The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1911-03-11
ESTABLISHED 1870
The Camorra
By Frederic J. Haskin


March, the Italian Government will
take the first decisive step toward the
final suppression Of this long existing
organized outlawry. For nearly 400
years the Camorristas have dominated
Italy in a high handed manner. rob.
bing, pillaging and numbering accord
ing to the orders Of their chiefs. and
their victims have had no redress from
law or king. At various times the
Camorra has been utilized by certain
government officials to carry out un-
scrupulous schemes.
The Camorra is o semi-secret band
whose object is Illicit gain. They do
not work regularly. but rather live at
the expense of workers. The society
has rendezvous in every large town
In Central Italy, where recruits are col
lected. Naples, which is the center of
the Camorra, has at least dozen sta
tions where the various bands meet and
transact business. Candidates for
membership must be young men who
first have distinguished themselves by
strength and daring. They must show
q clean record as to character, as no
one accused of dishonesty could be ad-
mitted. The honor Of Camorra is the
honor of thieves, perhaps. but it makes
few concessions for past offenses. A
candidate must swear that there is
nothing against him, and furthermore
that his wife. sister or any woman Of
his family has not been guilty Of prosti-
tuition.
Having taken oath to these facts. he
also swears absolute fidelity to the
order. whether he is admitted to full
membership or not. These oaths are
taken upon aquaintly formed iron cross
which has been used for centuries for
this purpose. II Is said that III Of these
crosses were made in the 18th century.
They were distributed among the chiefs
and handed down from one to another
in Office. 1t Is doubtful il there are
more than 100 of them now in use in
Italy. and these are held in superstiti
ous reverence and may not be lightly
handled by unauthorized persons.
The candidate submits to o year.
probation under the tutelage of an old
Cammorrista with the designation pic
ciotto d'onore. II he gives satisfactory
proof Of his obedience and bravery. he
is advanced to the rank of picciotto di
sigarro. He may spend several years
in that rank. Only after performing
feat involving some real danger Of loss
OF life and liberty is he admitted to the
full rank of Camorrista. Each Camor-
rista carries two knives Of peculiar
form. by these the members Of the
society recognizes each other. The
strictest discipline is enforced. Dis
obedience is punished by fiogging. sns-
pension or expulsion. Treachery. even
on the part of an expelled member. is
punishable by death.
Each section of Oamorra is under the
absolute control of q chief selected by
the members. who. assisted by treas
urer, handles all the funds of the band.
The members pay all the money they
collect into q common fund and 1t is
shared alike. The means by which
they secure money seems impossible OF
belief. Every little village has its Ca.
morrist collector, and every farmer.
shepherd or poor fruit vendor pays reg
ular tribute to him. A Camorrista
may and frequently does carry on some
legitimate business, from which he
makes usurious profits because Of the
terror which his organization inspires
among the town people. II Camor-
rista sets up shop in q village. no out
slider dare compete with him.
The poor of Italy suffer almost un-
complainly from Camorrist oppression.
because they have been accustomed to
II for SO long. The farmer with a half
dozen sheep will find his choicest lamb
assessed. The fruit grower will yield
each year the pick OF his crop, and even
tho pun WOiuuu mahiuk AaOo wiz Pt.S'
over without protest her finest piece
of work il it be demanded by Camor-
rista. To refuse might result in the
death of some member of the family.
The wealthier people make more ef-
fort to protect themselves and all their
vigilance is needed. At any time two
or three Camorristas may suddenly
sweep down upon man and carry him
of captive. Only a heavy ransom will
secure his freedom. II this is not
forthcoming within reasonable time
the Camorra knife is keen and sharp,
and the mans family may some morn
ing awake to find his corpse at the
front door.
An American, going to visit an
Italian gentlemen residing in an old