Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-17
CRY oF NAPLES IS pIsTRICTED
Fourteen Bands, One for Each Section,
Are in Control.
STRICT SYSTEM OF RECRUITING
Newcomers Must Pass Rigid Examina-
ton for Admission.
DUELs PLAY PART IN RITUAL
when There II Challenge for Small
Matter, Restricted Fight Fol-
lows, Otherwise Contest
f. 20 the Death.

vfTERBO, April 16-Interesting revela-
tions made by Gennaro Abbatemaggio. the
csmorrist informed, at the trial OF the
members Of that organization 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 into Spain and from Spain
into southern Italy. and how it's adherents
are chosen.
The camorra in Naples as Abbatemaggio
explained Is divided into fourteen bands
one for each section of the city. Each Is
composed Of twenty -four camorrlsts and
forty eight picclotti Crecruits), each Of the
former having two of the recruits at his
disposal. Each picciotto in turn, is served
by five or six giovanni onoratl (honored
youths). The latter are ssprants for mem
hership
Thus In Naples alone there Is a body
OF about 5000 men. determined in character
resolute and tried in astuteness and in
telligence. This army. which has ramfica-
tions In almost every class of society Is
practically directed by two men, the capo
in tests, or head of heads and the
contaiuolo. or cashier who takes the place
Of the head when necessary. Both officials
are elected by majority OF votes. The
toHNhluoio ~ EeHeTdlIy an Old cauorflSt
clever in exacting each day the gains from
the members. or able to handle them
roughly II they refuse to pay.
Perfect Obedience on Oath.
The picciotti are chosen from among the
glovani onorati and are instructed in their
duties by the camorrlsts They are Obliged
to swear perfect obedience after which the
newly admitting member kisses every
camorrist. beginning with the head Of
heads, in token Of good faith.
When the ceremony of admission Il about
TO be carried out. the society meets at the
request of a member. after having posted
the picciottl so as not TO be taken by sur
prise. The camorrist who has called for
the assembly. submits the name of his
candidate and offers to act as his padrino
(kind Of godfather).
he epumaates the services which his
candidate hascrendered entering as ar
IDENTIFY as possible into the details OF thefts,
b1rgai1es and other important crimes
which the Pscciotti, who desires to be pro-
Inoted to the estate Of csmorrist, has com
mitted, not forgetting 10 call attention O
the sfregi inflicted which are the razor
slashes across the cheeks of the persons
who have had 70 be called to order. These
marks are very prominent on the faces of
both Abbatemaggio and Erricope, the lat
ter the reputed leader Of the society
Similar to Court.
As In a court OF justice there is a Co.
niorrtsts called the terzo contrario, who
takes the part of public prosecutor and
finds arguments to oppose the admission
Of the candidate Even when these argu-
ments are satisfactorily met the candidate
must, in the presence OF the members, un-
dertHke the tirata, a kind OF duel the
gravity Of which varies according to cir
cuuTstances and individuals. Generally the
trata is perfuntory in which case It is
called 'of the muscles" because the com
batants are allowed to wound each other
only In the muscles OF the arm, which they
bare before engaging in the combat II
the candidate Injuries any other part of
the opponents body he is disqualified
In basin, placed in the center of the
meeting place-generally a tavern-five
knives are placed. Two of these have
sharp points and keen double-eddged
blades; two have only the sharpened
points, while the fifth is characterized by
its great length.
The knives are covered with a white
handkerchief, and over this a red hand
kerchief is thrown. The godfather of the
candidate, and second. chosen for his
adversary, take the knives with the double
edged, blades. the head of the Camorra
takes the long knife. while the candidate
and his opponent grasp the other.
The Duel Begins.
The duellists are then placed back to
back. with arms bare to above the elbow.
and when the head cries: In the name OF
the saints. Cosmo and Damlan-on4 TIVE
three they turn and the combat begins
IL continues until one or the other is
stabbed in the arm. He who has done the
stsbbing immediately sucks the wound
kisses his opponent as a bond OF friend.