The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-16
ID, hNNIN|LAI[ THE MAF|A.
TXfY-F0TR CITIZENS OF-PALEN-
NO CHARGED WITH MURDER.
TAes Way he Tried In Reae-Deter-
nfnation Of df Radint 20 wipe
Out the sieiIfan Soeiety-Fifteen

From August until the end II December,
1887. no less than afteen assassinations
have been eomsaitsed In and around Pal
ermo. in Italy, each one OF which has been
laid 10 the door OF the Society OF Malta.
Suspected persons ha~s been arrested and
discharged Immediately after the preiim-
mary examination. SO strong has been the
evidence they could call up TO show that
they had nothing whatever TO do with the
crime OF which they were accused. The
civil tribunes had become paraiyzed with
a consciousness OF their inposency, and
an appeal was made to Reg.e.
Inc military aushsriises Of Pniern1o act
ing under direction OF Premier al Rudsn..
who Is also minister Of the interior. have
now begun what III reality Is war Of
determination against the famous secret
society. Recently the csrabinferi arrested
sixty-four members Of The Malta in Paier-
mo- each on the specific charge of murder
or completely in murder. They will be
tried in military court. and IL any at
tempt is made TO rescue them they viii be
transported 10 Rome for trial. This IS the
first time that the government has pro-
ceeded openly against the Malta. excep.
wher ts members took refuge. after being
outiawsd, in the ranks Of bandig.f which.
prior 10 1895. infested the hill country to
the south Of the city.
1t lis q Significant fact that while the
Journals of Florence. Milan and Rome are
tessnng with stories Of the crimes com
mittsd under the auspices of the society,
/! Corri.re der Isola and other Siciian
newspapers are silent on the subject or
guarieaiy refer 10 the arrests as miscar-
riages of Justice which the authorities
must soon set right. But. notwithstanding
the wholesale arrests, six Of the principal
members OF the prescribed society are
supposed by some to have made good their
escape to the mountains. The military
fear that an attempt will be made by the
banditti TO enter the city and, with the aid
OF their citizen confederates attack the
prisons where the members OF the Mana
are confined.
Slgnor Gianelli, the Roman politician and
litterateur has addressed an open letter
TO the government through the columns of
La Tribuna di Roma in which re calls
upon those III authority 10 make great
effort that shall admit of no defeat and
not pause until IL has swept from the isl
and OF Sicily the pest which has made life
and property Insecure there for centuries.
The Malta he writes. lis an Unsuitable
and mutifofm union of persons of all
classes, who in the face of all law and
order commit assassna tons. roehsries Sc
quester estates. control the markets. faisi-
y Wills, influence civil and criminal pro-
cedure and even secure their partisans
positions in the functions Of the state IT
Self. In their ranks are the banditti.
mayors, judges, thieves. crooks and depu-
tiesr'
The inner circle OF the Malta in PaIer-
mo, according TO the Roman papers is
composed of seventy members sixty four
of whom, as has been stated are now un-
der arrest. II IS also asserted In some
quarters that the six missing members
have escaped arrest simply because they
are victims of the black chair This Is
a sinister explanation. When a member
OF the society is discovered 10 be a traitor
he is captured by the others and taken TO
their place OF meeting. He II made to SIT
upon a raised chair and his eyes are BAN
daged He Is then wrapped in long sheets
OF black cloth, and "a member chosen for
the deed plunges d stiietto into his heart.
The black cloth becomes the victims
shroud he Is buried In II.
Among the sixty-four prisoners Is the
supposed chief of the society. Sisnor iii
pongoli, ore Of the best known and here
tofore most respected merchants OF the
city He is We'll horn, as his name signi-
fies finely educated. and has u fortune
estimated at over 600 lire. From let
ters seized il has been discovered that the
band has been IN the habit OF kidnapping
the children Of wealthy parents and had
also been engaged IN counterfe!ting. The
authorities have discovered proof that on
one OCCASION leo 90 lire was paid TO the
regain possession Of his sor, boy of II
years. TIE nan- of the prince Is net re-
vealed but he is said 10 he one Of the
CoIonna The Prince has never 1t Is sup
posed talked OF the AFFAIR. The officers
az the carabinieEi learned of II through
the letters that anne into thelr possession.
IN Jhne 1907 a large box labeled Pane"
was opened by mistake a. an express sta
ton In Palermo II was found 10 contain
anefa lire in counterfeit bank notes The
peiice were allied but were afraid 90 touch
H. so the cover was carefully replaced and
IL was sent 10 its destination. which hap
pened 10 he the shop 81 Signor iii Dongoii.
So completely in the hands OF the Mana
are the affairs 90 the city. shSs La Tri-
huna that welI-known citizens who are
not of the society are afraid 70 testify in
the courts until = hint has been given them
as 10 what the Maha expects them Ia say.
Even princes officers. projects and the
higher ma eistrates are more or less within
the nleshes OF the society. and they tnd II
more profitable u become members and
reap the BENEFITS Of the tremendous power
under tie dominion than to inicre ~ most
humble subject, even I'm the cause Of JUS
iics.
The Malta never forgives. never excuses.
never accepts explanstjans; transgres-
sion IS always punished, the punishment Is
always death.
Tho origin IF the Mafla dates back to the
9lme OF ire princes 90 the Swaban tire ard
the catastrophe which ended the reign OF
Charles. Duke ~ Aujoa. on the island; in
ether words 10 ;ne dat@ Of Sielliau YES
peTs Easter Monday March -. i2s2.
VI hiIa the French, who were masters Of
the island. we're holding festivities Sicsl-
lar bridal frain passed ny. French Of
tiSer named Drochct. under pretense az
searching fer arms. ussd the bride sudsly.
ard was stabbed 20 the heart with his oyn
sword IN the hands Of the bridegroom.
The eicii&ns st oDcs drew their stilettos
and murdered The ss1 Frenchuen present.
.;