The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-26
1 BLACK HAND CONSTITUTION
STRANGE LOCtWYNT Just
MADE PrBLIC ~ TaLI.
Purpsrtsto Have ne-n sent Frem America
and TO iBe Autheatis>- Punlshments,
shieny b, knirrw ounsis. Laid Down for
Many Grimes Against the Family"

shlen, b, knlrrw sunsis. Laid Downfor
Many Grimes Against the Family
noMR. Doc II 1T Is a well known fact
that the Black Hand. like IN. Camorra
and tho Malta, owes its perfect organiza-
ton and discipline TO ~ sort Of code or
statute founded on Gust ON and handed
down by tradition which a. rule is kept
secret II is quite true that IN. main
features OF pracr ically all the criminal
associat ions in the provinces Of Naples.
Calabria and Sicily and of their ramitica-
tions in America are no longer kept from
public knOwl- ig". bnt AZ the same time
all the details connected with their or
ganizaiion, such. for instance. a. IN"
rules followed w th.ir m-nh-r-. IN.
punishm.nrs Inflicted and the partition
OF the spoil. hav. remained unknown
Miss Amy 4 B-rnardy. an Italian
woman residing in America. has recently
discovered a very important document
connected with ,hs Black Hand. which
ahe now publishes in the Giornais d'Itoi,d.
Despite the fact that no information 10
given A. to how the document in question
came into the possession Of the writer.
there appears to bc no doubt that it 10
an authentic statute Of tho Black Hand
with the rules and organization OF q
society or family IL is written in very
bad Italian with many grammatical
errors and reple's with words in the
Calabrian and Sicilian dialects and in
slang and jargon
Besides very often it's meaning is
hidden owing to tho use of words in a
different sense. consequently us transla-
tion proves very difficult. hut on ths
whole it, general meaning can no under
stood As this document il the first one
OF the kind ever made public it il worth
while to give IL
Article / The person who reveals the
secrets NJ the society will be punished with
the bond Of death
Article III. person who onends a COM
rade in his honor will be punished accord.
Ing 30 Article
Article Tho person who deCciva$ the
family society or dam n comrade in
case Of serious offences vI.i 10 deprived OF
his rights. degraded TO tn INK OF a man
OF the crew and permanently hisfgured
with stabbins in the back. in casa Of slight
offences he viii he wounded with knife
~ many times as The family thinks ct and
m an opportune place
Article Z The person who shows Covsr-
die or weakness will h. punished accord
knife and permanently dishgured in the
face In an oppor'une place
Article The person who defrauds the
rights or causes their loss to his comrades
II In s.cre~'is in so doing will he punished
according 10 Article II he only succeeds
In part he - bound 70 MAKE restitution
within tu"nrvfour hours Of tho -rm his
comrades might have lost and his share
will he sNpues'rred for 'vo months
Article A II" person who 'l-es offensive
words against ComrHde in serious case.
will be deprived -! his rights and Wounded
with knives in slight "ascs ms share NJ The
profits will Ia SAruaStrrasi for thrn- months
and he will he forced to work more than his
duty.
Article The person " no has been in
suited and defends himself without inform
ing the family will I've punished according
to Article '
Article The person Who forsakes n
comrade in danger or necessity will he
punished according 10 Article
Article . The person who "a on du'y
must keep on the move and be orderly ac-
cording 10 the r'Iles and he mus, hand over
to the treasurer all he news money taken
or collected II no neglecrs 20 do So even
momentarliy for IN" frsr offence hI- share Of
the profits will no ssuI.-'erad for three
months. for the second offence he will re-
ceive from one 20 rhrea knife 'hru-ts and
for the third offence h. will 10 deprived OF
his rights expelled,
Articl" IN. II IL no, allowed 10 introduce
into 'he family other members unless one
ID personally acquainted with them
Article " The treasurer mus deliver
news every evening to the chief u hn fails
to do 80. for the first offence h's share Of he
profits will he sepue-t"rsd for Thrc. months.
for the second offence he will lee suspended
from his post for twenty nine Siavs. during
which term nobody must speak 20 MIN but
only exchange greetings for the third Of
fence he viii be expelled
Articl. J.! The cashier or treasurer
must put The mon on duty and take them NJ
duty every 'vo DAYS II not he will he pun
ished according =" Article II
Article ~ In" treasurer ~ hound 70
keep the social money sacred and invio-
liable: he must divide II for better or for
worse every time the members ask him 70
do 40. an! II he make mistake IN the
division for the first time h.. pays out Of his
pocket for the Second 'he same but besides
his share will he <"guesrrrad for month
for the third the punishment Is left IN the
hands Of the family but 'he members may
plead for Icniencv.
Article ~. The man on duty mus, go
every evening 20 the treasurer to take and
give news and he mua' thank all his con
radea one nv one laid down in IN. rules
even when his share Is not paid to him
In case Of iisoheii.nce he will he punished
according to Article II
Article - The person who Ross on q
journey must report hi= destination and
state how long he intends remaining absent,
and II he brings money On his return he 10
bound IN pay a share Of n leave rhe hand
otherwise he is punished according 20
Article II
Article 10. The person who has been
challenged 10 duel with knives and docs
not 60 berauSe he "a afraid IL punished
according 20 article
Article ~. Tn" person who disappears
or runs away will bc punished ACCORDING
10 article , with disagreement in the face
Article - Tho p"r-on who refuses "a
obey a call or command for 'hr fr-' orenc.
will have his share Of tho profits sapues-
tered for three months. for the second orenc.
he will rer"iv" from one IN two knit. thrIs's
for the third offence from i"o 70 i've a. ~.
family thinks ~. he~id"s in each cn-n being
forced 70 do his duty. II the offences arc
serious h" will be punished according 30
-