The Washington herald., 1909-03-28

lent lead cast of that frearn. its use or
dinarily being to frighten people reluctant
TO obey orders.
Discipline Strictly Kept.
The disciplinary side, like the adminis-
trative rule. is very strict. The society
Is divided into groups called parsnze.
corresponding 70 the division Of Naples
into rioni or quarters. Each paranza
elects head called capintrino. and all
the various divisions combine 70 elect a
head of the whole society. who is called
capintesta. a king OF uncontested au-
thority until he IS killed dethroned, or
sent TO prison. Few heads OF the Ca
mora are lucky enough 10 die a natural
death
Tribute exacted by the society is paid
regularly. and the accounts kept by one
or more members called cuntaiOh lac
eountants). Stolen goods are disposed OF
either by auction among the allies OF the
society. or to private dealers. The money
is taken TO the cuntai0lO OF the paranza.
who decides what percentage must go 10
the main treasury OF the organization
what 70 the particular paranza. and what
to the gang that accomplished the theft
Is personally responsible that the percent
age and integral part OF the booty reach
the proper places.
Decisions of the Camorra are as a rule
without appeal. and silence Is demanded.
The act of not denouncing the man that
has executed death sentence OF the Ca
mora is called omerta: and Camorrists.
or other victims. dying from wounds in
nicted IN a duel by a brother Camorrist.
or through the 'quietus delivered by order
Of the sOcietys tribunal will never di-
vulge the name OF the assassin, knowing
that II they accuse a member OF the so
source Of ferOcious persecution by the
Camorra Of the surviving members OF the
family.
CamOrrs'S secret Language.
Another obstacle confronting the police
is that the Camorra. like the old society
OF La Garduna. has a jargon that only
the initiated understand. The agents OF
law and order. also. IN obedience 10 the
peculiar system OF the Italian govern
ment. are generally from the north of
Italy. and cannot understand the Nea-
politan dialect There is. OF course the
secret police recruited from the city or
neighborhood OF Naples. but itsmore often
happens than not that they have no un-
derstanding OF the very fgurative speech
OF the CamOrra. They may know that
stuta a'lampa-to blow out the lamp
means killing somebody: that trastole
are the meretricious arts the members
OF the society employ 10 win outsiders:
that scippare means thieving; but It Is
unlikely that they viii ever become
really versed in a private language which
the fancy Of the southern mind has so
cleverly employed for years.
When Basiie. the noted Camorrist.
called "Scarpa leggla," was arrested. and
his diary was found no one could make
any meaning out OF il until. under pledge
Of secrecy and bribe. a Camorrist con-
sented 20 translate some or the para
graphs II was an odd phrase that help
ed 70 condemn the diarist. who was un-
der arrest on suspicion OF having made
away with his wife: May 1th. Given
water 10 the beans" This the translator
.Of the complicated jargon Of the CamOrra
interpreted as the following record: May
3th, have killed her-or him-and bur
ried the body" The 7th OF MAY was
found 10 coincide with the date OF the
crime
The CamOrra renews its force by the
training Of young members and by the
reward for crime The capintesta and
caplntrinO are for the most part promo
tons bestowed after some daring murder
or a bloody zumpata. Young men are
tested before being accepted as members.
the Camorra ascertaining their courage
and sanguinary tendencies by a dramatic
duel The rule in such duels is not TO in
hict wounds on the breast but 20 aim
at the arm OF the adversary. Anlmosity
does not provoke these contests between
candidates; they are simply tests Of cour-
age and proof OF the adaptahility Of
the persons for crime. The duel serves as
a christening
The man that is wounded three times is
refused membership. and can only resort
20 winning that distinction by wantonIy
committing some shocking crime as a
proof of his valor
To the terror that the Camorra inspires
must be added the popular fancy that
transforms old CamOrrist chiefs into leg
endary heroes. Thus II viii be seen how
easy Il is TO ind recruits among the ig-
norant class. and at the same time what q
hard task II viii be 20 hack or the count
less heads Of this NeapOlitan hydra.