Evening star., 1901-05-28
1rALY,s BLOODY BROTHERHOOD.
Light Thrown Upon the Malta by
Chief of Police.

Light Thrown Upon the Malta by a
Chief of Police.
From the London Daily News.
The Malta is one of the most curious and
regrettable features of modern Sicilian life,
and is source of constant anxiety to the
Italian government and of absorbing in
terest to all foreigners visiting the island.
Much has already been written on the sub
ject, and many more or less fantastic theo-
ries as to it's causes and character have
been put forward. But a great deal of light
has been shed this social phenomenon
by Signor A. Cutrera, for many years chief
of police at Palermo. who has consequently
had unrivaled opportunities Of studying
the inner workings of the organization.
The origin of the Malta is by no means
ancient 1t dates no further back than the
beginning of the nineteenth century. The
causes to which it is due are probably the
centuries of miSgovernment to which
Sicily has been subjected and, above ALL
to the Infamous police systems of the
Bourbons. The Sicilian has acquired in
consequence an inborn hatred of all gov
ernment, and he regards any interference
of the authorities in his private affairs
with jealousy and distrust. His character
is the eXaggeration of individuality. All
private differences should be settled pri-
vately, either in fair fight by murder;
no man is in his eyes vile he who
calls in the help of the authorities for any
purpose whatever. He is no man of
honor but a ''cascittuni.' spy. The
highest virtue in Sicily is "onesta," which
is possessed by those who never in any
way help the authorities by giving in
formation about crimes of which they
know something, even If they themselves
are the victims. This feeling is so strong
that man who has been badly wounded
in fair fight or by treachery. If questioned
by the police as TO who committed the
deed. will deny all knowledge of it. If he
should recover he will revenge himself
but he will never turn informer. eff l live
1 shall kill you, if 1 die 1 forgive you,"
runs a Sicilian proverb. For "onesta" a
man must go to prison, he must suffer
every hardship rather than peach" This
feeling Is the burden of many a Sicilian
popular song and legend.
The Malta Is unlike any other known in
Stitution. 1t is not a secret society, polit-
ical or otherwise: it has no fixed rules
statutes; its objects are not necessarily
criminal. 1t is a sort Of vast mutual help
association, to which an indefinite num-
Der Of Sicilians belong. Its aim is to gain
influence by every means, so as to pro-
mote the interests Of it's members. 1t as
sumes many different forms, and has no
generally recognized leaders. 1t often has
recourse to bloodshed and violence for pur-
poses of terrorizing. of getting money or
Of revenge. Its effect is to produce an ap-
palling state Of moral anarchy and law
lessness. 1t is distributed unequally over
the island and, as Signor Cutrera shows
Dy map, IL dOeS not Dy any means nOur-
ish least in the richest parts of the coun-
try. There are three main divisions of the
Mafa-the Malta of Palermo, the Malta Of
the district around Palermo and the Malta
of the provinces. Palermo is the chief
center of the institution and the residence
Of most Of the "pezzi grossi," or leaders.
The youth who asplres to Malta honors
begins as a 'ricottaro." which means q
man who lives on the Illicit earnings Of
unfortunate women. Among the "ricot-
tari'' are men Of the upper bourgeoisle-
idle students and smart ''men about town"
as well as members Of the lower orders.
They are arrogant. insolent and ready with
the knife and the revolver. They act as the
official claQue at the theaters and are COM
monty used as electioneering agents The
higher members of the Malta are often
men of civic and political Importance.
They are constantly busy with secretaries,
agents. etc. Their halls are filled with all
manner Of people waiting for an audience
to ask some favor-letters Of recommended
tion legal advice, the removal Of some OBJ
noxtous Official pressure on the judges in
lawsuit and so on. The "capi-mafia" are
not paid for their services, but by this
means they acquire influence and power
among all classes. At election time their
services are invaluable, and the candidate
who has the Malta on his side is almost
sure to be returned, whatever his political
views are
The Malta in the "Conca d'Oro' is re-
sponsible for more deeds Of violence than
the other sections. This proves that the
Institution is neither attributable to pow
erty nor to the 'latifOndi" Qarge landed
properties). as this region IL the richest In
Sicily. and that In which property ID most