The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-04-16


menace to New York and other
American cities, it is important to
look at the land whence its inspira-
tion and methods have been imported
In other words, the Black Hand is
little else than an offshoot Of two
long established societies Of an in
tricate and powerful order, known
in their respective strongholds of
Naples and Sicily as the "Camorra"
and the "Mafia," members Of which
emigrating from Italy, for one cause
or another, have become absorbed in
the civilization OF the New World.
A proportions Of these aliens are
malefactors who have evaded the
hand of justice in their own country
and are eager for criminal activity
elsewhere, while others, through
that compulsory connivance of mis-
deeds imposed on members of the Ca
mora and the Malta, 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 life has
been able to strike deep in soil spread
by laxly regulated immigration, max
ing its sure eradication one OF the
police problems of the present mo-
ment Those concerned in the effort
to deal with it are met by all the diff
fculties connected with an organiza-
tion, loose 1t may be, but based on
models perfected by centuries and
supported by people whose domi-
nant characteristics OF secretiveness
and finesse have been carefully fos-
tered as its groundwork Of success.
In spite of periodic efforts of the
italian Government to wipe out the
existence of such a society as the Ca
mora, the latter has an extraor-
dinary security in it's 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 Ma
pies, known as the "Processo Cucco-
To-" in which the testimony OF many
a reluctant witness helped to throw
searching 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 JUS
tice various leaders of the Camorra, is
due for the most part to the secret
service OF one Capuzzuto, head Of the
Neapolitan Carabinieri, and his
picked men, to whom was given the
task of investigating series Of bru
tai crimes in Naples.
= OF these the one that has since at
tanned the most notoriety was the two
fold murder planned and perpetrated
after one Of the society's secret con
demnations. A certain Cuccolo,
somewhat connected with the Ca
mora, and his would-be wife, on SEN
tence of death by its clandestine tri-
bunal, were assassinated the very day
of their convction-the man in
lonely part of the Calastro beach
near Tore del Grece, where he had
been lured on a pretext; the woman,
Marie Cutinelle, called LA Sorren-
tina" in her own house. Inquiry,
which eventually led to the arrest Of
many members Of the band, revealed
the fact that on the night when the
murder of Cuccolo and the Sorren-
tina took place, the tribunal Of the
a banquet in 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 astounded by revelations that
ensued from cross-eXamination of
witnesses, which proved how wide
spread was the membership Of the
society in classes hitherto unsuspect-
ed. For instance, among the arrests
was that of priest, Don VitoZzi, one
Of the most influential of the Ca
morrists. He was a man of pious ap-
pearance, attentive to 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 ter
rible tribunals, and more than once
had been a second-on such occasion
without his priestly garments-in
one Of the deadlier duels called zum-
pate-a name that has its etymology
in the weapon employed, the long,
tapering knife called zumpafuosso.
In the face of such scandals hon
est citizens Of Naples have not un-
naturally asked themselves If the en-
ergy that the government has dis
played in this late emergency will
have the result of extirpating the
growth of the Camorra in their midst,
and It must be said that the opinion
generally formed is that while the
government may succeed in checking
the boldness of the famous criminal
association of Naples. it is far from