Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-23
VITERBO TRIAL DRAWS WELL
Many Americans Curious to See the
Camorra Men.
SOCIETY ORIGINATED IN PRISON
Pope Plus Expresses OppOsitiOn to
ExtravAERnce I'm Dress and Is
Explicit in FOrbIddinR Il
In Children.
BY CLEMENT ]. BARRETT.

ROME April 22.-(Special TO The Bee)-|
Many Americans have attended the Ca
mora trials at viterbo and it is said two
New York detectives. one an Italian
American, have kept close watch on all
the suspicious looking men in or near the
court house.
The hope is entertained that some light
will be thrown on the assassination of
Police Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino. the
New York detective which occurred in
Palermo few years ago His murder is
attributed to the Camorra, which in turn
has been called the Malta, the Camorra.
the Black Hand and the Italian vemke-
richte The name Black Hand was purely
an invention, there being no such organiza-
ton in Italy.
The Camorra, which is now so promi-
nently in the public eye. mad its origin
100 years ago in the filthy dungeons of
old Naples, where 1t originated as a black
mailing association among the prisoners
themselves Thence It spread outside, until
Its very name became a byword and
terror to law abiding folk All had to
subscribe to its funds or suffer death
Mostly the victims were poor people
whose taking off attracted but little atten-
ton. A cabman refused to hand over
percentage of his takings; a small shop
keeper declined to be blackmailed. Each
was found stabbed to death, and on each
body was a tell-tale mark, two knife
slashes in the form of a cross. as a sign
that the murder was the work OF the
Camorra, and not the outcome of mere
private vengeance. Or the victims face
would be branded with a capital g."
showing that the dead man had himself
been Camorrist who had incurred the
vengeance of bis associates by giving in
formation TO the police
Occasionally, too, Camorrists flew at
higher game. Thus. Micah, the Gladstone
of Italy" was assassinated for daring to
attack them, and ItsIys foremost journal
list, Signor Notorbartolo, was murdered for
exposing the Cam0rra.
Sensible Views of Plus X.
The pope who is proud of the fact that,
in his younger days. he was a plain coun-
try parish priest. is opposed to all that
saYors of extravaganza. Hence he re-
Gently suggested that children on first
communion day dispense with outward dis
play in order that the mind and heart
may dwell undoubtedly on the act of the
! first reception of the sacrament He ad-
| verted to the fact that the children of the
| poor have often been sad on first COM
| munion day because their attire compared
! meagery beside the more costly gaFb OF
! their more fortunate companions. Many
! pastors are therefore recommending that
! children dress plainly when about to re-
ceive the Lords supper.
Two Exhibitions Open.
1t is fifty years since the crown was Of
| fered by the first Italian Parliament 10
| Victor Emmanuel king OF Sardinia, and
accepted by him. The jubilee was cele-
brated throughout the peninsula by cere-
monies. The most conspicuous was the
opening OF two international exhibitions
| that OF art in Rome and that of industry
, in Turin, while a third, an exhibition OF
Italian portraits has been organized In
! Florence Turin will demonstrate to visit
tors the extraordinary progress In industry
which has been made during these fifty
years in Italy
Dangerous AEitatIOns.
Socialist agitation and anarchist activity
are dangers which vary in magnitude from
time to time; but they are always there
and with the development Of manufactures
and labor-savng machinery and the con
tinusnce of low wages. they are not likely
TO disappear. That is one Of the main diff
fculties OF government Another Is the
state of civilization in 'the south, resultinl
in the preference given to the Camorrs