The morning call., 1892-11-19
FEARS THE MAFIA.
An italian Who Claims to
Be Prosecuted.
STORY TOLD TO THE POLICE.
An Alleged Plot to ASsassinate Son of
Nobieman-How His Dying
Wife Was Robbed.
Special to THE MORNING. CALL.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1S.-Wheh Antonio
flaccomlo was mysteriously murdered in
'front.' OF Cooper Union few years ago,
SUPERINTENDENT Byrnes, then inspector in
charge OF the detective bureau, made a
discovery that foreign society usually
known as the Mafia had agents in this
country, ana that the order was flourishing
In several cities of the United States. The
assassination of Flaccomio was laid at
the door OF the Malta. but the members of
tnat order are so sOlidly bound together
that the murderer has never been arrested.
a marked victim of the Malta has asked
Tor protection at police headquarters from
agents OF the order who are sworn to kill
him.
ms man Is Mario Gondio, an intelligent
Italian. be has told his story to the police,
and the narrative he told Detective For
mosa began thirty years ago, when he was
still a boy in Italy. His father was an
Italian nobleman. In 1910 a murder was
committed in Paris. where his parents
hved His father was a wealthy man, and
the lower and criminal classes had great
hatred for him,
10 shield the real murderer his father
was arrested and taken to prison, where ne
was Kept Tor three years, nOtwiths standing
MS innocence. Then he was released upon
BIS paying sum of money. Several
Italians who were identified with the Malta
bore grudge against the elder Mario,
which he says has been transferred to the
son.
Mario came to this country in 1867 and
Soon went into business, making balloons
anu selling flowers. He says he has been
hoanded Tor several years and threatened
naof
70 another to escape assassination. Mario
formerly lived in Brooklyn. 1t was there
his wife died last year. She had been sick
but fifteen days. The Mafa he said, tried
To palm OF one Of their members SIS a doctor,
but he discovered the fraud
Shortly before his wife died an alleged
Italian priest came to his house and ordered
every one out Of the room. The alleged
priest sent him out for medicine, and while
he was gone the dying woman was induced
TO give him $500, which he said he would
send to her brother, Antonio Brouio, who
is soldier in Italy.
When his wife died her body turned a red
dish hue. but the attending physician gave
certificate of death from pneumonia. She
was buried In Holy Cross Cemetery, Brook
lyn. Later, he says. the body was taken
from the grave by his enemies and re-
moved to some unknown place. The money
which his wife gave to the alleged priest
was never sent to her brother Condo says
that lie learned this from letter from
friends In Italy. telling him of the confess
sion made by Lucna GentrinO, an Italian,
who vas living in Brooklyn at the time
OF his wife's death. and who went to
Italy, where he died. Before he died he
confessed that Condos wife had been poi
sonef by agents of the Malta, in order to
get her money aud property la Italy. He
gave the name of an alleged PRIEST who got
the money, and confessed that it was not
sent to the dead woman's brother. He also
confessed that the same persons who
caused the death of Mrs. Condo were
sworn TO kill her aud ner husband
Condo went TO see an Italian, who he
said was connected with a church in Brook
lyn. lie accused him of keeping the money.
The accused threatened to have him killed
II he said any more about the matter. He
has been warned a number OF times since
that he would be killed If he did not keep
quiet One year his eleven-year-old son
was slashed across the face by unknown
parties. and by some means poison was in
1eeted into the wound. The lad recovered.
however Condo says his letters are inter-
cepted. and he is being bounded night and
day. About three months ago he made up
his mind to go TO Italy TO get possession of
his wife's property. His enemies heard of
it, and tried 10 get him to 60 in the company
OF young man whom Gondio has since
learned was member OF the Malta, aud
was to murder him a. the first opportunity.
Condo is trying to get enough money to
get back to Italy, but fears he will be mur-
dered before he can get away