The record-union., 1892-11-19
speclal to the RrcoRp-UNro,r.

New YORK, Nov. 18.-When Antonio
Flaccomio was mysteriously murdered
in front of Cooper Union few years ago
superintendent Byrnes, then inspector
in charge of the detective bureau, made
the discovery that a foreign assassination
society, usually known as the Malta, had
agents in this country, and that the order
was tlourishing in several cities of the
United States. The assassination of
FlaccomiO was laid at the door OF the
Malta, but the members of that order are
so soldly bound together that the muir
derer has never been arrested.
A marked victim ofthe Malta has asked
for protection at police headquarters
from an agent of the order who have
sworn to kill him. This man is Mario
Condo, an Intelligent Italian. He has
told his story to the police. The story he
told Detective Formosa began thirty
years ago, when he was still a boy in
Italy. His father was an Italian noble
man. In 1910 murder was committed
IN Paris, where his parents lived. His
father was wealthy man and the lower
and criminal classes had a great hatred
Tor him. 10 shield the real murderer his
father was arrested and taken to prison,
where he was kept for three years, not
withstanding his innocence. Then he
was let go upon his paying a sum of
money.
Several Italians who We're identified
with the Malta bore a 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 and selling
flowers. He says he has been bounded
several years and threatened with death
and has gone from one place to another to
escape assassination.
Mario formerly lived in Brooklyn. 1t
was there his wife died last year. She
bad been sick but fifteen DAYS. The
Malta, he said, tried to palm off one of
their members as doctor, but he discoV-
cred the fraud shortly before his wife
died. An Italian priest came to the house
and ordered everyone out of the room.
The priest sent him out tor medicine.
While he was gone the priest induced the
dying woman TO give him $500, which he
said he would send to her brother, An
tonic BrOnio, who is a soldier in Italy.
When his wife died her body turned a
reddish hue, but the attending physician
gave a certificate of death from pneu-
monia. She was buried aJ HOLY Cross
Cemetery, Brooklyn. Later. he saws. the
body was taken from the grave bv his
place.
The money which his wife gave to the
priest was never sent to her brother
Condo says that he learned this from A
letter from friends in Itafy, telling him
of a confession made by Lucna Gentrino.
an Italian who was living in BROOKLYN at
the time OF his wite's death, and who
went to Italy, where he died. Before he
died he confessed that Condos wife had
been poisoned by agents Of the Malta, in
order to get her money and property in
Italy. He gave the name Of the 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 husband.
Condo went to see. the Italian priest.
who, he said, was connected with a
church in Brooklyn. He accused him of
keeping the money. The priest threat
ened to have him killed il he said any
thing more about the matter. He had
been warned a number Of times since
that he would be killed if ne did not keep
quiet. One day his eleven -year-old son
was slashed across the face by unknown
parties and by this means poison was in
jected into the wound. The lad recov-
cred, however.
Condo says his letters are being 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 they tried to get
him to go in company with young man
whom Condo since learned was mem
ber of the Malta and was to murder him
at the first opportunity.
Condo is trying to get enough money
to get-back to Italy, but fears he will be
murdered before he can get away.