Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-06-17

The
Shadow.
IL Was an Important Matter
In a Mans Life
By Manuel CosiO
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
By Manuel Cosio
by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.


pies. II was dingy place. and no
one was In the place except myself.
though in a back room was a woman,
who kept the shop. was dressed in
rags. Twilight had nearly died away,
and the room In which sat was light
ed only by lamp IN the adjoining
room. But IL was sufficient to cast
shadow. My back was toward II. and
l saw on the wall before me the
shadow of figure advancing with a
raised arm. Ny blood ran cold. for l
knew some one was behind me who
intended to murder me.
This is how 1t came about:
/ belong to the Italian national po-
lice. or the carabineers. We are
very different body from the munich
pal police, assure you. We are Sc
lected from the better classes. and 1t
is quite difficult TO enter the corps.
One day / was called 10 headquar-
ters and asked II | would volunteer
for duty in getting evidence In a muir
der case. 1t was not a matter that /
could be ordered upon. because It was
necessary for me TO spy upon the cele-
brated Camorra society. possibly 10
become a member of IL In order to Sc
cure the evidence l needed. consent
ed to undertake the work and was
supplied with what means needed
temporarily and assured that any draft
OF mine would be honored.
My field OF operations was Naples
and its vicinity. The Neapolitans have
been more tyrannized over than any
other body of Italians; consequently
there are more poverty. misery and
crime among them than any other Ital-
ian people. An American lady had been
walking on the sea wall promenade
when dusk was coming on and there
were few people about. She was found
murdered. several valuable finger rings
and what money she had having been
taken. The murderer was probably q
member of the Camorra, and 1t was
my object to discover and convict him.
The only information could get to
aid me was that the American lady
had about 400 lire $50 on her person
and a description Of the finger rings.
There were n solitaire diamond and
sapphire, and one setting included three
Stones--a ruby between two emeralds.
Having been enlisted at Milan. was
not known at Naples. ! appeared there
one morning dressed in dirty rags and
began operations on the street as
professional beggar. II was n unique
position for one who had behind him
the treasury OF the kingdom OF Italy.
I pass over n month that spent either
in begging or poklng trinkets to sell
under the noses OF tourists. Mean
while was forming acquaintance
among the worst element of Naples.
One only among the men ] met inter-
ested me. He appeared to be or the
better class. lie gave me tip for
some petty service insisted on doing
him, looked into my face and said to
mo:
"You are too intelligent looking to
wear such clothes. You should be In
better condition"
ooh. we poor people have no oppor-
tunity 10 better ourselves!' replied.
"You are right. The rich absorb ev-
crything. The laws protect them In
their iniquities. But the poor man-he
must be slave. However. there are
ways for bright looking fellow Ike
you to make money"
The result OF this meeting was that
went to the rooms or this man
Gepazzlni TO learn how TO make mon
ey. II was by assisting him to get his
hands on other peoples property.
When I spoke OF being detected and
Obliged TO go to jail he told me that
need not fear that: he was In with the
police and would protect me. l did
not Mt the time ask him for further
information as 10 his means of pro-
lection, for I suspected that ! had
found n member of the Cnmorra. l
became his assistant In n number or
thefts He worked up the cases, so TO
speak. and did the pllfering. In ev-
cry case the person robbed received
compensation from the chief OF police.
stating that II was not their policy to
prosecute the thief. In one instance
I contrived TO get caught I'm the act In
order TO learn OF the protection that
would follow. The man l robbed or
dered my arrest and was very boastful
as to the punishment that would be
melted out to me. but when he cou.
fronted me In court failed to identify
me. He dared not do so.
This satisfied me that Genazzini was
a member OF the Camorra. but pre-
tended not to know that such society
existed. He had lost his thumb and
forennger In some accident or fracas
and told me that that was the reason
he would do no stealing himself. He
would always be liable TO be identi'
fed by his missing digits.
When entered his service he gave
me better clothes. and displayed suf-
fcient intelligence for him TO mnni-
fest friendship for me- asked him