The San Francisco call., 1908-03-22

The downfall Of Enrico AIfano. her
aided by many as the end OF the world
famous Neap0litan Camorra. threatens
10 signify no more than the proof In
three trials a few years ago that
Raefello Paiizzolo. one time senator.
one time deputy and at present mayor
OF Palermo. was the real head OF the
Sicilian Mafa. II would require a large
volume 10 relate the history OF Alfane
and his deeds. He is a little weakling
physically. but has wonderful crini-
nal mentality Though Of common
origin and uneducatsd he rose among
the Camorrists BY villiany and guile
clearing away the men above him. III
one day i've years ago he was the ack-
nOwledged chief
BY the use OF the power OF fear and
by making men OF wealth. position and
infiuence subservient 10 him through
obtaining blackmailing evidence gainst
them he had Naples in his grip in six
months Very soon he dominated the
police force. the local politics Of the
city and the nobility Naples IS rotten
10 the core AZ best. and in a little
while when the courts. the government
officials and the stablemen OF the COM
munity saw that they were helpless
they too became -basiSta" TO the Ca
mora Tales Of dread and horror that
would fill PAGES could be told o. what
followed The VaingloriOus Alfano.
after his men had murdered Signor and
Signora Cucuola- twO-popular singers
with a fashionable patronage. dared-IO
parade the city streets dressed IN the
dead mans stage robes some time
after. with Is picked -zen, he came 10
the United States 10 pay a visit 70 his
subjects here and perhaps TO reOrgan-
lie the loosely assembled Black Hand
He had not been here long and was
holding forth in a Mulberry street eel
L. tod fnr hfc vxrf,1 " n
Petrosino's men raided the place
searching for men carrying concealed
weapons. Alfano was easily taken. was
charged. with the above minor ofense.
and II being found that he was He
gally in the country he was depOrted
and landed in Efrem prison IN Italy, on
his arrival II was some time after the
New York police arrested him that il
was discovered that he was the real
king of the Camorra- Another leader
was al once chosen, but Antonio Delu-
cia killed him. and was arrested him
self Who the fourth in the success
sion is I am unable 10 say
This brings Us up TO the moo- ques-
tion Of the organization in America
It is certain that there are several
hundred gangs OF -he Black Hand or
ganized quite are the Italian cosci.
according 10 locality and the provin-
cfai differences q the Italians about
these are very able men The most OF
these men are former Maatti or Cano--
risti and those wh< are not are leaders
who have risen In America and sue
ceeded men who were Never. IN the
most thorough investigation by the Do-
lice and the courts mas II been possible
to go higher up tnan the leaders No
leader has ever been forced TO confess
that he was the connecting Ink with
grand organization. so I believe that
tht Black Hand organization in Amer
lea Is not z concrets society. but a
vague Freemasonry among the leaders.
for many interchanges OF eourtesies
have occurred sUcn As a Chicago band
killing a man on the request OF New
York leader and thar the situation IS
ripe for great leader TO rise and unite
the bands Heaven save the day. II
is sure TO come. though. unless the
Black Hand be wiped out by the most
drastic measures soor. and I firmly be-
Hsye that II II be not the system Will
become firmly grounded IN the Ane--
lean social structure The vitality OF
the system has sustained l. for centu-
ries in Italy. and il seems 10 thrive
very well IN America The second
generation Of Italians in this country
take TO IL very readily and apply old
principles 20 new American conditions.
with great succesG