The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-23
Intelligence in Crime.
(From the Washington Post

(From h Washington Post.)
ne caoIed OF former
Mayor Mcclellan, of New York. on the
Nlterban Camorrists. at whose trial he
is now present, serve to hrow inter
estlng slde-lightS on the multi-color-
cd drama being enacted in the little
italian city. Heretofore the reports
lave given witness to a state of cnfu-
sion but little short of bedtam. jndica-
tive OF a of intense emotion
alisn, heightened rather than relieved
by the extremely ludicrous epis, des
that frequently blow hard upon
the recital of grueSome deeds of blood
But behind ard beneath oil this the
former mayor of New York sees not
only more than q semblance Of orderly
procedure On the part of the court,
but also the existence of a degree of
intelligence among the accused that
wrung from him the need Of admira-
ton. While the Whole criminal pro-
cedure differs from ours, in that the
presumption of innocence on the part
Of the accused is not held, as with US.
Mr.. Mcclellan still found that the
court methods were we'll adapted to a
fair and accurate result: this was par
ticularly favored by the absence of red
tape, which enabled the president 10
get at the bottom of everything. AS
to the Camorrists themselves, the
american NlSllOT COIIIllueu.
Abbatemaggio impressed RE as
abnormally clever. He stood the
regular cross-examination by
President Rianchi and half a doz-
en- lawyers without one slip or
contradiction. The other prison.
ers like Abbatemaggio. are very
intelligent in appearance, looking
like a body Of fairly prosperous
business men.
And this testimony, borne to the in
former applies with equal truth to the
| accused members of the society. The
defense Of Sortino, in which he took
| up item by item. the charges Of his
accuser displayed an ability seldom
exceeded by the best of criminal law
yers, skilled in long practice and I'M
hampered by straits in which the OBJ
ject of suspicion must find himself
when called upon to meet the thrusts
and onslaughts Of sudden questions,
unprotected by the legal bulWarkS be
hind which he may find shelter in our
courts.
The situation presented at the Cam
o~rrists' trial in this respect, is, how
ever, what naturally might have boel
expected. 1t is a mistake to suppose
thai criminals. and especially success
full criminals, are endowed with a low
order Of mentality. The generally &C.
cepted maxim tnat the III
variably leaves a clew in no wise mil.
itates against this conclusion. In fact
it strengthens the assertion. implying
as it does the possession Of unusual
acumen and skill by those who lone
continue to evade the law. WITH
these secret orders of Italy there is a
further feature worthy Of considera-
ton. namely, that in their inception
the primory object was the swift and
certain adjustment Of private wrongs
While this soon passed to blackmail
brigandage and murder, the knowl
edge Of the original intent still lends
a sort Of spurious Righteousness to the
acts of the members, and nerves the
hand Of the chosen member to its
deed Of infamy.
The fact that men of ability are
found arrayed against society is all the
more reason why these nefarious or,
CARNATIONS should be broken up, il
order hat the talents. if not of the
present malefactors, at least of THEN
logical successors in a career of crime
RACK OF ALL THERE MIST