The sun., 1912-07-21


from life, are the latest work from
the pen Of the famous Neapolitan
novelist, E. Serao. who is regarded
as the greatest living authority on
the Camorra, and who has de-
voted many years Of his life to a
close study of the nature and char
acteristics Of this extraordinary
criminal association. The sketches
are of especial interest in view Of
the recent close Of the trial Of the
Camorrist chiefs at Viterbo.
In times Of police activity against
the Camorra the "Honored Society" Is
won't every now and then. to infict
some punishment upon the most con-
spicuous member OF the corps As q
rule II takes the form Of some harmless
demonstration which Is meant only as
an affirmation Of the power Of this
secret criminal society.
Under the rule OF Chief Police Com
missioner Pennino. who had been q
clever and energetic Magistrate, the
Camorra received no quarter and its
chiefs decided he deserved Q lesson.
They. therefore. sent him this laconic
warning:
within twenty-four hours your
watch will be stolen!"
The Commissioner smiled incredu.
lously and when he left his Office he
had forgotten all about It. Two street
arabs were rolling over each other on
the pavement. furiously biting and
scratching each other. He separated
the combatants and succeeded In
putting an end to their fight, but q
few moments later he noticed that his
found 1t on his writing table at the
office. 1t was wrapped in q piece Of
paper on which he read:
BE more careful the next time
Almost week passed. One day a
woman came to him; she was pale and
shabbily dressed and told him pitiful
tale Of poverty and want. She was
the wife OF retired public officer. who
had suffered severe reverses and was
now Ill. lacking food. fuel and medi.
cines.
Police Commissioner Pennino was
much moved, especially as the lady and
her husband belonged to that class Of
people for whom II is a cruel trial to
avow their poverty. He went with her
TO the cheerless home. gave them help,
comforted them with words OF hope and
left them with moistened eyes. When
he looked for his watch 1t was gone. but
in its place he found q written card
which said:
"Your watch will be returned. but be
on your guard. for the third time 1t will
so for good!"
He at once returned to the home Of
the people he had just visited and
helped. but every trace OF them was
gone.
The next day the watch was on his
writing table. but in accordance with
the warning given him 1t was stolen
a third time and II never came back.
1t was taken from him at the races
while he was In conversation with
several ladies' and gentlemen Of rank
on one OF the stands.
Capt. Fabbroni, the famous officer OF
Carabineers. who was so prominent In
the recent Camorra trial at Viterbo
and who directed the Investigations
which led to the indictment OF the
thirty-six prisoners. has also been the
victim OF what Is called by Camorrists
"a theft for spite"
He lived In a small apartment within
the Carsbineers' barracks. one day
while he was out. two men dressed
In the uniform Of Municipal Guards
came to the barracks. Only one OF
them went in. while the other waited
outside. The Gardiner on duty at the
door thought nothing OF 1t, for such
men often came to gather data for
their reports from the registers. In
fact. the man who had remained In the
street asked him few questions abou:
the number OF officers residing in the
barracks. their families. &C. He was
soon Joined by his companion. who car
ried a roll Of papers under his arm
and both strolled away.
When Capt. Fabbroni returned, he
found his little apartment had been
ransacked. Papers. knickknacks. books
linen. were strewn over the floor In
fantastic disorder. II was soon ascer-
tained that scarcely anything had been
taken-a few uniInportant documents
a paper knife and some other insignih-
cant trifles. The theft had been in
tended to be what Camorrists call an
animation, not a contamination. BY II
the Camorra had meant to say to Capt
Fabbroni:
"You may persecute me. but have
proved to you that ! can come In you
house. do with you what please. wher
] please and take from you even thu
documents with which you mean to In