Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-17
THE DREAD mAFla.
How tho Members Wreak Vengeance on
Their HafraYers.

Tho Malta Is a secret organization composed
almost entirely Of Scilans, ana was founded by an
Italian clt-thTOat named Mana ut Palermo hun
dred years agO. The members are for the most
part criminals aud cOunterfeiters, and hesitate
a. no atrocity. The inhuman cruelty OF some OF
the Malta agents Is almost beyond human ere
dence, ana sayora OF the brutal barbarity OF the
middle ages. Vincenzo Ardti burned q victims
house In New Orleans, hoping TO burn the owner
et tho same time. He waa sent 10 tho peniten-
tary. organized a branch OF the hafia-for
house breaking purposes only--among his TEL
loW-prisOners, got out, went 10 81. Louis, and
murdered foe OF the Mafa there.
fio went 10 Chicago, opened saloon, entced
IN obnoxious felOw-cOuntrynRn into II, and
stabbed him IN the back with knife 20 long that
ii stuck Out on both sides OF the dying man as he
fcu 70 the floor. lie went TO New York, opened
storp fired it 70 get the insurance, and was un-
slccessfuL Ho vowed vengeance and la Mana on
q feilOw-cOuBtryman whom he believed instrn-
mental In causing hia defeat lie invited MS
victim 70 a private apartment 20 have glass Of
beer. offered n beaker with one hand, and with
the other, By one stroke OF the razor, lad TIE
poor wretchs faco opon from his forehead to the
point Of his chin. When the wounded man,
Elmost by q miracle, recovered and was able
70 leave the Chambers-Street Hospital he was
afraid to complain against Ardiu, who went scot
free.
I'm October, 1883, Antonio FlaccomIo was ae-
sassinated I'm the shadow OF the Cooper Union
building In New York city. Flnccomio had been
adiudged a traitor 20 the organization, OF which
NJ time lH WIS n prominent ultulDtf, anu IL
was said that CarmellO Faraeh, who was laurdor-
ed I'm the Staten Island woods four years Jofore,
had boon enrolled In tho same society. Tho un-
iustiGabie killing Of Rarnch was one or the
causes that led 20 Flaoc)mo's REMOVAL but the
cause OF his assassination was the testimony that
DO gave shortly before his assassination against
some Of his cOuntrymen, who were colnterfeltefs
as well as brother members Of Ia haha. FLAG
comic was sentenced 70 death, aud two brothers,
Carlo and Y,ucenzo Quarrara, were selected to
Kill him. The former plunged the stnettO INTO
the doomed mans heart
HORRIBLE BEGINNING.
signor RafIio, Of New York city, the Italian
consul, Is authority for the statement that tho
first that Was really known Of tho order was nt
the beginning Of tho present century, In the
town sof SLIM, Sicily, where a family Of nine
named Giayanni, OF considerable social position,
wore murdered ia as many weeks. Tho father
went first, being found at his very doorstep.
Seven days later the mother followed. Her dead
body was found In almost the Same loca-
ton as that OF her husband. The sG-
thoIiuos we're unsuccessful IN freeing
tho murderer CT murdcrcrs, and seYe-
raj days afterWar1 the bodies OF tho two
eldest children we're found dead In bed. The
others followed In regular order until the family
Was completely annihilated. A tough character
OF the town named SlpOl was arrested on snspi-
cion and confessed. lie revealed the existence
OF tho order and said that Giayanni and his fam
iy had incurred the anger OF the band by be-
traying q criminal who was a Malta 10 the au-
thorlues spon had been instructed, among
others, 20 commit the murder He was tried,
and although the best counsel was employed 70
defend him on plea OF insanity by the Mafia,
be was convicted and sent 20 prison for life.
Several Witnesses for tho prosecution were
afgerWard murdered by the Malta. The Gov
ernment becoming aware Of the iaTless nature
Of inc organization az once took measures % have
10 suppressed, but the efforts proved futile. La
Malta continued 70 grow. A police 0flcer In 1858
In Milan discovered mark by which a member
OF La Mafa cOuld bo known. IL consisted Of
small scar immediately under the ear, caused
by burning. In this way great numbers OF crtmi-
nals wore afterward run down and brought 10
Justice The society then gave up the mark, and
the police officer one year after was found dead,
stabbed 70 tho heart
A MODERN STRUCTURE or MEDIEVAL SENTIMENT.
La Malta Is 4 modern organization based on
medieval sentiment. IL is related 10 the camorra
of Naples. it is n society confined not 20 Ital-
iaus, bur 20 SiciEans, tho baser kind OF Greeks,
who bring their national customs, their secret
societies and traditions OF murder with them. III
a Slclian believes that no can provide for the
otection Of his person and property without
having recourse 70 law that person Is a Mahosa.
He may be a bully, biacklnailer, a murderer,
hut in whatever no does the public opinion OF
Sicily supports him still The code OF ethics
which maintains him Is called "otaerta,' or man
illness.
Not long ago wealthy proprietor was driving
% his homo in the neighborhood OF Palermo.
Six bullets whizzed by hin- None Of them hit
within few months everybody who had taken
part In the attempted assassination was himself
assassinatod. A Malta had STACKED Manosa-
He was moro powerful than his assaiiant.
sicilians Justify these crimes Everybody knows
tho authors, yet nobody interferes- Said guide
OF recent traveller In Siciys "Youder home
belongs 70 most respectable span--s highly re-
spectacle man, sir. The other day he killed his
cook. Ono Of the most respectable men In these
parts, sir"
MURDER THE coRSgR-sroxg.
Murder Is the cornerstone OF the social fabric
OF Sicily A siliclan Wishes 70 sell a farm. A Co
DO Malta wishes 90 buy Il. Nobody dares bid
against him. II anybody Is 20 foolhardy he
would be shot next day nom behind a wall or the
corner Of house.
II copo Mans runs for the maycraiiy Of a vii
lage NOBODY runs against him. IIe invariably
has unanimous eiection. His hands may be
red with dozen murders, and his pockets filled
with blackmatl. Not q servant can DO discharged
without reterence % the unseen Mana The Ma
iioai rule their district as despots. II they have
rlyelries the knife decidee IL. Tho Caraorrsfa Of
OF Sicily.
The political poserof the canmoraIs Is broken,
yet u maintains an underground existence. and
has three grades. A novice IN tho first grade Il
called "Gazzope di Malasita,' "a youth Of bad
hiel The more advanced pupil is styled
: 'sPicciosto di Sgsrrv. The flashed scholar ~ The
taniorrlsaa. The novice marks ous the victim.
follows him, and plays detegtivo on him. The
Pcciotta q initiated into the secrets Of tho con-
fraternity. 10 merely gots q handful of eous
rom the tanoFfisia. Ito lives In hopes OF rcscb-
ing the third grade, and some day, By mesns of
an artistic stab CT unusually long term In prispn
ne Is advanced 10 tho sacred band. Ito ta5<ss
the cath ON crowned knives with his hands tr,-
tnesed In his oxn blood. He Is thon licensed 20
inufder Nhomsoeyer he p3ee.es- TIE CamorfisfA
has TWO degrees u punishment -nne 10 the. .sprog-
kic or slash frofn razor, The other iB tbeoollet-
tnttl or stab with q knits-
La Old days tho police delegated thnir aathor-
lty 70 ths cnmorris<a. JuaS ocforc she adycat u
Victor Emmanuel tisey wore placed h charge of
sas ne whole eiiy: For tine shey did thsif vesk