my brother unless we gave the society $1 ,O0O. We did not re- spond, and Jim Caruso shortly afterwards came to me and said that he belonged to the society, and that we had better pay the money. He said could do SO by go- ing to the old lake and bandaging my head with led handkerchief and leaving the money on a stump in the swamp near by. was then to go about my business, and they would get the money. I then went to some of my friends and they said not to pay the money. They would go in wagon to see who was to receive. Caruso, who was along, said this would not do. "If you go with crowd," said Caruso, 'no one will appear" I then dropped the matter and told Caruso to have nothing more to do with the society, to give up his fruit stand in the French market and to come on the levee and we would make him free man. He said he would do so as he was tired of the Mafa. told Caruso he must go and swear he would have nothing further to do with the Mafa before I gave him work He did so for I went with him to the Italian church on Cont and Rampant streets and he knelt before the altar and took the obligation. He said that Charlie Matranga was the chief of the gang and that he presided at the meetings, robed in a black domino. He said that Rocco Gracci was also leader. Caruso said he only at tended one meeting. That he went and Matranga held up skull in his left hand and a dirk in his right. He was then sworn with uplifted hands to abide the decision of the order. He said he was in formed after taking the obligation that the object was to kill those who were against IAO 1Ahh1 6dAS Ao way WAS tO Se1cCG the victim and invite him to a dinner and do him up. Caruso did not like this and went to work for me. I told him I wanted none of the Mafa people in our employ. Caruso pointed out eight or nine men whom he said belonged to the society and I discharged them. Caruso worked for us about two years, but there was nothing further said about the Mafia. He finally left us and went with Matranga do not know whether John Caruso be- longed to it or not-his brother never told me that he did''
 Provenzano stated that Politz was work ing for him when Caruso was given en- ployment. He was one of the men point ed out by Caruso as belonging to the Matia and he was discharged
 The better element of the Italians are glad that there ;s an end of Mafa as they have been ill dread of it. It is those that have recently come here, or the bad ele- ment, that denounce the action taken Sat urday.
 Regarding the flag incident" about which good deal had been said, Proven zano stated that when the verdict was re- turned two men belonging to the gang, one of them named Seprile and the other brother-in law of Caruso Ramone by name, want to the flag pole with an Amer ican and Italian flag. Seprile put his foot on the American flag and hoisted the Ital- ian flag. The American flag was then taken up and put under it. There were good Italians standing around when the Italian flag was put up, but they were afraid to interfere When questioned as to why they permitted it they said they feared the gang would get free and cause them trouble. The flag pole on the levee | is at the foot of Ursuline street and is used for signaling by the vessels of Macheca Oteri and others