The New York herald., 1921-08-15
WORK OF CAMORRA
BOOTLEGGING BAND
|. SEEN IN 18 MURDERS
Death Messages Cabled
From Headquarters in
Italy, Police Believe.
ALL BALK DETECTION
Shooting of MarinO and AS
sassinatiOn of Altieri Di-
rected From Abroad.
MAKING HUGE PROFITS
Informers and Men Who Fail
to Take Orders Marked
for Killing.
MAKING HUGE PROFITS


have centred around Grand and
Chrystie streets during the last year
stands, according to detectives investi-
eating the crimes, the Camorra of
Italy. The organization that for years
made multitudes shudder at the men
ton of its name is reported to have
turned its activities from blackmail to
bootlegging.
Leaders across the Atlantic are di-
recting through agents here a traffic
in liquors that has been far more
profitable than kidnapping or terroriz-
ing peaceful merchants by threats of
bomb outrages. The victims of the
murders have been men who dared to
interfere with the operations of the
Camorra bootleggers or agents who re-
fused to do it's bidding.
The hand of the Camorra, according
to the police, is seen in the systematic
manner in which the majority OF the
murders were carried out. No trail
was left behind The victim virtually
was led to his death by supposed
friend, who pointed him out to the
murderer. an imported gunman, who
carried out his instructions, caDled
from overseas, and then departed Tor
| the place whence he came.
| Prohibition cut off the flow or chianti
| to this country, with the result. 1t is salu'
| that the Camorra found trafficking In the
wine not only better business than black
mail. but far less dangerous. NO great
reorganization was necessary to make
the change. 1t was just a case OF aban-
doning the bomb for the wine cass. Soon
some of the local members became
wealthy and manifested a desire to be
done with bootlegging, but this. 1t was
said. was not to the liking of the leaders
in Italy. Others turned informers. Then
the murders began.
Hidden Arts of the Camorra.
Some explanation usually is obtainable
for a street shooting. The murderer
was seen by somebody who could iden-
tlfy him or her or else friend OF rne
| victim gave the police the key TO the
| mystery. But in these eighteen murders
the police have not obtained even what
might be called a fair description of the
assassins. In ALL however. virtually the
same tactics were employed and II Is In
this sameness that the death dealing art
OF the Camorra Is seen.
| First there is the code message by
cable to the recognized head OF the Ca
mora in this city. Chicago or Philadel-
phia. or wherever a certain man has
aroused the wrath of the mighty OF the
band and hts death Is decreed. No warn
Is sent out, as In the days before the
war When the deed is to be done the
friend or stalking horse. walks upsto
the victim In the street and engage him
| in conversation. Not far behind stands
the imported gunman. who takes good
look at his man and at the same time
keeps an eye on the police.
| Soon the friend" saunters away with
a friendly farewell. and the unsuspecting
victim passes on. Before he has gone
hundred yards the gunman approaches.
pulls his pistol and fires. The whole pro-
oeeding takes but a minute. The bullet
invariably hits a vital spot. and when the
smoke has cleared away 1t is observed
that the orders of the Camorra have been
carried out faithfully.
witnesses Not Reliable.
SO far as the detectives are concerned,
they have to depend upon the discon-
nected stories OF persons who fled into
| Railways and other points OF safety with
| the first crack Of the pistol. They usually
\ are hysterical or highly excited, and are
given 10 flights of fancy regarding what
happened. which Is absolutely valueless
to the police. The detectives have found
that no two persons whom they have
reason TO believe saw the murderer will
give descriptions that agree in the MAN.
The police are now satisfied that the
slaying OF Alberto Altieri. italian boot
Logging king. who was buried recently in
Naples. with almost royal honors, was
| directed by the Camorra for some secret
4 reason. and by the same method Of rea-
soning Il Is concluded possible that
Frank Laurlllo. Joseph PassantIno and
| Joseph La Monico followed one another to
the grave in rapid succession In accord
ance with the code of instructions. All
| or these men, with the exception Of Lau-
riilo, were born In Italy. and their activ-
| tiles had been under police observation
| long before they lost their lives.
But for the attempted Staying Satur-
dav afternoon OF Frank Marino at the
Grand and Chrystie street murder cor
ner the police are not prepared to give
an explanation. Bootlcgglng Is the
| strongest suspicion at present, but
there also Is feeling that the shooting
Staying August of Laurillo at virtual
ly the same point Lnurillo was we'll
known at Police Headquarters as "Dago
Continued or Fifth Page,