The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-04
ITALY'S DREAD MALTA.
Most Dangerous Secret Society in the
World to Be Suppressed.

Rome Letter in St.Louis Post-Dispatch.
The most dangerous secret society in the
| world-the greatest on the continent of
| Europe-the Mafa-is now fighting for its
| life. Its adversary is the government of
Italy. For months the two powers have
| been locked In combat IL the government
wins the Malta will receive it's death blow.
| If the society that always, without excep-
ton, attains its end through criminal means
wins. the integrity of the government will
be at stake. The present fight was precipi-
tated by the Notarbartolo affair This has
given rise to the most famous trial held in
Italy in recent years.
Recent scandals have taken place in the
Bank of Sicily. NJ. Patizollo. deputy to the
Italian Parliament for Palmero, and the
Duke of Verdura had bought with the
money of the bank shares to the value of a
million and a half lire in the Italian Gen
eral Navigation Company The shares in
creased tremendously in value. PatizoIlo
transferred them to his own account, paid
| back the 100000 lire TO the bank and appro-
priated the profits. The government was
appraised of the transaction. Ii ordered an
official inquiry. Signor Notarbartolo was
appointed to make the investigation He
performed his task well. AS result he
was assassinated. PatiZolio. ii is alleged,
tearing other disclosures, gave ORDERS to
one Fontane to make way with Notarbar-
tolo. The order was obeyed. Patizollo was
arrested. His trial for murder is now in
1t is this trial which has ranged the Malta
| and the government in deadly combat
Patizollo and his fellow-conspirators are
members of the Malta The society honey
combs the Italian nation. 1t pervertS JUS
tice. utilities the sentences of courts. con-
trolls juries. lawyers and judges. Hence
the Importance OF the present trial. All
its powers are leagued for the acquittal of
PatiZollo. His conviction will stagger the
power of the society.
One notable result of the investigation to
date Is that ex-Premier Crispi has been
charged with being a member of the Malta.
Definite charges are about to be brought
against him in connection with the matter.
He will then have to defend himself against
the accusation of being member of
criminal organization forbidden by law.
Here for the first time given the work
ings OF this extraordinary society. The
Malta is not a purely political organization.
nor yet a criminal one; 1T has paid Off
GERS, no definite committees, no elected
chiefs; but what ii has Is a system some
what akin to that of Freemasonry without
its formalities) by means of which men,
Der can attain a certain position of emil
hence above his fellows by seniority or
deeds acco<lnted useful to the community.
In each town there is an intermediary
between the masses and the higher powers.
The powers in important cases advise as
to proper methods of procedure. In minor
cases each member acts at his own dis
erection. Should occasion arise assistance
will be given him from headquarters. The
headquarters continually change. FIRE.
quently In day they move to locality
one hundred miles away. Nothing could
be simpler than the initiation. But death
is ever present at the ceremony. The new
member swears on the cross that he will
keep his fellow-member Ito the death
itself. That is the whole ceremony. His
RAJ xtrfr fen 6nyy1 in fha 1nna
records. Instead II is sent to headquarters,
where by mouth 1t is given to the various
''Mafiosi' In the locality where the new
member lives. They reveal to him the signs
of the society. The last information they
give him is that he will be killed by the
dagger should he fail to obey any and
every order issued from headquarters.
The only bond that holds the 'Mafiosi''
together Is the one OF reciprocal liability
All classes of people, holding all kinds of
beliefs, are members. Republicans and
Royalists. Catholics, Protestants, atheists
and Mussulmans embrace its creed; mobiles
and peasants are in its ranks. If one of the
members commit crime all the other
members must protect the criminal. All
trades and professions are permeated with
Its influence. grocer in the organization
must deal honestly with his fellow-mem-
bers. Others he can cheat. If he is brought
before the magistrate he knows that the
magistrate. through fear or as a result of
membership in the order viii acquit him.
The society originated in Sicily, in OPP
position TO arbitrary government The
Siciians fought in turn against the Arabs,
Normans, French. Spanish and lastly the
Bourbons. When they could not fight their
foreign masters openly they resorted to as
sassination. When. as time went on. they
had no foreign masters to wage war
against. the baser of the Sicilians began to
murder their fellow-countrymen. The au-
thorities and the better class resisted. The
criminals leagred together for defense.
Hence the Malta. The character of the So
ciety has changed somewhat of recent
years, but its chief principle-to obtain its
end criminally-has never changed.
A fagrant case showing the power of the
Malta recently occurred in Palermo. A we'll
dressed man In tram car, suddenly pulling
a pistol from his pocket shot a dead
who sat opposite to him. He leaped from
the car, the conductor. Mafiosi not pre-
venting his escape The gendarmes, re-
spending to the hue and cry, pursued him
through the narrow streets. But meanwhile
the murderer emitted the cry of Mafioso
in distress. In response the householders
on the line of pursuit rushed pellmell from
their houses and. throwing chairs and ar
ticles of furniture in front of the gend-
armes. impeded them and aided the muir
derer to escape. That Is the greatest power
OF the Mafia-to commit crimes without
the danger OF being brought 10 Justice
Even If a member is apprehended and con-
victed the judge may acquit him or his
tailers may permit his escape. Thus the
Notarbartoo trial, which should have been
tried in Palermo, was, to destroy the in
fluence of the local Mafiosi, removed to
Milan. No less than five royal. attorneys
and four projects are engaged by the prose-
cution. Yet the prosecutors are working
under circumstances of the greatest diff
Guilty. The witnesses, in dread of the Malta
commit perjury. The police lie The YER
batim reports have been burned. The police
reports lost. The official documents falsi-
fed. Such Is the power of the Malta The
q 10 IN, hflh mill IL