New-York tribune., 1909-03-15
CRIMINALS SLIP IN
ITALY NOT PARTICULAR,
Investigator Says Emigrants 4re
Not Watched CL0SeLy.


tions in Sicily In letter dated at the Hotel
Trinacria, Messina. June p 1907 he said:
'One feels tafter such examination and tour
that Italy does everything possible TO protect her
enligrating citizens and insure their comfort but
is not quite particular about protecting other
countries from her criminals. From the inforna-
ton thus far secured. i appears to me that the
local authorities fault in regard to the
latter particular The Italian emigration officials
al Palermo we're dismissed from the service two
years ago because the rotten condition Of affairs
existing there, but IL still possible for criminals
TO leave that port bound for United States not
witfstanding the supposed embargo.
That siciy Is infested with brigands is a come
mon belief in America The Sicilian bandit became
the subject for laughter before we had travelled
in the triangular island Whenever the question
Are there any Of the bandits we have heard so
much about 20 be found in your neighborhood? ??
was asked, replies were received such as: a few
years ago there were bandits in some sections Of
this island, but they have disappeared or There
are none in our section, but at Palermo there may
be some OF. They in America
one never seemed TO come up with the alleged
bandits. The oi.ly men who looked like
brigands were a half-dozen horsemen. with
rifles. observed from the window of compart-
nent while crossing the rolling Navel, the cen
rral part of Sicily is called. These the brig
ands,' said some one. with a laugh. They might
just as wei have been mounted police. Apparently
the American has little TO fear from brigands in
Sicily, except those attached 10 hotels. American
women were found who had travelled about Sicily
for a considerable period unaccompanied. and
wealthy American came across Sicily from Palermo
Siricusa in an automobile arriving our
hotel while the latter place. He said
no one had Tsolested him. There strike he
said. the sulphur mines in the centre Of the
island. but everything quiet. These striking
men and boys gathered around his machine while
some repairs were being made. but simply out OF
curiosity. Offering objection his leaving when
he ready 10 do 80.
;,glfa ~
siricusa. who had learned to speak English well,
and asked him II he expected to go TO America
His reply was an amusing commentary on the
reputation of Sicily He said he would like TO, but
n afraid OF the Black Hand of New York He
had read stories Of their crimes in the newspapers
and feared they would make him a mark. Were
the inhabitants Of Sicily trying to put upon Pa
Iermo the largest city the island. all the crimes
with which the people Of the island have been
charged. and IL true that the reason there was
less crime in the island than few years ago
(Which seemed to be the case) due 10 the tact
that the criminals had been shipped to America?
Palermo appeared TO have criminality than
any other section Of the island This might be eN-
;ected. as Palermo is least twice large any
othvr city Ten years ago when its population was
one-half OF what il is to-day. according 10 one Of
the police officials. there were four hundred crmi-
nails who might be termed professional within its
borders. To-day there are from hundred and
fifty 10 hundred OF this class. knitting is the
most common crime. and among the professionals
the crime Of obtaining money by means OF letters
threatening the recipients with death unless they
leave in specified hiding places and say
nothing TO the police is the most frequently com
rnitted This is the crime of the Black Hand It
was the opinion Of this official criminals
both in New York and in Palermo, are banded to-
gether 10 accomplish their ends The natural
clusion that arrives is that some OF Pa
Ierrnos criminals are in America.
In Messira with population of about one hun
dred and forty-hve thousand and a territory ex-
tending thirty kilometres. only TWO hundred men
are required 70 DO police duty. This is for
every seven hundred and fifty persons In New
York City there is policeman for every five hun
dred persons. Vendettas seem 10 be the chief cause
Of such assassinatons occur In the province OF
which Messlna IS the centre seven eight persons
out OF population Of three HIndred and fifty
thousand meet with an unnatural death in the
course year. In villages in the interior having
4 peasant population OF from three thousand 10
Hye thousand IL IS asserted that years elapse be
tween arrests and II IS not necessary 70 maintain
police patrols IN them continuously. Drunkenness
Is unknown
Much Of scilys earlier crin1inality. it is assert
ed was due lack OF means Of earning a hveli-
hood-poverty. Crimes Of passion are the most
numerous few being due 10 viciousness- With
tetter economic conditions crime grows less. and
letters from Sicilians under sentence who have
ESCAPED 20 America show that desire the
part Of the writers commit crime has disappeared
through living under better conditions.
Among the methods by which criminals and
others who should be excluded under laws can
get into the United States from Italy, the follow
ing may b. mentioned:
.''First-Securing passport 10 some other coun-
Try than the United States and upon arrival there
obtaining the Of the Italian Consul permitting
the holder go TO the United States.
''Second-Shipping seaman, fireman. etc. on
vessels going the United States and deserting at
the first American port reached
No ernizrant can leave Italy without passport
directed the country which he IS going. II is
admitted BY those having the authority TO issue
passports procure them for prospective
er,igrants that Italy hesitate 10 give them
10 persons having criminal records to go coun-
tries which have offered objection to receiving
such persons One official said he would not hest
u give passport TO go TO the United States
4 had criminal record, but who had
lived a reputable life for some time after serving
sentence. Merchant vessels. which might find II
&c their interest TO add 10 the number OF their
crew at Palermo or Messina not watched by
Italian emigration officials Such vessels have
been known sail away with numbering
twenty or thirty than when they returned
Merchant vessels are not closely watched by i'm
migration officials in the United States. This
and other undesirable aliens which is undoubtedly
used.
Ny conclusions. based official and reliable
information and observations, are that the large
proportion Of emigration from Sicily was made III
OF hard working peasants from the agricultural
sections Of the interior who seek TO better their
conditions They normally peaceable. hardy
and fairly moral but uneducated. Brigandage 1:
sporadic being caused by hard times wher
bread is difficult TO get honestly and the wealth OF
the land owners is temptation At present. there
is only bandit large. Local government
officials sometimes wink the emigration of crim
nails. The number Of criminals who escaped &c
me * aaoe