Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-05
A NAFIA MESSAGE.


MAFIA MESSAGE
The brothers Liyigni were both professional
men. and one day in June, 1873, the elder. An
tonic, became involved in petty legal dispute
with the elder of five bnsth ars named Amorosa
who were the owners and proprIetors of all i'm
Inense orange and lemon plantation four miles
tevond Palermo. IN the open country. The
dispute dld not amount 70 much at the time
but the professional man received somewhat
startling message IN writing several days there
AFTER. All OF TIT hnor0sa brothers were well
known to him, and while standing at an upper
wihdow or hls residence in the evening he
noticed an AmorCsa Suddenly dash up TO his
door on horseback. throw something at an open
easement of she dwelling and as suddenly
leave again. The peculiar action was inves,i-
gated and the something" thrown through the
WINDOW found 20 be missive signed Malta
ana warning TIE recipient to leave Sicily within
two weeks or his life would pay forfeit.
The chief of yendarmes was communicated
with and Informed of Livfgni's suspicious as to
the authors OF much OF the crime then insest-
ing Palermo. trap was also laid for the sus-
pected AmorDsas. who were believed to be
leaders of the band but they seemed to have
been informed OF the scheme and kept close to
their farm. Evidently the trap had one good
effect however, because neither of the Liyignis
was molested and both finally emigrated to the
United States
Meanwhile the Italian authorities somewhat
reiaXed their vigilance and the list OF crimes
was being augmented rapidly ms ever. The
most persist emit shadowing of the Amorosas de-
yeioped nothing tangible TO inculpate them or
their associates and beside two Of the gen.
darmes detailed TO look after the supposed
criminals also Joined the list of missing. A
well-known priest who denounced the brigands
from his pulpit met with a like fate. as did the
daughter of - merchant to whom one of the five
brothers was paving his addresses. The girl
was supposed to have been betrayed and muir.
dered. but evidence could be produced.
This crime was committed in the fall of 1880,
and the warm months of the following year at
last say the tolls frightened about the assassins.
1t needed case of yellow fever to do the work
and In n foreign city Mt that; bu. the New
Orleans type "a the disease helped in good
cause for once, and the affair came to a head in
this way:
A NEW ORLEANS CLUE.
In July of 1881 there died in New Orleans a
Sicilian named Caffarelli, and according to the
report made to- the Italian minister at New
York CaIAreiii. who seemed a we'll educated and
intelligent mag requested of a friend Just be-
fore his death that the latter should destroy a
parcel oE pape-s to be found in Caffareui trunk.
Csfarc3h had become acquainted with this
friend by CHARGE, and informed him that he was
travelling in America for pleasure. The friend,
Morlni. agreed to destroy the documents, but
on examining them after CaffarelliS death found
any quantity of letters from Palermo, which
1&~U ucch WElttcu ny iHCfOets. showing
them to be the leaders Of the Ma ia in Sicil, and
establishing their own instruinentalty in a
number OF the crimes committed around Palermo
/ during Cafarellis absence. The names of at
least twenty three others were also mentioned
in the letters, but many of, these were later
found to be Of the lowest class of people. Doc
uments giving directions to (;affarelli for FORM
ing branch in New OrieaI were also in the
trunk. and the pile of damna Sory evidence was
complete.
THE CAPrUyn
Morini. himself Siciiian, at once sent the in
eliminating letters to the Italian minister at
New York and the latter forwarded them to his
government. Steps were taken to capture the
bandits self-accusedsSn the letters but II could
| not be definitely determined how large men,
bership the Inurderous organization boosted In
and around Palermo and the attempt promised
to be desperate undertakGg. 1t was argued
that If either of the ringleafers should be taken
openly into custody the remainder Of the or
| gsntzation might effect . rescue before the