Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-07
Mistsllansous Rraains,
WHEN cAMoRRA RULED NAPLES
Famous Society was More Powerful
Than the Constituted Government.

WHEN cAMoRRA RULED NAPLES
Famous Society was More Powerful
Than the Constituted Government.
Another chief Of the Camorra 4!
soon to be put on trial for his life a
viterbo. He is accused Of having in
stigated a plot which resulted in th'
assassination of an adroit and power
full rival The Camorra has declined
from it's old pernicious eminence, bu
it is by no means moribund, and the
police are taking extraordinary pre-
caution to prevent disorder. In all Of
the wineshops of the Neapolitan un'
derworld the liveliest excitement pre-
walls, for the ignorant and the Hitter
ate populace still regards the Ca
mora with a friendly feeling, not
withstanding the burden it so long laid
upon them.
With the trial Of this particular Ca
mora the world outside Italy has lit.
tie concern. 1t serves only to revive
a momentary interest in the extra
ordinary history Of society which
yields place to no other in the history
of Europe in the enormity Of Its
crimes. At the time of it's chief sway
1t revealed the constituted authorities
in power, made terms with unscru-
pulous politicians much as Tammany
does today levied tributes in the
highest quarters and maintained a.
elaborate and effective machinery o1
imposts as the government itself.
nicely stratified society, it sent its
emissaries into the court itself, and
did not dlsdain to exact a tax from
the begga.5 who infested the highway:
of Italy. There was no undertaking
too arduous, no traffic too mean tc
call forth it's fit agent among the re.
sourceful brotherhood. Its depreda'
tions are now conducted with more
discretion, its members recruited from
a less distinguished circle; but it's in.
fuence Is still considerable, as the
police well know.
i The Camorra took its rise about the
first Of the last century In the prisons
of Naples. 1t was only one society
the more among a multitude, patriotic
or predatory, which that wild and tur-
bulent epoch brought into being
Whatever Neapolitans could stea
from each other they took out Of the
purse of foreign usurpers. In such
a state of affairs theft and patriotism
. ooi1x hxr
who possessed a tender conscience
There Is little evidence, however, thai
the entire Camorristi were much trou'
bled by such considerations. The So
ciety seems to have sprung into ex-
istence to minister to the comfort OF
sundry old rogues who had no taste
for work, and lived at ease in the
prisons of the south. Thrown togeth.
er in idleness, the accomplished gen.
try Of the period would naturally seize
any opportunity of adding to theil
general sum Of comforts. 1t was the
most natural thing in the world that
they should have hit upon the idea
Of levying a tax upon green recruits
to their ranks. This, at all events
they did, and all such as could afford
to add delicacies from the outside tc
the rude prison fare were expected tC
contribute to their superfluity to the
lcommon good. These offerings were
ostensibly devoted to pious uses. In.
cense was required to be offered uI
to the Virgin. 1t was a pretty and in
genious fiction such as less disreput-
able members Of society have beer
known to indulge both before and
since.
| But In those times the organization
had another and more notable func-
ton which commended 1t to the jail
er. The rascally crew consigned to
his care was scarcely Of lamb like
docility Thieves, murderers, fell
lows who picked locks and fellows
who picked pockets, the scum and
offscourings Of the earth, were tum-
bled pell-mell into limbo. The prob
lem of preserving sort Of order
among these sad rogues must often
have taxed his ingenuity and spoiled
the tranquility Of his slumbers. He
was glad to accept the assistance OF
the prisoners themselves, so that the
Camorra became in time one Of his
most cherished weapons against re-
volt. Thus it gained sort Of tolera-
ton which amounted to semiofficial
sanction. For all the friendly offices
which were exchanged, however, the
jailer would be allowed to entertain
no illusions as to his children" They
maintained under his eyes a secret ar
senal; the state of affairs amounted
to nothing more than an armed
armistice. So much placidity for so
much official softness; the terms were
the jailer's to accept or reject. It
was a wise jailer, one may suppose,
who evinced at times a convenient
blindness.
The organization thus formed was
| tro n Of in IN hn or c
Of Naples in the form Of a more or
less benevolent despotism. About
the despotism. at least, there could
be no doubt; 1t was effective and COM
plete. In the early stages Of It's ca
reer. II will be seen, this society was
not notable for responsibility. Its
members frequented the shabbiest
wine shops, established grades, for
mulated rules for the guidance Of new
members, and administered formid-
able oath Of fidelity. In certain quar-
ters of the town their nocturnal
Drowess was such as to scandaliZe
peaceful householders The merchant
might shut himself in his house at
sundown, bolt the door, and put up
the shutters. 1t was no use; the skill
of picklocks defied his utmost pru-
dence One street indeed, was so Of
| ten the scene of these outrageous
pranks that the citizens besought the
authorities to wall 1t up and fit 1t with
doors that might be secured at night.
The official upon whom the final de-
cision devolved was assured that build
ing operations in that quarter would
be the least healthful activity In
which he could engage, and hence
forth turned deaf ear to all petit
| tions.
Related citizens hurrying by the
mouths of dark alleys after nightfall
were roundly beaten and relieved of
their valuables. Prosperous merchants
who possessed greedy and impatient
heirs, and delayed too long leaving
their measures with the undertaken.
often met mysterious ends into which
no one inquired too carefully.
Notwithstanding the notorious char
acter of its doings, however, the Ca
mora enjoyed certain popularity
above all with the lowest orders. The
indolent and vicious Bourbon rulers
who had no higher ambition than to
keep themselves in power, were cor
daily detested. The police force was
the last word for inefficiency. 1t coped
on unequal terms with the outlaws If
| II 1iJ not cbara N their plunder II