The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-17
REAL NATURE
 OF CAMORRA
 |S DISCLOSED Abbatemaggio Make Reyela- tiOns of Inmost Secrets of Criminal Band
HOW NEW MEMBERS
 ARE INITIATED
Details of Organization and Mode of Government Are GruesOme and Fascinating-A Description
 of the 'Tirata"

Viterbo, Italy. Friday April The most interesting revelations made by Gennaro Abbatemaggio. the Camorrist informer. at the trial of the members of that organization for Inc murder of Cuoccoo and his wife, had to do with the real nature of the Camorra. the dreaded associa ton which first found it's way from Arabia into Spain and fl iom Spain into southern Italy, and how it's adherents are chosen.
 The Comorra in the city of Naples, as Abbatemaggio explained, is divided into n bands. one for each region of the city. Each band Is composed of 24 Camorrists and IS picciotti tre- cruits). each one of tue former hav- ing two of the recruits at his disposal. Each piciotti in turn is served by six giovani onarati, thonored youths). The latter are aspirants for membership in the society.
 Thus in Naples alone there Is a body of upwards of 5000 men determined in character, resolute and tried in astute- ress and intelligence. This army, which has amifieations in almost ev- cry class of society," is practically di- rected by two men, the capoin testator ,head of heads), and the contaiueolo or cashier, who takes the pleace of the head when necessary Both of these officials are elected by a majority of voters. The contaiueolo is generally an old Camorrist exacting each days gains from the members or able to handle them roughly if they refuse to pay.
 Swear Obedience
 The picciotti are chosen from among the gioyani onarati and they are in structedsin their duties by the Camor- lists. Rhey are obliged to swear per- feet obedience, after which the newly elected member kisses every camorrist, beginning with the heads of heads. in token of good faith When the cere- money of admission is about to be car ried out. the society meets at the re- quest of one of the members after having posted the picciotti not to be taken by surprise. The Camorrist who has called for the assembly submits the name of his candidate and offers to act as his padrino tkind of god ia ther). He enumerates the services vhich his candidate has rendered, en- tering as ardently as possible into the details of burglaries. thefts and other important crimes which the picciotti who desires to be promoted to the estate of Camorrist, has committed, not forgetting to call attention to the sfrego inflicted, which are the razor slashes across the cheek of the persons who have had to be called to order which marks are very prominent on Abbatemaggio and Erricone, the lat ter the reputed leader of the society.
 As in a curt of justice there Is a Camorrst called the terro contrario who takes the part of public prosecutor and finds arguments to oppose the admission of the candidate. Even when these argu- ments are safely met the candidate must, in the presence of the members, under take the tirata, kind of duel, the gravity of which varies according to circum- stances and individuals. Generally the tirata is perfunctory in which case 1t Is called of the muscles" because the com batants are allowed to wound each other only on the muscles of the arm, which they bare before engaging in the combat. If the candidate injuries any other part of his opponents body he Is disqualified.
 Fight With Knives
 In a basin placed in the center of the meeting place. generally a tavern-hve knives are placed Two of these have sharp points and keen double edged blades: two have only the sharpened ponts, while the fifth is characterized bv it's great length. The knives are COW cred with white handkerchief.
 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 oppo- nent grasp the others.
 The dueists are then placed back to back with arm bare to above the elbow and when the head cries: "ln the name of the saints, Cosmo and Damiah. one two-three" they turn and the combat begins. It continues until one or the other is stabbed in the arm. He who has done the stabbing immediately sucks the wound kisses his opponent a bond of friendship and bandages the injury with the white handkerchief taken from the basin Each new member admitted must nav to the contaiuello 15 lire (S3) as an entrance fee half of which goes to the head of the Camorra and the other half to a fund for the purpose of banquet
 When there Is such deep rooted antagon- ism between the candidate and his oppo- rent that one of the two must fall for ever the duel or tirata Is termed "of the box" In such cases all the knife thrusts must he directed towards the up- per part of the body or the head, as in a duel with rapiers. These duels. however, are rare.