The sun., 1891-05-31
THE M.4FfA.
Organization and Methods OF the ranou,
ssiciiisn Asssssins.

| Orrnuixstion and Methods OF the Famous
| Siciiisn A-ssssins.
1t Is dif1cu!t to Give on exact definition Of
the Mana rs II exists In Sicily. where It's par
| ti-ans have blackmailed. robbed. and MUIR
derod for years III spite OF all the efforts OF the
italian Cover innent 10 suppress them. The
Mana" writes Ponfadini. lis not a special
secret society. but tho development and per-
fection OF whole system Of iniluity and law
breaking: It 10 an instructive. brutal, and sell
nsh solidarity OF mnlefnctors united to iniure
tho State. thwart the laws OF the lind and tho
exercise OF legitimate government; union OF
oil those who in zach OF tho social strata de-
sire to 1.-Two not BY labor but by violence. de-
colt. and intimidation Another italian
writer, Franchetti. cnlis the Malta An associa-
tion OF persons Of every condition. OF every
profession. Of overy SPECIES. who, without hav-
ing any apparent ontinuous and regular bond
OF union. nr, always found united for the pro-
motion OF their common interests, without
consideration for law. Justice. or pub
lie or'cr.' Allongl who has written
n special work on tho Maia in quoting these
two writer's says that we must add something
to what thev have written in order to have q
complete definition OF the association. Tho
Mana." ho writes. although It has no fixed
rules. or established hierarchy. forces its way
everywhore, and even tho good ana the honest
submit to IL with a patience that 10 universal,
because on account OF Its traditional violence
and vengeance trendeital. thoy deem It stlll
powerful and invncible 1t has various Gra-
dntions and shades o! color from the seacoast
TO tho mountains. Its object. besides that OF
Illicit gain and nvenginR itself without tho
help of tho law. Is 20 oppress tho weak. to unite
against what Is stronger than itself. conse-
uuently to protect itself ngains! the Governs
h,,v frtr ftclo nrf Inv n
but by snbterfuGe and a certain force Of in
crtia" Yot oven thcso descriptions do not give
a full dciuition Of this pest Of ssSicilian lifo.
The Malta has many rolnts OF resemblance
With tho Cnmorra. which is = Neapolitan 40
ciety, and with othor secret criminal societies.
But the Malta differs from them in that 1t has
no nSod organtHaion. permanent laws. per-
manent head. or lieutenants. And yot In GER
tain places and territories the Mafists are Or
Eanized into perfect societies. each OF
those called la Cosca." the leaf OF an arti-
choke: the general Malta being. in the scillan
idiom. n "Cacocciula" tCarcioio) or arti-
choke. Of which each camp" to borrow from
the Clan-na- Gael vocabulary. 10 q leaf But
even without these Partial ORGANIZATIONS the
Malta would exist. for II does not express the
things or the persons which compose It. but a
mode OF existence. OF feeling. and Of working.
Moreover. there are often two or three camps
OF Malta hostile to one another, on account OF
opposition OF interest, yet united in the COM
mon purpose Of evadinR the law and shielding
the criminal, even though he be IN enemy. Tho
Malta is not confined to class. The rich
as we'll as the poor may belong to It. there are
in 1t patrons and clients. protectors and pro-
tectcd. tho baron and the ssrf Even tho State
officer. the politician, and tho wealthy merchant
is often member. The Prince OF Gala:i, an
H. IL = H. >lNA
describes the influence Of the Malta In q letter
quoted by Alonggi. Instruments and Victims
OF tho Malta OF the upper classes. Leo Mobile
and his companions. have been put to death.
Tomorrow there will be new victims and new
Instruments. IL perusing the history OF Sicily
have you ever found brisand who did not end
his lie on the Rallows, or under the fire OF
musket balls? All beRinning with John
George Lancln hanged in 1882. down to Leo
Mobile killed In 1877. have had violent death.
Not one has died unpublished. But the high
Maha the Malta OF the upper classes has been
always spared BY all our administrations from
that of Don Henry de Guzman. Count Of
Oltvarez down to that OF Nicotera.
1T is true that Nicotern admonished some
OF tho barons. But tho punshments were light.
the chastissments iilusory. The high Malta Is
untouched. 1t throws tothe Government the
dupes OF tho country. but preserves those OF
the city"
The wealthy class can with difficulty escape
the influence OF the MRRa. The old feudal
spirit lives among them still. Many OF them are
descendants OF the robber barons OF the middle
ages. Hereditary enmities. community OF in
terests. consciousness OF crime. n desire to sur
round themselves with clevor md resolute dc.
tenders. the whole environment OF the upper
clnsses In Sicily tend to mako them Mafsts.
If man OF wealth or family should try to
make himself Independent OF his en-
would soon find himself isolated.
" boycotted." ruined. his property and hi-
island Impose tho Malta even
on ,would-be honest people. The wealthy
landowner will tell you conlidentiAly how he
suffers from It's oppression. and how be detests
m, Alnio i yet no Will tell you Mt The same
mar,t @ % e. slow. is ur'onnded by formali,ies. ; iii
n MI requires perfect evidence. while rho kniio |
n. muske acts at s No wealthy hs man
or his bnrns and his crops burned. 1t
happens aI.o that the relatives of The victim OF
q greater calami,ies befalna Them il they
shod mS,sHSt9s' Ss as 70 'sii.s H.
more 70 he dreaded. Take, them singly and
lie Slci!ians seem to be all victims. but taIe |
hem III together S and they seem to be sur
Suns; q the prorriet"rs will tell YOU
hat 1t is necessary inr them to belong to 1t; |
but many nre associated with It BY choice It !
yonld ho bard to say whether tho greater num-
Der belongs to the inst or to the second cuss.
rho peas mt even is driven into this nelarious |
,ss cia ion BY his surroundings IL he tries to |
..ra an honest living by iniustry and good
,,iior,s tor seif.miMrroseme'nt, i'm ,inpeded by the
,cromos nrrtminnl. Le, finds himself respected
l. q man OF honor He Ia p9i,l a sniary by
ONO wonlihy member OF the high Malta ana
lis worry crimes become Incrtorious. .Lven The
,onr Iaborinv class, which so far has .beon
,iioraiy sound. begins t. be tainted Iy
he labo ers. Halter their passions. and corrupt
heir morals. 1t Is not rare now 10 find in
,'riiy labor ORGANIZATIONS which oi only en-
l"rsr nnI advocate the nriucirle thnt nro-
'f his family II h, is convicted"
IhSrv is n distinction 10 10 made between
no operntions OF tho Maiia OF the inland
oun ry nnh of the sea const. In the inland
ietrc. 8 crimes against property ar, most ire-
Ecnt. the burning Of houses. tho destruction
i crops. ,he nlaiming OF Cattle. hriGandaee.
nd rho abduction nf men OF means that their
nmily should pay ,or ticir ransom. Near the
Oast nuncrs and RsSas.inat.ons are more
r-,inent. Tho "!ly Nlaflosi nre more addicted