Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-04-17
.CAM0RRA SECRETS
Barred BY FORMER
MEMBER
REMARKABLE BAND OF
MURDER0US CRIMINALS
Has Five Thousand Members
in Naples Alone Proficiency
in Crime Is Chief QuaIifica-
ton for Membership,


fBy Morning journal Special Leased wirel
viterbo, Italy. April Z, Friday.-In-
teresting revelations made by Gennard
Abbatameggio, the Camorist informer,
at the trial of the members of that
organization for the murder OF Cuoc-
colo and his wife. had to do with the
real nature OF the Camorra, that
its way from Arabia into Spain, and
from Spain into southern Italy, and
how its adherents are chosen.
The Camorra in Naples. as Abbate-
maggie explained, is divided into four
teen bands one for each section of
the city. Each is composed OF twen-
ty-four Camorrists and forty-eight
Picciotti, (recruits) each Of the form
er having two of the recruits at his
disposal. Each Picciotti is served by
five or six Giovanni Onorati (honored
youths). The latter are aspirants for
membership.
Thus in Naples alone there Is a body
of about 5000 men. determined in
character, resolute and tried In as
tuteness and intelligence. This army
which has ramifications In almost
every class of society, is practically di-
rected by two men, the Capo inesta.
or head of heads. and the Contaiuolo,
or cashier, who takes the place OF the
head when necessary. Both officials
are elected BY mujofitY OF votes.
The Contaniuolo is generally an old
Camorrist, clever In exacting each
,dav the gains from thennetnbers, or
able to handle them roughly II they
refuse to pay.
The Picciotti are chosen from among
the Giovanni Onorati and are Instruct
ed in their duties by the Csinorrists.
They are Obliged to swear perfect
obedience, after which the newly ad-
mitted member kisses every Caniorrlst,
beginning with the head of heads in
token of good faith.
When the ceremony of admission Is
about to be carried out the society
meets at the request of a member, af
ter having posted the Picciotti. or
chosen from among the Picciotti so
as not to be taken by surprise. The
Camorrists. who has called for the
assembly submits the name of his
candidate and offers to act as his
padrino (kind OF gentlemanb wpap
padrino (kind of godfather).
He enumerates the service which
his candidate has rendered, entering
as ardently as possible into the de-
tails Of thefts, burglaries and other
important crimes which the Picciot-
I'll, who desires to be promoted to the
estate of Camorrst, has committed,
not forgetting to call attention to the
sfregi inflicted which are the razor
slashes across the cheeks of the per-
sons who have had to be called to or
der. These marks are very prominent
on the face of both Abattemaggio and
Ericone, the latter the reputed leader
or the society.
AS In a court Of Justice there is a
Camorrist called the terso contrario,
who takes the part of public prosecut-
or and finds arguments to oppose the
admission of the candidate. Even
when these arguments are satisfactor-
lily met the candidate must In the
presence of the members undertake
the tirata, kind of duel, the gravity
OF which varies according to circum
stances and individuals. Usually the
tirata Is perfunctory in which case
1t Is called "of the muscles" because
the combatants are allowed to wound
each other only In the muscles of the
arm which they bare before engaging
in the combat. II the candidate in
jures any other part OF his opponents
body, he is disqualified.
In basin, placed in the center OF
the meeting place-generally a tavern
five knives are placed Two OF
these have sharp points and keen dou-
bic edged blades; two have only the I,
sharpened points. while the fifth Il
characterized by its great length.
The knives are covered with
white handkerchief. and over this
red handkerchief is thrown. The god |
father of the candidate and a Sec
ond, chosen for his adversary, take |
the knives with the double edged |
blades, the head OF the Cammora |
takes the long knife. while the eandi-
date and his opponents grasp the 9th.
ers.
The duellsts are then placed back |
TO back, with arms bare to above the |
elbows, and when the head cries I'm |
the name of the saints. Cosmo and |
ne--two-three,' they turn |
and the combat begins II continues
until one or the other Is stabbed IN |
the arm. lie who has done the stab
bing Immediately sucks the wound. |
kissing his opponent as a bond of |
friendship and bandages the injury |
with the white handkerchief taken |
from the basin
Each new member admitted must |
pay to the contaiulIo fifteen lire (s3) |
us an entrance fee, half OF which
roes to the head OF the Camarro and
the other half to q fund for the pur-
chase OF banquet.
When there is such a deep-rooted
antagonism between the candidate ana
his opponent that one Of the two must
fall forever the duel or tirata IN term
ed "of the box" In such cases all the
kniae thrusts must be directed to-
wards the upper part Of the body or
head. as In Il duel with rapiers. These
duets, however, are rare.