The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-04-12
CAMORRA OF NAPLES.
A DREADED ScOURCE OF LIFE IN
THE ITALIAN CITY.

y; kule OF These Organized Criminals
The Camorra, that dreaded scourge
: OF Neapolitan life. has come into re
= newed prominence through it's activity
: at the last elections, aid all Italy il
shuddering in anticipation of new de
:, velopments in the history of this band
OF criminals.
For years Italian statesmen have
been trying to stamp out utterly the
Camorra and the other murder socie-
ties which are so abominable feature
Oh Italian life. The society nearly won
at the elections because the Italian au-
tnorities had allowed themselves to
be lulled into the belief that they mad
altogether overthrow the power of
the Camorra and that there was moth
ing more to be feared from it. Awak-
enlng to the danger at the last mo
ment, strenuous efforts were made to
gather together the people in favor
OF law and order and to induce them
TO combine against the Camorra and
oefeat 1t with their votes.
The attempt nearly failed because
+ the people had become thoroughly
terrorized by the. Camorra and would
rather pay blackmail than run the risk
OF assassination. The voters believed
too, that Camorra officials were in
charge of the polling booths and that,
despite the presence of the sol liers
and police, they would take steps to
inform themselves of the identity of
every vote cast. They believed. in
TACT, that there would be nothing Sc
cret about the elections, and many
preferred not to antagonize the Ca
mora by voting against an organiza-
tlon which had shown its ability to
wreak so terrible vengeance.
Feudal times, say these Italians,
once returned to Naples and Rome.
and bands of armed retaiaers roamed
the streets, as in the olden times.
Rich AMI prominent men frequently
paid blackmail to the Camorra until
they faced ruin from the extortion
practised upon them. COMPLAINTS
were met with threats of death. and at
last one of these men. seeing that in
any case death must be his lot if he
remained in his bondage. determined
TO make firm stand for his personal
liberty. Gathering together the re-
mains OF his fortune, he expended a
part in the rapid fertilization of his
house and in the hire of a number of
daring men from distant part of the
country. These men, all of whom hat
ec and feared the Camorra. he armed
with the best weapons available, and
then sent his defiance to the Camorra.
The main council of the Camorra
met, considered the case Of the re-
calcitrant merchant, and, without
wasting much time on the matter SEN
fenced him tos death for his disobe- |
dience and detailed six men to see
that the sentence of death was carried |
out.
Meanwhile the threatened merchant |
had organized little private Camorra
of his own, and one Of his sn;es was
present at the meeting at which the
Heath sentence was pronounced. He
returned to his master with the names
81 the six men detailed for the execu-
ion, and the next morning four of
ne would-be assassins were found
lead. The other two were killed the
lext night.
This was the first real blow of re-
ahation that had ever been dealt to
ne Camorra. Another meeting was
leld and more men were detailed to
Ill the rebellious merchant. This
ime the assassins were more eau
lous, but, nevertheless, three of them
led before next dawn and the other
hosen one, apparently unwilling to
lay at game in which their adver-
airy was so manifestly adept, pre-
lpltately retired to the country. The
Merchant never went out without an
scort, and was so carefully guarded
hat he was able to pursue his busi-
ess unmolested. The result of this
Tas that his affairs again began to
rosper and his bank account to in
rease. With the money he added
9th to his Notifications and his pri-
ate army until his defiance of the Ca
lorra grew into an undoubted sue
ess.
Other merchants gained courage by
is example, and themselves employed
nti-Camorra guards until there were
'on six powerful merchants, each
it'll his own army of retainers to de-
nd him from the Camorra.
On one occasion the six merchants
lined forces and attacked the Ca
ORA in its stronghold The local
ewspapers and the police, being DOM
ated by the Camorra, reported this
fair as mere street riot, but Nea-
'litans say that 1t was a riot in which :
e Camorra lost 10 of its ringleaders.
tier that the Camorra lost some of |
J prestige of fear. Little shopkeep-
s who had formerly trembled before G
e Camorra's collector now refused I
pay. Several collectors were even &
lied. v
Then 1t was that the murderous as a
citation changed its tactics. 1t dis
antled its headquarters. It's collec-
RS no longer visited the places which S
" Poiu toii. It's fCduCIS ulStppedTe1 | q
d it was announced that the associa- {:
m was beaten and had dissolved. a
Naples rejoiced, but at the same Z
ne doubted that the Camorra was h
ally gone. .
For nearly six months there was fl
ace and men had begun almost to 7
get the Camorra. The little armies b
retainers had nearly vanished. Only Il
e man, the originator of the system, Fl
pit up his guard, and all Naples
lghed at him for his fears. He.
viewer, had carried on his breast h
: two weeks the deep black print r
his own left-hand suspender buckle. II
ich had Unexpectedly caught AMI al
pped the point of a stilleto welded o.
a trusted business visitor who had pl
or | -