The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-17
MEMBERS ARE
bL00D-STA|NED
Real Nature Of the CamOrra Or
ganization as Described by
AbbatemaggiO.
NAPLES ALONE HOLDS
5000 OF THE CRIMINALS
Dreaded Association Originates
in Arabia and Finds Its
Way Into Spain.

VITERBO, Italy. April 16.-Interesting
revelations made by Gennaro Abbate-
maggie. the Camorrist inforner at the
trial OF the members OF that organiza-
tion for the murder of Cuoccolo and his
wife. had to do with the real nature OF
the Camorra. the dreaded association
which first found its way from Arabia in
10 Spain and from Spain into southern
Italy, and how it's adherents arc chosen.
The Camorra in Naples. as Abbatemag
gio explained. Is divided into fourteen
bands. one for each section OF the city.
Each is composed of twenty four Camor-
rists and forty-eight picciotti (recruits).
recruits at his disposal, Each picciottl
is served by FIVE or six giovanni enorati
(honored youths). The latter are as
pirants for membership.
OF about 5000 men. determined in char
acter. resolute and tried in astutene ss
and intelligence. This army. which has
qualifications in almost every class of
society. is practically directed by two
men, the capo intesta. or head of heads.
and the contaiuolo or cashier. who takes
Both officials are elected by majority
OF votes.
The contaiuolo is generally an old Cam
orrist. clever In exactins each day the
gains from the members. or able 10
handle them roughly IL they refuse to
pay.
Take Oath Of Obedience.
The picciottI are chosen from among
the giovanni onorati and are instructed
In their duties by the Canlorrists. They
after which the newly admitted member
kisses every Camorrist beginning with
The head OF heads. In token Of good faith.
When the initia ton is about TO be car
ried out the society meets at the request
Of member. after having posted the
picciotti so as not to be taken by sur
prise. The Camorrst who has called for
the assembly submits the name of his
candidate md offers to act as his padrino
(kind of godfatherl.
He enumerates the services which his
candidate has rendered. entering as ar
IDENTIFY possible into the details OF
thefts. burglaries and other important
crimes which the plcciotti who desires to
be promoted to the estate OF Camorriss
has committed, not forgetting TO call at
tention to the sfregi inflicted. which are
the razor slashes across the cheeks OF
the persons who have had to be called
TO order. These marks are very prom
inent on the faces OF both Abbatemagglo
and Errlconne. the latter the reputed
leader OF the society.
Candidate Fights Duel.
AS In a court of justice there is q
Camorrist called the terzo centrario who
takes the part OF public prosecutor and
finds arguments to oppose the admission
OF the candidate. Even when these ar
guinents are satisfactorily met the cam
bers. undertake the tirata, kind OF
duel. the gravity of which varies accord
ing to circumstances and individuals FIN
ally the tlrata is perfunctory, In which
case 1t is called "of the muscles be
cause the combatants are allowed TO
wound each other only in the muscles of
the arm. which they bare before engag-
ing in the combat II the candidate In
jures any other part OF his opponents
body he is disqualified.
In basin placed In the center Of the
meeting place-generally a tavern..five
sharp pons snd KEEN OF
blades, two have only the sharpened
points, while the NTH is characterized by
It's great length The knives are covered
with a white handkerchier and over this
a red handkerchief is thrown. The god
father of the candidate, and a second
chosen for his adversary take the knives
OF the camorra takes the long knife.
while the candidate and his opponent
grasp the others.
Description of Combat.
The duelists arc then placed back to
back, with arms bare to above the elbow,
and when the head cries: ..In the name
OF the seints. Cosmo and Damian-one.
two. three" they turn and the combat
begins,
II continues until one or the other is
stabbed In the arm. He who has done
the stahblng Immediately sucks the
wound. kisses his opponent rs a bond
OF friendship and bandages the injury
with the white handkerchief taken from
the basin. Each new member admitted
must pay to the contaiuolo fifteen lire
tS3) as an entrance fee. half Of which
goes to the head of the Camorra and
the other half to n fund for the pur-
chase of banquet
When there Is such a deep rooted an
tagonism between the candidate and his
opponent that one OF the two must fall
forever. the duel or tirata is termed
"of the box +" In such cases all knife
thrusts must be directed towards the
upper part of the body or the head, as
In a duel with rapiers. These duels,
however, are rare.