The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-16
ITALIAN POLICE
SHIELD CAMORRA
Pull With Politicians Explains
Marvellous Growth of Muir
derous Society.

Rome. November ib-rhe sensation
al o%pening OF the Camorra trial ana
the length of the proceedings as vet
unfinished. have aroused in the public
Il sense of the interest and the imDor-
tahce attaching to the subject of secret
organizations in southern Italy. Diff
ferent from the Malta. which refers to
IA mode OF life rather than to an or
sanitation. the Camorra is n secret
society deriving its ritual from spain.
and having taken its rules direct from
those of an association of thieves
which nonriShed at Toledo in the if-
teenth century. 1t was imported into
Naples at the time of the SpaSish oc-
~cupatiou, and has ilourlshed since then
as Il smuggling. blackmailins and
thieving organization. The mystery
as to how ii has been able TO achieve
its present strength is partly explained
by the fact that in 1860 several of it's
members We're enrolled in the police
force, ana in this connection 1t is sig
nificant to notice that the arrests in
the case OF the present trial were made
not by the police, but by Captain Fab
broni. a captain of the 'gcndarmerie,"
who came to Naples with a well estab-
ltshcd reputation won in Sicily.
of the Lower Middle Class.
The members Of the Camorra for
the most part belong to the lower
middle class. Large numbers of them
keep grain and harness shops, and
levy n regular blackmail off the
coachmen in Naples. Their connection
with politicians and others in posi-
tons of considerable importance Sc
cures them immunity, as was shown
by the fact that Captain Fabbroni
was hampered in his investigations by
the police. The protection afforded to
the gang was so barefaced that short
~ after Captain Fabbroni's arrival
several lawyers, themselves mcn,p.rs
of the Camorra, started II paper in
which they made repeated attacks
upon him and upon the METHODS h
employed. The openness of their pro-
ceedure is. indeed, one of the most
remarkable facts about the orsunlza-
ton. 1t was shown ~strllungly by the
act that led to the whole inqu ry.
Murder of Cuocolo.
A certain Cuocoio, Il basista, or one
OF those who plan roboeries for others
to execute, began giving Information
about some OF his fellows, and at Il
meeting OF the gang, at which the
present head. Riconi. presided. they
decided that he and his wife must be
put to death. TO celebrate the occa-
sion they held n banquet, and it was
while they were holding this that the
news was brought to them that the
NcIblt IluIbtI IL utcI SuCCtSSiulls
accomplished.
The strength of their organization
ia shown in many ways. Those OF their
members who are in prison levy black
mail or the other prisoners, and death
is the price of a refusal to submit TO
their demands. Robbery and crime
generally are KEEP strictly to members
of the gang, and the outsider vino
encroaches on what they regard as
thair nreunrrnc lie rnrt. cnon n,tt out
of the way.
Condition of Admission.
a crime of violence is demanded as
the price of admission, and 1t is this
that is the cause of tho many sensc-
less. objectless murders for which
Naples is notorious.
At times, too, they congreGate for
collective duels. The captains of two
parties start quarreling. their follow
crs support their several principals, Ind
q number are usually killed. Another
sign OF the Disregard they show fol
society is the annual pilgrimage Iney
make to Monte Nirginie. "a place about
-four days journey from Naples. They
travel in cars gaily decorated with rib
bons and bells, and no one incrfcrcs
with them. though their identity IS
well Known.
TIL Issue of the present trial is stu
doubtful. The accused were five years
in prison before the case came inVn
court, and it Is doubtful after all this
time whether 1t will be possible to get
sufficient evidence for q conviction. But
the Camorra is an institution from
which Italy must be purged. and the
present trial is encouraging as show
ing that the government, which direct
ly interviewed to support Captain Fab
broni, has evidently realized that it is
time to take effective steps to sup
press what really amounts to a petty
state that thinks nothing of setting
the government at defiance to gain it,
violent ends.