Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-07

Irudimentary and even benevolent. AS
for the collection Of imposts, the gov
ernment was all but impoverished by
the activities Of the Camorra. Near
each public gate Of the city hovered
a watchful member Of the band, who
added his exaction to those OF the pub
lie functionary. The revenues shrank
to a derision.
| The period Of its greatest political
activity began, however, in 1848, af-
ter the failure Of the first efforts of
the conspirators to rouse the people
against the foreign government. Its
influence was then so great that
shrewd leaders hit upon the idea of
employing 1t to forward the revolu-
ton. And, though 1t had its effect,
lit may be doubted whether the Ca
morristi put much heart into the busi-
ness. The spirit Of anarchy had then
reigned for so long in Italy that their
enthusiasm for united people must
have been lukewarm at the best.
But one service they did perform
ton of the south in 1850. After the
fall Of Messina, the last Bourbon
stronghold in Sicily, Garibaldi crossed
to the mainland of Italy with an army
of 5000 men. Francis II. fed Ma
piles. The excited rabble threatened to
burn and pillage the city. The pris-
ons Of southern Italy literally belched
criminals. Anarchy prevailed. Fear
full that the city would be destroyed,
the prefect Of police turned in de-
spair to the Camorra, which alone
maintained its organization In full
force. Quick to avail themselves of an
opportunity to gain more power the
leaders organized civic guard which
held Naples until the arrival Of Carl
baldis army. They have received
some credit for this patriotic" act,
but their subsequent conduct cannot
be said to have indicated any real
change of heart.
After the establishment Of the reg
ular monarchy the minister Of police
disbanded the civic guard with diff
Guilty 1t was found necessary to i'm
prison some of the chiefs who vowed
vengeance after their release. Street
tumults were Of the commonest oc-
currence. The Camorristi took a
hand in the elections, influencing the
judgment Of the electors with clubs.
This condition lasted until 1862, when
the government made the first de-
termined effort to suppress the socie-
ty. The southern states were de-
clared in a state of siege, and General
Ia mdlIlOTd cast oUV VI THO DTOlucT-
hood in Jail or banished them to the
drastic measures were not long sue
cessful.
Ely 1877 the public insecurity was
as great as ever. Stripped Of most Of
their influence the Camorristi, once
more recruited from the dregs Of So
ciety, were reduced to their first es-
state. They preyed upon the peasants
who brought fish and vegetables to
market and upon the poorer mer-
chants and shopkeepers. The vegeta-
BILE market of st. Anna della Paluda
and the fish market were particularly
infested with them. The vegetable
market was surrounded by a guard
Of soldiers and police in plain clothes.
The gates were closed. Fifty-seven
of the gentry were placed in durance.
Two years later fifty were arrested at
the fish market. But, so powerful is
the influence Of habit, the wives Of
those who had been imprisoned called
two days later at the same place to
collect the society's regular tax. It
is probable that their demands would
not have been denied had 1t not been
for the interference of the police.
The society has made two con-
spicuous appearances Of late years
In. 1877 chief Of the order, one Bor-
relli, was suspected Of treachery and
murdered. His assassin, sheltered for
a time by sympathetic townsmen, was
finally forced to surrender himself to
the police. His progress TO Jail
amounted to a triumphal procession,
cigars and money being forced on his
acceptance and his path strewn with
flowers. Intimidation was resorted to
during the trial which followed.
Another evidence Of power was
given about a decade ago. A certain
member of the chamber Of deputies,
one Casale, was accused by socialist
organ in Naples of corruption. Ca
sale sued for libel. At the trial 1t was
shown that he had recommended for
employment by the city men charged
with crime, that he had filled the
public offices with his friends, that
offices had been bought and sold and
that creditors of the municipality
found 1t difficult to collect until their
accounts had been approved by him.
The defense further proved that Ca
sale, as commissioner Of Octroi, had
approved tariffs for bribe Of 1000
francs, had charged steamship COM
pany 10000 francs for a subsidy and
otherwise abused his power. His sup
port was traced to the Camorra. He
was discredited and forced to resign.
From this recent instance 1t will be
seen that the Camorra Is even yet a
power in Naples. The most aggres-
sive action by the government has not
availed to crush it, and nobody has
more than guess as to its real power
at the present time.-Chicago Record
Herald.