The Washington herald., 1909-03-28
SECRETS OF CAMORRA
The Black Hand" in New York An Offspring of
the Old Neapolitan Band


BLACK Hand" as it is popularity called,
which has become a growing menace to
New York and other American cities. it
is important to look at the land whence
its inspiration and methods have been i'm
perted In other words, the Black Hand
Is little else than an offshoot OF tNo long
established societies o. an intricate and
powerful Grder. known in their respec-
tive strongholds of Naples and Sicily as
the "Camorra' and the Malta" mem
bers Of which emlgrating from Italy. for
one cause or another. have become alb
sorbed in the civilization OF the New
World. says Z. A L. Valentine, in the
New York Post.
A portion of these aliens are malefac-
tors who have evaded the hand of jus
tice in their own country and are eager
for criminal activity elsewhere. while 9TH
ers. through that compulsory connivance
of misdeeds imposed on members OF the
CamOrra and the Mafia, are easily won
over to some kind Of identification with
the kindred society OF the Black Hand.
1t Is thus that the root of this new evil
of American city nfs has been able TO
strike deep IN soil spread by laxly reg
ulated immigration. making its sure eradi-
cation one OF the police problems of the
present moment Those concerned in the
effort 10 dead with it are met by all the
difficulties connected with an OrganiZa-
tiOn. loose IL may be, but based on models
perfected by centuries and supported by
a people whose dominant characteristics
Of secretlveness and finesse have been
carefully festered as It's groundwork OF
success.
Enjoys Great Security.
In spite Of periodic efforts OF the ItaI-
ian government 10 wipe out the existence
Of such n society as the Camorra, the lat
ter has enjoyed an extraordinary security
in its activities and In the silence OF its
members. Little has been known by the
public OF its detailed machinery until the
recent sensational trial taking place at
Naples. known as the "Processo Cue
colo" in which the testimony Of many
reluctant witness helped to throw search
ing light on the inner workings OF the
organization. Credit for the results of
this fruitful prosecution. which involved
many Italians Of high social standing and
brought TO justice various leaders Of the
Camorra. is due for the most part to the
secret service of one Capuzzuto. head of
Al4E -NCclllt4Al1A NdA AAlllltll. ana lis DICK
ed men. TO whom was given the task OF
Investigating a series OF brutal crimes
in Naples
OF these the one that has since attained
the most nOtOriety was the tWOfOld mur-
der planned and perpetuated after one OF
the society's secret "condemnatiOns" A
certain CuccolO. somewhat connected with
the CamOrTa. and his wouid-be wife. on
sentence OF death by fits cIandestine trib-
unal. were assassinated the very day Of
their convicuon-the man in a lonely part
OF the Calastro beach near Tore dal
GTece. where ne had been lured on a
pretext. the woman. Marie Cutineile
called la Sorrentina, in her own house
inquiry, which eventually led TO the ar
rest OF many members Of the band. re-
vealed the fact that on the night when the
murder Of Cuccolo and the Sorrentina
took place, the tribunal OF the Camorra
issuing the decree united at a banquet I'm
the restaurant of Mimi al Mare. situated
near the spot where Cuccolo was stabbed
Revelations of the Trial.
In The trial following the arrest OF the
participants in this crime. Naples was as
founded by revelations that ensued from
cTOss-examinatiOn Of witnesses, which
pFoved how widespread was the member
ship Of the society I'm classes hitherto un-
suspected. For instance, among the ar
rests was that of a priest. Don Vitozzi
one Of the most influential Of the CamOr-
Tists. He was a man Of pious appearance.
attentive 10 his religious practices. when
the Investigations OF the Judge brought TO
light his actual base conduct, his low
moral level, and his connection. 1t was
found that Don VitOzZi not only belonged
to the ''Mala Vita" as the Camorra is
termed, but enjoyed a high degree in the
society, presided over its terrible trib-
unals, and more than once had been a
secOnd-on such occasion without his
priestly garments-in one Of the deadly
duels called zUmpate-a name that has its
etymology in the weapon employed, the
long, tapering knife called zumpafuosso
In the face Of such scandals honest citi-
zens Of Naples have not unnaturally ask
ed themselves If the energy that the gov
ernment has displayed in this late emer-
gency VIII have the result Of extirpating
the growth Of the CamOrra in their
midst: and it must be said that the opin-
ion generally formed is that while the
government may succeed in checking the
boldness OF the famous criminal associa-
ton of Naples. il is far from likely that
the evil viii be cut down to the root.
Examination of the historical character
Of the Camorra. and the mysterious rule
that binds Its members together. helps to
justify the belief that the organization
viii only cease TO exist when the main
reason for its being has itself disappear
ed-that is. when the social life Of Naples
has become sufficiently progressive to
render the Camorra Incompatible with
the citys civilization 1T is hard" re-
marks Ouida, Ito create virtue through
an act of parliament"
Origin Of the Society.
40 one knows precisely when the order
was founded. Some trace its origin to
times Of ehivaIry. when secret societies
were formed TO oppose the predominance
Of feudalism. Others with probably
greater accuracy. maintain that il was
started by gang Of thieves which in
the seventeenth century became a guild
for the purpose Of enlarging their bust
ness and making the work safer. The
same uncertainty governs the etvmolor-v
or the name Camorra, which has some
times been attributed to a certain Gamur
rascal OF the seventeenth century. who
possibly founded the society Others find
the origin of the term i'm the Spanish sub
stantive kamora. an obsolete word mean
ing 'peace-maker." developing into the
antithesis OF fighter
Another hypothesis is that the NeapoH
tan Camorra originated from a similar
society Of Spain. This society. called
La Barduna," was established at To-
ledo IN the year 1920. However. this may
he. the two associations have many points
in common, serving to give color TO the
theory that a branch of the Garduna may
have come 10 Naples during the Spanish
domination. where it gradually trans
formed itself into the present organiza-
ton called the Camorra OF the "Mala