Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-13
WORSE THAN MAFIA
4 SECRET SOCIETY In NAPLES IS SHOWN
UP
By the Trial Of Several Of It's Msmbers-Is Object is
Theft, Robbery and Assassinatisn- Vow
the Numbers Have TO ake.-Ncihing
but q Socialstic Gang.

MILAN, June 12.-AprOpOs to the
recent wholesale conviction at Bari, OF
members of the Mala Vita society
charged with various crimes, the Illus
traziOne ItdtidnG Of this city, says: The
Camorra Of Naples, and the Malta of
Sicily exist in Apulia (Adratic provin-
ces of Southern Italy, under the name
of Mala Vita (evil life). 1t is an organ
lied association with rules. It's object
is theft, robbery and assassination. 1t
is council OF administration, which
divides the profits of the Mala Vita
Society from thefts, robberies, etc.
Fifty per cent. goes to the chiefs,
twenty-five to the reserve fund. For
eight years this society has kept the
Southern Adriatic provinces OF Italy
under reign OF terror. 1t was only
discovered in 1889 after a long aid
dangerous research, and only year
afterwards were the authorities able to
and associates.
Although 179 members OF the society
have been brought to trial at the cou.t
at Bari, the authorities have not been
able to secure the chief ones among the
guilty, and it is probable that they
never will be caught. The head chief
is called Wise Master. The candidate
is initiated with great formality, accord
ing to an established ritual, and Is
obliged to take the following oath, with
one foot in tomb and in the chains II
swear to abandon father, mother, chill
dren and relatives, to make war against
infamy and guarantee humility"
Infamy Is understood to be hunger,
and humility the weak. The cardinal
principle Of the society is that the rich
should maintain the poor. He who pos
sesses nothing has the right to live at
the expense Of the others, is the founda-
tion upon which the whole edifce is
built.
Members OF the society are subjected
to severe discipline. Disobedience to
orders is punished by the chief. IL
light, with razor gashes upon the face;
if grave, with death. For every reve-
lation or betrayal, and for every testi-
is death. Those who execute the sem
tence are designated by lot, and when
designated, are themselves put to death
ii they do not kill the member indicated.
The existence Of the society was dis
covered by the Chevalier Gastane Reda-
vid, the well known Masonic chief at
Bari, who, in 1884, obtained secret in
formation of the existence Of the society
and wrote about it in his newspaper, IL
Martelto, for the purpose Of attracting
the attention OF the authorities. His
efforts were sue, :essful, and he was able
to ascertain all the particulars referred
to in this article. Immediately after
his discovery one of the members who
was condemned to death by the society,
but fortunately escaped mortal wound
when the razor stroke was delivered.
He was, however, horribly disfgured.
There are many disfgured members, be-
cause many have been denounced as
traitors by their companions.
The chief OF these who were on trial
is Cocoline Sabiusa, who is endowed
with phenomenal influence. He is the
reds Of infinite vengeance thus far re-
pressed. He was in prison at Bari for
attacking the customs guards. One day
a certain Eduardo Cabzelius, who was
in his room in the prison ward, proposed
to him to enter the Mala Vita Society.
He accepted, and at once there came in
to the room group Of sixteen men, in
the midst OF whom Cabzelius took a
post. Then the established ritual was
performed. We quote from the charac-
eristc deposition Of Cocoline:
"After the ritual | kissed the hands
of all the members present, and the
foreheads of five others whom | after
wards discovered to be simply novices
like myself. On the morrow, and for
days afterwards, / was obliged, in my
quality of young novice, to make the
beds of the chiefs, wash the dishes
which served for their table, and TO give
them whatsoever other service they re-
ouired. | began to grow tired OF that
slavery, when the chief OF the prison
guards asked me to act as room
guard in another ward. | accepted,
and in payment for my work
the prison administration gave me
three lire go cents per month.
One day Cabzelius sent word to me that
the three lire did not belong TO me, but
to the chief OF the society. | did not
like it and plainly refused to submit to
this unjust claim. They then sought to
persuade me with fine manners, and
with the same ritual as accompanied my
nomination as sovice / was proclaimed
a full member. Their efforts were such
that my three lire per month went to
the society, for whose members were
bought wine, cigars and cakes the
major society and the full members
minor society. The sign OF recognition
was these words: In the name OF hu-
mility belong to the ranch OF the Mala
Vita Society,""
Among the accused there is one Fran
cesco de Palma, who, having Withdrawn
from the society and having given testi-
mopy against some Of the members
charged with theft, was condemned to
have his eyes put out with quicklime.
lie was afterwards stopped on the load
by several members, who said TO him:
'sYou infamous traitor, We are looking
for you." They attempted TO dispatch
him with their knives, but be escaped,