The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-27

unknOwn-.A All Parts Of Turkey Are
Covered by Its Operations, Which
Include Murder. Robbery and im-
How the Band Works.
An AiI.pOwcriui Organization.
The most murderous organization in
the world, says the New York Journal,
is the Camorra society Of CONSTANT
noplc. Its avowed mission is assassi-
nation, ana every member is Il mur-
derer dozen times over. How the
band originated nobody appears to
know. 1t appears to consist of a large
number of members. as its operations
extend to all parts Of Turkey. and
branches of the Camorra, or similar or
GaniZations in league with it, exist else
WheG through the Levant. The mem
bers are almost entirely Italians and
Greeks, chiefly from Naples, Sicily and
Ccphalonia: but they differ consider
ably in rank, some being mere work
ingmrn. while others are men of fash
ion, who arrange business matters and
carry out the better class Of work,
which requires something more than q
strong arm and Il bludgeon.
The work of the gang is varied, and
is not by any means confined to mur-
der. though that seems to have been its
only occupation at one time. The in
| PRODUCTION Of fire insurance into Tur-
key opened out new field for the Ca
| mora. and incendiarism is now the
| most important occupation of the band.
1t is here. too. that the most effective
organization is shown. Since fire in
suranra was introduced the number of
! fires has increased ut an enormous rate.
until there are between 30 and 800
fires annually in Constantinople alone.
OF this number at least 10 per cent. are
| incendiary fires, chiefly the work Of the
I Camorra.
The method Of procedure in this very
profitable class of business is as fol-
lows: Either ~ member of the band is
| installed in Il well furnished house or
shop. or n man already established in
! suitable premises is induced to join
the band by the offer of a share in the
! SpOils. The place is insured. generally
| with one of the other foreign offices,
as English agents are too particular as
to whom they insure. and month or
two after the insurance is effected
preparations for incendiarism are
| made.
The goods are first removed and the
walls and floors smeared with petro-
lcum. The place is then fired. Should
| the insurance agent he too curious
! about the circumstances of the fire and
| begin to make inquiries. he is prompt
! ly waited upon by member of the
/ band, who gives him plainly to under
stand that the affair is in the hands
of the Camorra. and that he will pay
with his life for any trouble he makes
| over the money. And woe to any in
former who gives evidence of incendiar-
| ism. 1t is well for him If he escapes
| with dagger wound.
| In most cases the agent pays the
! money without demur. He cannot fight
the band sinClc-handcd: the police will
! do nothing unless they are bought. and
even then it would probably be found
when the ruffian was arrested that he
would claim to be a foreign subject
and find means of making his escape
while being passed on to the proper au-
| thorities.
An agent has been known to resist
claims. and he has either been assassi-
mated or has narrowly escaped with his
life, and has been only too glad to pay
at last. One notable instance was an
attempt made in broad daylight and in
the main street of Pera, upon the life
of clerk whose employer-and Eng
| lish mcrchant-had refused to pay a
| fraudulent claim on the insurance COM
pany for which he was agent. The
Englishman declared his determination
to resist the Camorra: but after stand
| ing out for few weeks he came to the
| conclusion that discretion was the bet
| ter part of ValOr and cheaper in the
long run. settled the claim and dis
missed the two stalwart Croats who
had acted as his body guard.
As an instrument of vengeance the
Camorra Is largely employed in Pera.
the European suburb of Constantnople
especially by women. The Periots are
not models of virtue, and as young
Pera is as tickle as he is vapid, there
are always outraged divinities to be
avenged. In come cases, where moth
ing less than the life blood of the
faithless lover will satisfy the lady,
| she bargains with the Camorra for his
assassination.
Dunning debtors is another and very
| important department of this sOciety'S
business. The unpaid legions Of the
| Turkish service are driven to borrowing
money at eXorbitant interest for the ey
penditurcs of everyday life, and when
a months salary is paid the recipient
has too many claims on his slender re-
sources to think of repaying loans. The
money lender employs the Camorra.
and at once some members are told off
to collect the money.
The unfortunate debtor is Informed
that unless he pays he will be knitted.
| He generally pays. The police, as be-
fore stated. do not interfere with the
band. or if they do, it is easy to quiet
them with backshcesh: but if the
friends of victim resolutely pursue
a member of the band. he is smuggled
off to the provinces by his. comrades
until the affair has blown over.
In the event of any member of the
band being killed or disabled while en-
gagged in work for the Camorra. those
dependent unOn him are duly provid-
cd fora contingent, however. which