The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-14
AN ITALIAN SECRET SOCIETY,".

MILAN, June 13-Apropos of the recent
wholesale conviction at Bari of members
of the Mala Vita society charged with var
ious crimes, she Illustrazione Italina of
this city, says:
The Camorra of Naples and the Malta of
Sicily exist in Apulia (Adriatic provinces
of southern Italy under the name of Mala
Vita (evil life. 1t is an organized associa-
ton with iron rules. Its object is theft,
robbery and assassination. 1t has cOun-
Gil of administration which divides the
profits Of the Mala Vita from thefts, rob-
berries, etc. Fifty per cent goes to the
chiefs, 70 per cent to those who execute
their orders and 25 per cent to the reserve
fund.
For eight years this society kept the
southern Adriatic provinces of Italy I'M
der a reign Of terror 1t was only discov-
cred in 1889 after long and dangerous re-
searches and only a year afterward were
the authorities able to lay hands on por-
ton of its members and associates. Al
though 1T9 members Of the society have
been brought to trial by the court of as
sizes 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
Applicants for membership must apply
through a member to the chiefs. Members
are divided into three classes-noyices,
uncle. The head chief is called Wise
Master. The candidate is initiated with
great formality according to an estab-
lished ritual and is obliged To take the
following oath with one foot in tomb
and the other in chains: Il swear to
abandon father, mother, children and rel
atives TO make war against lnfamy and to
derstood to be hunger and humility the
weak.
The cardinal principle of the society is
that the rich should maintain the poor.
He who possesses nothing has the right TO
live at the expense of him who has, is the
foundation upon which the whole edifice
is built. Members of the society are sub
iected to severe discipline. Disobedience
TO orders is punished by the chief If
light, with razor gashes upon the face: if
grave, with death. For every revelation
or betrayal and for every testimony
against a member the punishment is
death Those who execute the sentence are
selected by lot and when designated are
themselves put TO death If they do not kill
the member indicated. Furthermore
whenever the members gain in play a GER
tain amount must be given TO the society.
Among the Members arrested at Bari
many are tattoed with emblems peculiar
TO the society.
Inc SAlStt4Cc Vi bllc SbOACbs was A4S-
covered by the chevaliere Casio Redavid,
the well known Masonic chief at Bari,
who in 1854 obtained secret information of
the existence of the society and wrote
about it in his newspaper II Martello for
the purpose of attracting the attention of
the authorities His Efforts were success
full and he was able TO ascertain all the
particulars referred TO in this article. I'm
mediately after his discovery one Of the
members VINO was suspected of divulging
the secrets was condemned co death by the
society. but fortunately escaped mortal
wound when the razor stroke was delivered.
He was, however. horribly disiiguTed.
There are many dishgured members be-
cause they have been denounced as traitors
by their companions. The chief OF those
who were on trial was Cocoline Ssbius,
who is endowed with phenomenal import
ance He Is the center of thousands OF
ferocious hatreds of infinite vengeance
thus far repressed. He was in prison at
Bari for attacking the customs guards.
One day certain Eduardo Cabzelius,
who was in his room in the prison ward,
Cocoline's story went on, proposed 10 him
to enter the Mala Vita society as q novice
He accepted. AMI AT once there came 70 the
room group of sixteen men, in the midst
of whom CabZeliUs took post, Then the
established ritual was performed We
quote from the characteristic deposition OF
Cocoline:
After the ritual / kissed the hands OF
all the mem bers present and the foreheads
of five others who afterward discovered