The herald., 1895-08-25
The Curious Workings of
the Assassins in
Sicily
ORIGINALLY ENFORCED LAW
But That Was Five Hundred Years Ago
and When First Organized, and
Things Are Quite Diff.
ferent Now

Some 500 years ago in the dark days o.
be middle ages a society by some called
La Malta was organized by the reputable
people OF the Island OF Sicily. 1t was .
crude form of the vigilance committees
which maintained order in the early min
inc days of the west. When civilization
was in its infancy La Malta vigorously
enforced the common laws of humanity.
With civilization perfected to its present
end loft the century degree La Mafia is q
wonderful organization for vile assasslna-
ton.
The country districts about New Or
leans have just been treated to some
typical samples of the Matia's work.
Twelve men, women and children were
mysteriouslv yet boldly shot down.
The murderers have not been caught and
proba bly never will be. The Malta takes
good care of its own.
New Orleans has long suffered from the
yoke of the Mana. But since March IA,
1891, when its citizens broke down the
gates of the parish prison and shot to
death dozen vile wretobes. the scum
of Calapria and Sicily, the Malta has not
attempted to carry on its trade, except
among llS OWL Peopic' IL ms ieiV tuo
American citizen severely alone. The
Malta, when its members riddled with
bullets David G. Hennessy,H superintend-
ont of New Orleans police, on October
IS, 1890, saw that its work against an
American would bs a failure. The mur-
der was too costly. A dozen lives for one
was more than the ranks of the Malta
could stand.
In view OF the operations of the Malta
in Louisiana it becomes interesting to
study the society on its nat We soil in
Sicily. A comparison shows that Lot is
lana is almost as much sufferer as
Southern Italy. The reason is this. OF
late years large percentage of the Grim
inals discharged from the prisons of
Southern Italy have emigrated to the
southern states, fully 90 per cent of them
settling in Louisiana. The climate there
suits them and the great Italian popula-
tion of the place makes them feel at
home. The Italian authorities do moth
ing to stem this current of scum to the
shores of America. In fact, Italy is glad
to get rid of its criminals and aid them
to come here. They are posted about the
questions which will be put to them by
the immigration authorities here, and
easily conceal the information which
would prohibit their lanung. Louisiana
has members of the Malta and of the
Camorra, kindred society. which origin
atei in Naples. The Camorra is not as
deadly as the Ma.ia. its members being
given more to rlunder than murder.
In Sicily the Malta today knows no de-
gree OF punishment for offenSes against
its memb bers. Death is the only penalty.
A man who has injured one of the Matiosi
had his hand cut Off one who overheard
secrets of the 1ociety had his ears cut
off; one who had seen too much had the
skin of his forehead fayed and turned
down over his eyes. They were all killed
first. The mutilations were done after
death. merely as intimations to friends OF
the victims of the offenses which had
been comm ltted.
The police of New Orleans and New
York who have had extensive dealings
with the Mana have wondered at the ex-
traordinary reticence of the friends and
even of the family of victim. Although
they know the murderers, the police are
never given the information. The ia M
Ily of the victim do everything in their
power to defeat the law III its hunt for
the m urderer.
There are many reasons for this. Since
the annexation of Sicily by Italy a revolt
against the Law and government has been
part of the Sicilian nature. Law and its
enfaIGcrs are dreaded things to the ignor-
ant Sicilian mind. No faith is placed in
them. Some phases of the Italian law,
particularly the cruelties and tortures OF
the Italian prisoners of years ago gave a
solid foundation for this belief.
Another thing which defeats tie work
of the police is the accepted morality of
the Malta, which is covered by the word
'omerati." 4 literal translation of
omerati Is: The first duty of q man is
that OF doing justice with his own hands
infamy and holds up to public execration