The sun., 1912-07-15

gives his occupation as "horse dea aler."
This is the reason Every six months or
so the 1ta lian army sells at auction
large number Of horses that have some
little defects that unfit them for cavalry
ueo.
The Camorrists attend these sales in
we'll organized groups. and II there are
no outside bidders they buy all the horses
at their own prices. If an outsider APP
pears he must pay the Camorrist leader
fee or In the end pay more than the horse
Is worth or 60 without u. The Camorrist
band will always outbd an outsider who
does not meet their demands.
The same method prevails as to the
auction sales of "unredeemed pledges
in pawnshops. The Neapolitan citizen
can Z even buy back his own watch without
first seeing" the Camorra.
When the Neapolitan youth wants to
borrow money hc speaks to his cab driver
about IL. The cab driver introduces him
to another man who introduces him to a
third man who lends him the money AT
an exorbitant rate Of interest. And II
the money is not paid back the young man
is annoyed in his place of employment
his home. in cafta, restaurants or even
in the theatre until he does pay
When a new operatic star is to appear
at the San Carlo the stars manager turns
over a large block Of tickets and some
money TO a Camorriet leader. This matter
attended to he need have no further fear
as to the size or enthusiasm Of the audi
ence. for the claque is composed Of Camor
rists and the Camorrist leaders are never
80 proud as when they are first nighters.
FIGHrs WAY TO LEADERSHIP.
The method by which the young
aspirant becomes leader Of the Camorra
ia best illustrated by the story Of the
rise Of one Of them. Among the coal
beavers employed about the steamship
docks a dozen or more years ago was a
powerful young man who had gained a
reputation as fighter among his asso-
ciates. One Of his acts Of violence-or
heroism- gained him the notice If the
Camorrist leader of the district and he
soon became member Of the band.
Another act Of hcroism landed him in
prison for short time On entering the
prison he learned Of the presence there
Of Sicilan who had assumed the leader
ship If the Camorris's inside the walls,
The coal hea yer took issue With the Sicilian
and duel with knives was arranged
to take place at time when the keepers
we're not on guard. The coal HEAVIER
magnanimo,isly threw away his knife.
telling the Sicilian he did not need a
weapon. Using only his hands against
the knife he soon beat the Sicilian into
suhiection.
When the coal HEAVIER left the prison
he was 40 famous he at once was hailed
az the leader Of the Camorra in his dis
trict True. he had 70 fight the old leader.
hut after few clashes Of the knives
the older man retired with a cash or two
about his face and arms The coal HEAVIER,
who now calls himself a contractor. con-
trolls the coaling of practica lly q II the large
steamships that enter the harbor Of
Naples.
THEY SOMETIMES RIGHT WRONGS
One Of the secrets Of the strength of the
Camorra il that III members never attempt
acts of revenge against the police or other
authorities, and another is that they
sometimes use their power for what they
consider the righting Of wrongs. Prob
ably this is due to some extent to feeling
that they must keep up something Of the
dignity of the historic old society whose
name they have stolen and whose objects
they have so absolutely reversed.
One Of the greatest Of all Camorra
leaders was Ciccio Cappuccio. who held
sway about 1890 He left name in Nea-
politan history not only for his bravery
and the terror which he spread among
his subalterns. but for many kindly acts.
II is such men IA Cappuccio-prob
not quite his equals in bra very and genius
who are the leaders Of the Camorra
to-day The sudden downfall Of one
or more Of them through an arrest makes
little difference to the others.