The record-union., 1897-02-17
ASSASSINS ALL.
The Camorra Society and Its Deeds Of
Blood.
rIurder, Robbery and Incendiarism
Are Some of Its Crimes-f1Ow
the Band Works.

lHC DoH0 w OiNSs
The most murderous organization in
the world, says the New York Jour
nal" is the Carnorra Society of Con-
stantinople. It's avowed mission IS as
sassination, and every member is a
murderer a dozen times over.
How the band originated nobody ap-
pears to know. 1t appears to consist
of a large number of members as it's
operations extend to all parts OF Tur-
key, and branches Of the Camorra, or
| similar organizations in league with it,
exist elsewhere through the Levant-
The members are almost entirely Ital-
| ians or Greeks, chiefly from Naples,
Sicily and Cephalonia; but they differ
considerably in rank, some being mere
workingmen, while others are men Of
fashion, who arrange business matters
and carry out the better class of work,
which requires something more than a
strong arm and d bludgeOn.
The work of the gang is varied, and it
/ is not by any means confined to muir
der, though that seems to have been its
| only occupation at one time. The intro
duction of fire insurance into Turkey
opened out a new field for the Camor-
ra, and ncendiarism is now the most
important occupation of the band. Il
is here, too, that the most effective or
ganization is shown. Since fire insur-
ance was introduced the number of
fires has increased at an enormous rate,
until now there are between 30 and 300
fires annually in Constantinople alone
OF this number al least 10 per cent. are
incendiary fires, chiefly the work of the
CamOrra.
The method of procedure in this very
profitable class of business is as fol-
lows: Either a member of the band is
| installed in a Well-furnished house or
shop, or a 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 or the other of the foreign Of
fees, as English agents are too partie
ular as to whom they insure and 4
month or two after the insurance is eff
fected preparations for incendiarism
are made.
The goods are first removed and the
wallis and floors smeared with petro-
leum. The place is then fired. Should
the insurance agent be too curious
about the circumstances of the fire and
begin to make Inquiries, he is promptly
waited upon by a member of the band
who gives him plainly to understand
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 informer who
| i,,f,r
Well for him if he escapes with a dagger
wound.
In most cases the agent pays the
money without demur He cannot fight
the band single-handed; 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 foreign subject, and
find means of making his escape while
being passed ON to the proper authori-
ties.
An agent has been known to resist
claims, and he has either been assas-
sinated 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 q clerk whose employer-an
English merchant-had refused to pay
a fraudulent claim on the insurance
company for which he was agent. The
Englishman declared his determination
to resist the Corona, but after standing
out for a few weeks he came to the
conclusion that discretion was the bet
ter part of valor and cheaper in the
cnff cd tLo oIo
missed the two stalwart Croats who
had acted as his bodyguard
AS an instrument of vengeance the
Camorra is largely employed in Pera,
the European suburb Of Constantinople
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 some cases, where nothing
less than 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
expenditures Of everyday life, and
when a months salary is paid the
| recipient has too many claims on his
slender resources 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 in
formed that unless he pays he will be
knitted. He generally pays. The police,
as before stated. do not interfere with
| the band, or, If they do, it is easy to
| quiet them with backsheesh; but If the
| friends of a 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 upon him are duly provided
! fora contingent however, which is
rare.