The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-04-18
CAMORRA IS CRUEL
lTALY'S SOCIETY OF CRIME MAIN
TAias LARGE BODY OF
APPRENTICES.
las Bloody Ritual--cardldates Slash
ed In lni;ia.on-Novices Must
Prcve Faith by Deeds
of Dishonor.

of Dishonor
Vlterto, italy. April 17,-Tbe mos;
Interesting revelations made by Gen
marc Abba,emaggio. the Camorrist in
former a. the trial Of the members OF
that organization ior the murder OF
, Cuoccolo and his wife. had to do with
, the real nature OF the Camorra, the
; dread association which first fount
It's way from Arabia into Spain and
| from Spain into Southern Italy, AMI
/ cow its adhegen,s are chosen.
The camorra in the city OF Naples
as Atbatemaggio explained, is divi lcl
into fourteen bands one for each re,
Gioa of the city Each band is com
posed7 of twenty-foLr Camorrists anc
forty-eight pieciotti (recruitsl, eae,
ore OF the former having two Of the
Eerrui S at his disposal. Each pr"
ciotd. in turn. is served by five or six
Giovanni onora.i thonored youthsl
The latter are aspirants for member
ship in the society.
Thus in Naples alone there is a
body of upwards OF 5000 men, lie
tcrmined in character, resolute ant
tried in astuteness and intelligence
This army, which has ramifications in
elmos5 every class of society, is prle
ideally directed by two men, the car
DIN testator thead Of heads and the
contaiuolC, or cashier who takes the
place of the head when necessary
Both of these officials are elected by
n majority of voters. The Goa
iaiuolo is genrally an Old Camorllst
clever in exac ing each day the gains
from the members, or able to hanll
them roughly if they refuse to pay.
The picciotti are instructed in thai,
duties by the Camorrists They ere
obliged to swear perfect obedience
after which the newly admitted maIl
Der kisses every Camorris,, beginning
with the head of heads. in token OF
good faith.
Slash Him on Face.
When the ceremony OF admission
Is about to be carried out the socie y
meets at the REQUEST of the members
after having posted the picciot not
10 be taken by surprise. The Gamer
rist vino has callet for the assembly
submits the name eff his candidates
and offers to act as his padrlno (knd|
of godfather. He enumerates the
services which his candidate has rem
dered, entering as ardently as pos
sible in the details Of thefts, burg
larils anu other important crimo2
which the picciotti. who desires to bel
promted to the estate of Camorrisl
has committed, not forgetting to capI
attention to the sfrego inflicted, when
are the razor slashes across thcI
cheeks Of the persons who have had
TO be called to order, which marks are
very prominent on the faces Of BON
Abbatemagglo and Erricone, the lat
Ter the reputed leader OF the society
AS in court of justice there is
Camorris called the terzo contrario
who tales the part of public prose
cutor and finds arguments to opposeI
the admission of the candidates. Even
when these arguments are safely met
the candidate must. in the presencoI
OF the members undertake the tiraga
kind Of duel, the gravity Of which
varies according to circumstances and
individuals.
How Duel is Fought.
Generally the tirata is perfunctory
IN which case 1t is called "of the
muscles" because the combatantt
are allowed tC wound each her only
IN the muscles Of the arm, which they
bare before engaging in the combat
u the cardiiate Injuries any Other
part Of his opponents body he is dis.
qualified. @H aaH
IN basin plnced in the center OIL
the meeting generally tav
ern--fye knives are placed. Two oil
these have sharp points and keerI
louble edged blades; two have only
the sharpened points, while the fifth
is characterized by its great length
The knives are covered with white
handkerchiew. The godfather OF tht
candidate and second chosen fol
his adversary take the knives WIZ
the double-edged blades, the head OF
he Camorra takes the long knife
while the candidate and his opponent
grasp the others,
The duelists are then placed back
to back with arms bare to above the
elbow and when the head cries, IT
the name of the sain S, Csm and Dam
ian np---tW--thrpa thoy turn and he |