Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-09
A DETECTIVES STORY.
The Treachery Of Italians Who
Come to This Country.
SUCCESS AS CoUNTERFEITERS.
They Hate to Work and Think to Get
Money Quickly by Showing the Queer-Ths
sesrv OF Giotani Rosso and How He Ac-
somprished His Revenge.

An EX-CHIEP OPERATIVE OF THE
"A United States secret service has been In
wsshinston for week. He has been n detec-
sivS for over twenty years, and In the course OF
N survfce has displayed remarkable aptitude
in fsrrssing out Isalian counterfeiters Per-
hsos no one in tho United States Is so well
acquainted with the characteristics OF the
Italian race as Is the sx-chisf. II is not often
that As can be induced to speak Of his profes-
saonal experiences, partly. on account Of the
official position that he has held, and partly be-
ssuss be does not want 10 incur the enrnity OF
. people who use their stiettos 80 freely.
The other evening, however, he let loose the
strings on his retieencs and talked unreserv-
eddy about the Italians . class who nre now
living IN this country.
CAN'T Trust An ITALIAN.
"You know" he said, II have been nearly all
my life In New York and professionally have
seen Q good deal Of the italian race. As a peo-
pie would not trust them any farther than
eo,Id throw a bull by the tail They are
treacherous, vindictive, impetuous and re-
vengefui Now il I should call any one of you
hsre o id scoundrel. which OF course l
wouldn't, we would have ii out right here and
NOW, but with those Internal Italians il Is
different. They never forget an insult although
it may be years before an opportunity 1.
offered TO wipe out the disgrace. Ihey will
ask you to their own house and there VIII not
be the slightest indication that the insult Is re-
ruembered. vet while you are drinking TO the
health Of the host end your glass Is at your
mouth the host will stab you. Now that 10 no
sx~ggeration Of their treaehery at all.
DO you think that the Aafis exists in this
country was asked.
NO. I do not / may be mistaken, but
have had many yearsof experience in New York
snd Philadelphia in dealing with Italians. and
j never yet haze found any organization OF that
nature In New York there are q grea. many
Italians, snd there would be organ ization
there suywhers- There is no particular set
Element Of them They are distributed ali over
the city. One may be situated on Baxter street.
another on Avenue c and 14th street aTd still
another on East 1854 street, and ye: there Is no
relationship commupi alton existing be-
tween the inhabitants If those settlements.
They don't seem to know each other. Now.
With the Malta it Is a secret order and it has its
fu|l complement Of signs and passwords. TO-
gsther with place to meet That is the way il
u In Sicily, the only piac. where the Malta is
known 70 exist 1t is in full force there and is
spowsrful organization
ORIGIN OF THE MAFIA.
Perhaps you know that it was originally o
political society founded on patriotic princi-
pies. It vas established in 1913 or 1850 to op-
pose the rule Of the bourbons and the very best
men in sicily were then numbered among It's
member. But after Garibaldi put Victor
Emanuel on the throne Of Italy in 1861. the
lofty purposes Of the Malta a political organ
ization having been accomplished, it soon lost
iss standing of responsibility. The society was
80 thoroughly organized. however. that it was
continued for sinister purposes and was made
cloak for brigxndaye. The Nafa is now made
up Of the worst element OF the island. 1t il
simply one large aggregation Of brigands and
embraces all OF the cut;hroats and robbers in
sicily IL Is as strong now as il was in its
earlier DAYS and the whole island Is governed
through fear by this powerful society.
The local government OF Sicily is powerless
TO break up the influence Of the Malta. Oc-
casionally police officer is murdered and it is
then made too hot for the assassin to remain in
Sicily, even though he is protected by the bane-
1aI rnaaense Of tine society. Then the outlaw
comes to this country.
no xAFIA IN THs PENINSULA.
There il no Malta in peninsular Italy, al
though there are many brigands there as bad
in character e those who live in Sicily Thou
sands Of Italians come to this country every
year. Every one have ever had arrested car
ried stilesto or razor and sometimes a pistol
Many Of them are Sicilhns and the most of
that class are members Of the Malta One may
20 TO Boston. another land at New York. an
other 60 10 Philadelphia or New Orleans and 50
on There is no distinct understanding where
they are going 20 locate when they leave Sicily
when hey get here there Is no arrangement on
The part Of the Mzfia by which they are taken
care Of or sent to some particular city. 1t may
% happen that they may meet in st. Louis or
Cincinnati They Of course will talk over the
old times in Sicily. Probably they are without
money. for they never work II they can help it.
and then job Is put up to rob or kill some one
OF their countrymen who has a little money
A have learned, they make no specific plan.
They sinply say We will do 10 ss we used to in
sicily. That means u stab In the side from be-
hind
'Italians generally are bad but these men
from sicily are unmftigIted villains. Thev
0em to have no conception of morality and
are devoid Of any Of the refinements of modern
civhizatsoR. They have no eompunction what
ever about stsbbing one Of their countryinen
oos "a sne rarest thing that they viii attack
any one who is not an Italian. Among them
ssives they quarrel and fight all the time So
long - they ere eft alone to settle their difi-
culnes IN thei, own sweet vay they do not
modest outsiders. but il they are leased and
N.rried tney VIII cut and shoot any one who is
foreigner rs quickly as they would If the as
0Alant vas an Italian
rEvKR vonK III ruEY CAN HELP IT.
you s.id that these Italians or rather Sell
ma. were sverse 70 work for o living
Yes; that 10 true. They never work IL thew
san help 10. You see the very nature of their
FORMER hives makes work repugaant to them
They hive upon the greenhorns who come from
she rural districts Of Italy, and these Sicilians
III
= re1nsrkabie what an intense antipathy ex-
lists between the Italians and the Siciiians They
mutually have the greatest contempt and hatred
for each other"
Have you ever found any Italian or Sicilian
who n really a steadfast, honest man,
As said before .ss a nation they are fight
ing. treacherous. revengeful people. and in
That relation have no .or them Sill I
nave found some men from that country whom
ieouid trust. One Of the best men I had on
ny force was siciiian bv the name Of Plata
he told me that he left Sicily because he be-
esme involved In sorre business difficulty. I
don't know whether that was the real cause or
not AZ airy rate he came TO New York anC,
went INFO business a barber He vzs doing
very well and was making money when he was
called upon By his former colleagues OF the
Malta, whom he had .orsworn, TO contribute TO
their support He refused TO paw and one
night ne had his face broke. rs they term a
Gus down the cheek. That MARI always iudi-
esses That the MN IL q suspect and OF course
Ne u sfghted and reviled By his countrymeu.
Az revenge for the injury rs well as the in
dignity that he had suffered Palats came 20 me
10 Eive informstion about the practices of his
viil~fnoas coontrymen. II Is 10 him that owe
ny knowledge Of the Malta. He wrote his
tory Of 10 In Italian and / sent IL TO ST. Louis
70 native Of Rome, who translated it for me
aiways found tins man to be true TO me- but
thhuk that he was actuased more by q desire 10
obtain revenge than by any other motive
-How is 10, Was asked chat Italians bscan~