Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-09-19

! 'maflosi' or of being robbed and
perhaps murdered. But in the coul
try the brigands are responsible fol
| most Of the crimes that are com
mitted. They are by no means idea
titled with the Malta, and act indepen
IDENTIFY of it. But often brigands and
| ''mafiosi'' are on friendly terms. AID
| help each other out of difficulties.
Although, as stated, the Malta is
/ not a regular uniform association.
within its pale minor associations for
criminal purposes have often been
| formed, generally for some particular
object. The history of these societies
is a record of treachery, murder, alb
duction and eytortion. Sometimes
whole families and clans have been
wiped out. But one of the peculiar
tiles of these crimes is that tie victims
are usually themselves members of
the Malta, or at least they have had
dealings with it. Foreigners. among
whom Italians from the mainland a~e
included, may travel all over Sicily
IN perfect safety In fact, should they
happen to be robbed by common
thieves they will probably find an ap-
pl1cation to 'capi-mafia" more profit
able than the help of the police.
The words Malta and mafiosi have
only acquired their present meaning
within the last forty years. Original
ly 'Mafiosi' meant pretty, neat, tidy.
when applied to a girl; excellent and
brave when said of a man. In 1860 a
popular play was acted at Palermo.
called L Mafosi della Vicaria." i. e..
the Bosses of the Vicaria (the great
prison at Palermo), meaning those
convicts who, by their courage and
audacity, had won the fear and re-
spect of their fellow-captives Hence
the word came to be applied to the
members of these lawless gangs which
constitute the Malta.
Signor Cutrera describes some of
the curious ceremonies and customs
of the "mafiOsi." When a man wishes
to enter one of the inner brotherhoods
of the Malta he is brought into
room where several chiefs are gather
ed. On table there is a lighted
candle and picture of a saint. The
neophytes thumb is pricked. and the
blood is made to drop on the image.
He places his hand on the latter. and
sWears fealty to the brotherhood.
The image is then burned, and he
adds: LAS this saint and these drops
of blood are burned, so do I swear
to shed all my blood for the brother
hood; and as these ashes and this
blood can never return to their
former stite, so can l never quit the
brotherhood. Possibly in the burn
ing of this image there may have
been originally some idea of desc
Grating it. The formula of recognition
among members of these associations
is usually as follows: How my eve
tooth aches!" How long has it
been aching?" Since Candlemas"
tha date of the initiation). "Who
was there?" "a. B., c., etc., who re-
ceived me as a brother"
These associations have given rise
10 many sensational trials, but the
have always found it very
difficult to bring the guilt home to
the real culprits, because Of the feel
ing Of "onesta," which makes evidence
almost impossible to obtain, and be-
cause the whole machinery Of the
Malta is set in motion to put pressure
on the judges, jury, counsel, police
and witness in favor of the accused.
Moreover, the Malta obtained a con-
siderable influence with the govern
ment by aiding it in the revolution OF
1860. The only hope for it's final
suppression lies in better education,
combined with the strictest penal
laws-Montreal Herald and Morning
Star.