St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-29

Ciccio's Remark able Career
Knife, Raz,r, sword and Re-
voIver the Camorra Weapons.
AS an organized secret society the
Camorra was doubtless introduced into
Southern Italy at the time of the Span
iSh domination, says the New York
Journal The word itself comes from
Spain, where it SignineS variouSly a
dispute, and quarrel and abuse OF
forces, or also the short linen blouse
which was for long time the accepted
sign of 4 Camorrist.
The SpaniardS probably got the Ca
NORA in its primitive form from the
Arabs, who had fashion of taxing or
Intimidating the gamblers in the cafes,
and so the word comes from the Arabic
kumar, which means 1.-The game OF
chance"
Little by little the institution crept
into the national life, and today. in
spite of the repeated knocks that it has
had on the head from determined gov
eminent since the unification Of Italy,
causes shudder.
In the common language of Italy to-
day the Camorra signifies exercising
blackmail, eXtorting money by intimlda-
ton, forcing brides by means of infor-
nation cunningly obtained.
There are all grades of CammorriSts,
from the elegant signore 0ho cheats at
in nlINh n
mails families whose skeleton i'll the
closet he has discovered, and who i'm
poses his mediation in business matters
in order TO get some profit out of the
affair, down to the lower strata.
The CamorriSt of the lower classes
works on servants of all ciasses-the
cook in her kitchen. the butler, the
coachman and the gardener. OF course,
he reapS rich harvest from all gam
bling houses, lottery establishments,
and from ESurerS, who have 10
PAY HIM REGULAR FEE.
The Cahorrist of the lower class es
threatens with his knife, or his razor,
or his revolver. The Camorrist of the
upper Class threatens with the sword,
The organization is perfect. In the
slang or Naples. the Camorra some.
times call their society THE Umirta,"
q corruDted form of the word humility.
They so call it because the novice in
the dread society is i'll the hands OF his
Superiors, and obliged to be absolutely
obedient and humble.
The Vnuth vim has aGforpd fbn
ORA remains for some years almost the
slave of the chief Camorrist of the sec
ton in which he lives. Incidents are
very common in the Southern Italian
cities of the Imprisonment of young
CamorriSt for a crime which is known to
have been committed by an elder one.
Toward thirty, if he has good luck.
the novice. having passed through the
various grades, is admitted to the rank
of Camorra proprietor, or becomes a
partner in the cooperative enterprise of
theft, murder and blackmail.
The Camorrists have their special
cafes, their hotels, their houses into
which no others penetrate, ands where
they live III luxury.
In Naples the association is divided
into chambers-sYndIcates perhaps we
may call them-one for each of the
wards Of the city. Each has its chief,
regular Camorra magistrate. whose
duty it is to settle all disputes between
members of the society and to maintain
order, and particularly to decide how
many Camorrists may work in each
ward.
The punishments for offenses against
the Camorra
ARE TERRIBLY SEVERE.
Treason, spying, the stealing of the
society's money, the unauthorized mur-
der Of a member of the society in quar-
rel or for jealousy, are all punished by
death. Less grave otfenses, like rebel
lion, are punished by fines, or some
times by exclusion from the society. or
with beatings, which often break the
limbs or disfgure the features of the
culprit, Grand hele is very curious
detail Of Italian life--with the "Sfre-
glo." This is Il slashing blow with a
keen-bladed razor in the face, and is the
most common form of vengeance exer-
cised by the agents of the Camorra in
the lower ranks of society.
s TheCamorrist who has had the sfregio
ct the hands of one of his companions
simply goes home and gets his wound
healed, and returns to his occupation as
If nothing had happened. He knows
that 10 attempt to avenge himself would
sharpen thousand knives against him
at once.
When a Camorrist knows or thinks
that he is suspected by his companions
and that his life is in danger as a con-
sequence, he goes boldly into the drink
Ing place where his enemies are in the
habit of meeting, and throws his open
knife upon table, saying: LET any
one WHO dares pick up this knife. | am
ready TO oblige him." If no one accepts
the challenge the Camorrist picks up
his knife and leaves, feeling convinced
that he is no longer in danger. Once in
while, however. fiery fellow will not
be satisfied If the knife is not pic ked
lip, and, pulling out his revolver, will
blaze away at the whole company.
The razor is the favorite weapon OF
the Picciotti, as the little brothers" of
:he Camorra are called. 1t is carried
open in little paper-mache scabbard
and is used with wonderful skill. The
women of the Camorra are nearly all
marked with the razor spIashes which
Indicate the vindictive and tempestu
Gus tempers of their husbands and
lovers.
Sometimes the scar extends in thir
red line from the corner of the eye al
the way down to the mouth. Now it /.
placed on the cheek in the form of {;
cross, now of the letter "" and some
times it lays open the victims face t,
she bone. Many of the Camorrist
steep the blades of their razors in
kind of ink, which leves an indelibl
mark in the wound.
There have been many celebrate,
Camorrists whose relations have ey
tended even to the highest circles O
nobility. The famous Ciccio. a Neapol