The Washington herald., 1911-02-25

For years the Camorra, or Black Hand
Society, as II is known in this country,
with headquarters at Naples, has been
recognized scourge to the Italian gov
ernment and to wealthy Italian citizens;
yet so strong is the fraternal sympathy
among its members and so swift the re-
venge that has overtaken all who med
die with its affairs that it has set at
naught all attempts to bring 1t to JUS
tice. But at last the government has
succeeded in capturing f1fty-seven leading
members of the Honorable Society" the
name by which it is known in Italy, and
they are to be tried at Vfterbo, small
town, which has become such center
OF interest on that account that Roman
SPECTATORS are running up Exposition"
hotels; that is, framework edifces to ac-
commodate the thousands who are
swarming to the city to see the most
astonishing trial recorded in history.
For as soon as word of the transfer OF
the Neapohtan Camorrists reached the
rest OF Italy. everyone who could AFFORD
the fare was eager to get sight of the
squad Of bandits ''corraled' after four
years "sleuthing'' on two continents.
North and South America, as well as
Italy The unusual conduct OF the
transfer OF the prisoners attracted at
tention, for instead of turning railway
cars into prison vans the authorities
chained the culprits together two by two
and marched them Under guard OF gend-
armes. accompanied by cavalry. from
Viterbo Nor were the strange precau-
tions exhausted in the transfer OF the
gang. At Viterbo, the italian government
electrified the land by precautions that
carry one back to the devices OF the
medieval age.
The crime for which these men are be
ing tried was perpetrated nearly five
years ago. and the story OF those pa
tient years OF investigation. fraught at
every step with death, and hampered by
every vile known to the Black Handlers
is one that rivals the history of daring
that led to the disbandment OF the Ku-
klux Klan, or the Molly Maguires, who
at one time terrorized the Pennsylvania
mining district.
For years Angelo Da Sorrentina was
the reigning beauty of the underworld
OF Naples. Her amours were known far
and wide. and often it was whispered
that persons OF high repute looked with
favorable eyes upon the beautiful girl.
On the night Of June 5. 1906, her house, in
the central portion of Naples. was en-
tered and she was murdered while asleep.
Suspicion centered on her husband,
Signor Cuocolo who was absent at the
time, and the Italian police sought him
everywhere. Hardly had they started on
their search, however. when the body OF
the supposed murderer was discovered
hidden in some bushes on a lonely road
near the bridge Tore del Greco, not far
from Naples.
This brought the authorities face to
face with a mysterious and deliberate
murder The populace were clamoring
for action. Day after day passed without
the shadow Of a clew that would lead
to the perpetrators of the crime, and at
last it was agreed to lay the mystery at
the door OF the society, whose history was
studded with crimes.
An arrest was made OF several members
OF the society, including its alleged
leader. Signor Erricone. but as the days
went by and no shred OF evidence ap-
peared against the accused men. the pub
lie demanded that the accused be re-
leased. After fifty days of incarceration.
the Camorrists were allowed to so free.
But secret forces were at work to un-
cover the mystery. The authorities at
Rome became interested. 1t was found
that the murder at Naples bore SINH
larity to other crimes that had been
perpetrated IN the past. An investigation
was quietly started and enough evidence
was uncovered to warrant the suspicion
that some organized band was implicated,
and Signor CapeZutto, sergeant of the
carabinieri, was chosen to run the muir
derers to earth.
With the utmost caution Capezutto set
about his task The trail led to the