New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-14

~ we did not have the Black Hano
nlavtng its grim pranks with conslu'
erable success right in our mids'
rohablv no one on this side OF the water
,~orla believe that the Camorrisu of Naples
.,,la exercise the subtle and terrible
,over which they actually do exercise
over their fellow townsmen VINO i've IL
.hs sun-dashed, color-fecked CITY on the
,sautiful bay. II is extremely difhcuit'
even now that the trial Of the leaders OF
the notorious Camorra IS gong on al
7-,,e-bo and the secrets Of the society are
.-r,arentlv being revealed. TO gather any
genuine stories OF the doings OF the Ca
-,,-~is+i because. after all, only few OF
~ nrorninent members of the great secret
,or,rnunitv are on trial The rank and
4le together with enough leaders 10 keep
The society as we'll organized as ever, are
s+iu on the trail in Naples and are busy
With their customary activities.
81 general. however. is the reign OF ter
var that a number OF extraordinary ex-
srnles Of II have within the last few
dsvs come 10 light. To show how thor
oighlv used 10 the Camorra idea Neapoli-
tans are. the police recently disorganizec
GAM OF street boys who had for some
weeks been keeping a whole neighborhood
IN complete subsection in the following in
senious manner.
one morning a shopkeeper. when he
crened his store found the windows
smashed one or two householders in the
,i,nitv also found their windows on the
street floor broken. A little later in the
5sv tall lad went casually into the shop
end said 10 the padrone:
I see your windows are broken
Yes" answered the shopkeeper sullen-
g. i should like 70 know who did it"
I know" replied the youth. 1T is a
pack Of Iawless boys. If you will give me
few lire a week I and my fellows will
protect you from them"
The shopkeeper looked keenly at the
Young rascal. and decided in favor Of CIV
ing him he money.
The neichbors were all visited In turn,
and only one refused the sum demanded
for protection. His windows were all
smashed the next night and the following
DAY he gave in.
The majority Of the young scamps, whose
messenger the tall lad was, were not more
than twelve or fourteen years old and in
no way connected with or inspired by the
Camorra. Yet, profting by the habit into
which the law-abiding people of the CITY
had fallen. the habit Of paying 10 be let
alone. the urchins had made a good sum
II money out OF simple blackmail.
The Camorristi. OF course. have far more
unexpected ways Of living on their neigh
bors. more devious and ingenious methods
Of tormen-ing and terrorizing people into
raging them money 10 obtain safety for
their lives or property OF both.
Il is hard 10 believe. yet it is true. that
even the liJtle street vende- Of syrups and
lemonade from whom you buy a cool drink
on a hot day is paying the Camorra for
the privilege Of using the street vendors
license that he has bought and paid for
Only a short time ago a woman who could
not afford 10 pay the price OF peace tried
IN vain 70 carry on business Independently.
She had a new booth painted in clean.
bright colors and she chose a piazza in
the crowded part OF the city where there
should be enough trade for all She was